Desing System
Niobium for 355 MPa structural flat products: enabling lean alloy design and cost efficiency
In 355 MPa grades, 0.01% Niobium can meet the required mechanical properties, enabling reduced manganese levels without changes to steelmaking or rolling processes.
Application scale:
For every 200 tons of steel produced, small Nb additions can support this lean alloy strategy.
Adjusting the balance between both elements allows 355 MPa strength targets to be achieved with lower manganese content when Niobium is present. This approach is most applicable to structural flat products in this yield strength range.
By enabling lower manganese consumption while maintaining mechanical performance, Niobium supports more efficient and stable production conditions. These effects translate into structural cost advantages throughout the production chain, including:
Based on your production conditions, Niobium microalloying can support lean alloy design strategies for 355 MPa structural flat products.
Contact our technical team to discuss alloy balance, process parameters, and potential cost impacts.