What is the difference between A572 steel and A588 steel?

Sep 16, 2025 Leave a message

ASTM-A572-A572M.pdf

A572 and A588 structural steel plates are both high-strength, low-alloy (HSLA) steel grades used in structural applications, but they differ in their specific compositions and intended uses:

 

A572 Hot-Rolled Structural Steel Plate

 

  • Chemical Composition of A572 Carbon Steel

Chemical Percentage

Iron

98%

Carbon

0.21%–0.23%

Manganese

1.35%–1.65%

Silicon

0.15%–0.40%

Sulfur

0.03%

Phosphorus

0.03%

 

  • Yield/Tensile Strength of A572 Carbon Steel
 

Metric

Imperial

Tensile Strength, Ultimate

450 MPa

65,300 psi

Tensile Strength, Yield

345 MPa

50,000 psi

Elongation at Break

(in 200 mm)

18.0%

18.0%

Elongation at Break

(in 50 mm)

21.0%

21.0%

Brinell Hardness

135

135

Rockwell Hardness

74

74

Modulus of Elasticity

200 GPa

29 ksi

Shear Modulus

80 GPa

11.6 ksi

 

Grades: Various grades within the A572 structural steel plate specification (e.g., A572 Grade 50, A572 Grade 60) offer different levels of strength and other mechanical properties to suit specific application requirements.

 

A588 HSLA hot-rolled steel plate

 

Chemical composition of A588 %
Steel Grade C Mn P S Si Cu Ni Cr V Mo Nb
A588 Grade A ≤0.19 0.80-1.25 ≤0.04 ≤0.05 0.3-0.65 0.25-0.40 ≤0.40 0.4-0.65 0.02-0.10 - -
A588 Grade B ≤0.20 0.75-1.35 ≤0.04 ≤0.05 0.15-0.50 0.20-0.40 ≤0.50 0.4-0.70 0.01-0.10 - -
A588 Grade C ≤0.15 0.8-1.35 ≤0.04 ≤0.05 0.15-0.40 0.20-0.50 0.25-0.50 0.3-0.50 0.01-0.10 - -
A588 Grade K ≤0.17 0.5-1.20 ≤0.04 ≤0.05 0.25-0.50 0.30-0.50 ≤0.40 0.4-0.70 - ≤0.10 0.005-0.50

 

ASTM A588 Steel Plates and bars Other shapes
<100mm ≥100-125mm >125-200  
Tensile strength min MPa 485 460 435 485
Yield strength min MPa 345 315 290 345
Elongation min 21 21 21 21

 

Applications:A588 structural steel plate is commonly used in architectural features, bridges, transmission towers, freight cars, and other structural applications requiring enhanced corrosion resistance.

 

Differences

 

Corrosion Resistance:

A572 super thick steel plate does not have the same level of corrosion resistance as A588 HSLA hot-rolled steel due to the additional elements in A588 that provide atmospheric corrosion resistance.

 

Intended Use:

A572 is primarily used for structural applications requiring high strength, while A588 is specifically designed for outdoor structures subject to atmospheric corrosion.

 

Weathering Properties:

A588 develops a protective patina over time when exposed to the environment, enhancing its resistance to atmospheric corrosion.

 

When selecting between A572 and A588, consider factors such as the project's location, exposure to atmospheric conditions, desired mechanical properties, and the need for corrosion resistance to determine the most suitable material for the application at hand.

