Commercial Quality Steel?

[Steelforbrains]

What is CQ steel? I believe that is stands for commercial quality, which leads me to my next question. What is commercial quality steel? We use a lot of A-36 steel plate, and I wanted to know if anyone could compare these different grades of steel for me. How does it compare in strength, hardness, weldibility, formibility, surface finish, fatigue strength, abrasion resistance, impact resistance, and of course price. Is this HR or CR? pickled? oiled?

We are looking to build a shaker conveyor that is about 50 feet long and has a pan constructed of 1/2" plate. It is 36" across the bottom and has a 6" leg turned up on each side. We need a plate that can be formed, welded and can withstand the shock and vibration associated with a shaker bed. Any suggestions?
We are planning on lining the the bottom of the pan with AR 400 plate.

 

[TVP]

The term Commercial Quality is a general reference for a steel type that is not as formable as Drawing Quality. These can apply to either hot-rolled or cold-rolled steels. Deep Drawing Quality and Extra Deep Drawing Quality are then more formable than the other grades. The latest revisions of ASTM standards have done away with the word Quality, instead using the designation Commercial Steel, Drawing Steel, etc. Refer to ASTM A 1008 and A 1011.

 

[Flesh]

CQ nomenclature is still used quite a bit by steel vendors. And its translation typically depends upon what end product you are after. With respect to A-36 material, this would be classified as "structural" quality steel. Its near equivalent would be called "Commericial" quality steel (A830), but mechanical properties would not be guaranteed in this product, only chemistry. And that is the key difference: CQ would not be certified to minimum mechanical properties. I seem to have this type of discussion with my steel vendor on a yearly basis.

 

[weeeds]

I don't know how much life you will get from the AR400 material in this application. There is a material similar to AR500, but not as brittle, that is being used more and more in high impact and abrasion applications. We have seen this stuff outlast AR400 many times over. In Canada it is available from Titus Steel and I believe they are in the US as well but you would have to check them out yourself.

 

[Steelforbrains]

How do the AR400 and AR500 compare in price?

 

[weeeds]

Our cost for AR500 is about 40% higher than AR400. The material that is like AR500 but not as brittle is called ENDURA and is about 15% more that AR500.
In our high impact applications the ENDURA lasts more than twice as long as AR400 so it becomes more economical once we start replacing worn parts.