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Other Carbon and Low-alloy High-strength Steel
ASTM/ASME ASTM A36/A36M ASTM A36      
ASTM A283/A283M ASTM A283 Grade A ASTM A283 Grade B ASTM A283 Grade C ASTM A283 Grade D
ASTM A514/A514M ASTM A514 Grade A ASTM A514 Grade B ASTM A514 Grade C ASTM A514 Grade E
ASTM A514 Grade F ASTM A514 Grade H ASTM A514 Grade J ASTM A514 Grade K
ASTM A514 Grade M ASTM A514 Grade P ASTM A514 Grade Q ASTM A514 Grade R
ASTM A514 Grade S ASTM A514 Grade T    
ASTM A572/A572M ASTM A572 Grade 42 ASTM A572 Grade 50 ASTM A572 Grade 55 ASTM A572 Grade 60
ASTM A572 Grade 65      
ASTM A573/A573M ASTM A573 Grade 58 ASTM A573 Grade 65 ASTM A573 Grade 70  
ASTM A588/A588M ASTM A588 Grade A ASTM A588 Grade B ASTM A588 Grade C ASTM A588 Grade K
ASTM A633/A633M ASTM A633 Grade A ASTM A633 Grade C ASTM A633 Grade D ASTM A633 Grade E
ASTM A656/A656M ASTM A656 Grade 50 ASTM A656 Grade 60 ASTM A656 Grade 70 ASTM A656 Grade 80
ASTM A709/A709M ASTM A709 Grade 36 ASTM A709 Grade 50 ASTM A709 Grade 50S ASTM A709 Grade 50W
ASTM A709 Grade HPS 50W ASTM A709 Grade HPS 70W ASTM A709 Grade 100 ASTM A709 Grade 100W
ASTM A709 Grade HPS 100W      
ASME SA36/SA36M ASME SA36      
ASME SA283/SA283M ASME SA283 Grade A ASME SA283 Grade B ASME SA283 Grade C ASME SA283 Grade D
ASME SA514/SA514M ASME SA514 Grade A ASME SA514 Grade B ASME SA514 Grade C ASME SA514 Grade E
ASME SA514 Grade F ASME SA514 Grade H ASME SA514 Grade J ASME SA514 Grade K
ASME SA514 Grade M ASME SA514 Grade P ASME SA514 Grade Q ASME SA514 Grade R
ASME SA514 Grade S ASME SA514 Grade T    
ASME SA572/SA572M ASME SA572 Grade 42 ASME SA572 Grade 50 ASME SA572 Grade 55 ASME SA572 Grade 60
ASME SA572 Grade 65      
ASME SA573/SA573M ASME SA573 Grade 58 ASME SA573 Grade 65 ASME SA573 Grade 70  
ASME SA588/SA588M ASME SA588 Grade A ASME SA588 Grade B ASME SA588 Grade C ASME SA588 Grade K
ASME SA633/SA633M ASME SA633 Grade A ASME SA633 Grade C ASME SA633 Grade D ASME SA633 Grade E
ASME SA656/SA656M ASME SA656 Grade 50 ASME SA656 Grade 60 ASME SA656 Grade 70 ASME SA656 Grade 80
ASME SA709/SA709M ASME SA709 Grade 36 ASME SA709 Grade 50 ASME SA709 Grade 50S ASME SA709 Grade 50W
ASME SA709 Grade HPS 50W ASME SA709 Grade HPS 70W ASME SA709 Grade 100 ASME SA709 Grade 100W
ASME SA709 Grade HPS 100W      
EN10025 EN10025-2 EN10025-2 S235J0 EN10025-2 S275J0 EN10025-2 S355J0 EN10025-2 S355K2
EN10025-2 S235JR EN10025-2 S275JR EN10025-2 S355JR EN10025-2 S420J0
EN10025-2 S235J2 EN10025-2 S275J2 EN10025-2 S355J2  
EN10025-3 EN10025-3 S275N EN10025-3 S355N EN10025-3 S420N EN10025-3 S460N
EN10025-3 S275NL EN10025-3 S355NL EN10025-3 S420NL EN10025-3 S460NL
EN10025-4 EN10025-4 S275M EN10025-4 S355M EN10025-4 S420M EN10025-4 S460M
EN10025-4 S275ML EN10025-4 S355ML EN10025-4 S420ML EN10025-4 S460ML
EN10025-6 EN10025-6 S460Q EN10025-6 S460QL EN10025-6 S460QL1 EN10025-6 S500Q
EN10025-6 S500QL EN10025-6 S500QL1 EN10025-6 S550Q EN10025-6 S550QL
EN10025-6 S550QL1 EN10025-6 S620Q EN10025-6 S620QL EN10025-6 S620QL1
EN10025-6 S690Q EN10025-6 S690QL EN10025-6 S690Q1 EN10025-6 S890Q
EN10025-6 S890QL EN10025-6 S890QL1 EN10025-6 S960Q EN10025-6 S960QL
JIS JIS G3101 JIS G3101 SS330 JIS G3101 SS400 JIS G3101 SS490 JIS G3101 SS540
JIS G3106 JIS G3106 SM400A JIS G3106 SM400B JIS G3106 SM400C JIS G3106 SM490A
JIS G3106 SM490YA JIS G3106 SM490B JIS G3106 SM490YB JIS G3106 SM490C
JIS G3106 SM520B JIS G3106 SM520C JIS G3106 SM570  
DIN DIN 17100 DIN17100 St52-3 DIN17100 St37-2 DIN17100 St37-3 DIN17100 RSt37-2
DIN17100 USt37-2      
DIN 17102 DIN17102 StE315 DIN17102 EStE315 DIN17102 TStE315 DIN17102 WStE315
DIN17102 StE355 DIN17102 EStE355 DIN17102 TStE355 DIN17102 WStE355
DIN17102 StE380 DIN17102 EStE380 DIN17102 TStE380 DIN17102 WStE380
DIN17102 StE420 DIN17102 EStE420 DIN17102 TStE420 DIN17102 WStE420
DIN17102 StE460 DIN17102 EStE460 DIN17102 TStE460 DIN17102 WStE460
DIN17102 StE500 DIN17102 EStE500 DIN17102 TStE500 DIN17102 WStE500
DIN17102 EStE285      
GB GB/T700 GB/T700 Q235A GB/T700 Q235B GB/T700 Q235C GB/T700 Q235D
GB/T700 Q275      
GB/T1591 GB/T1591 Q345A GB/T1591 Q390A GB/T1591 Q420A GB/T1591 Q420E
GB/T1591 Q345B GB/T1591 Q390B GB/T1591 Q420B GB/T1591 Q460C
GB/T1591 Q345C GB/T1591 Q390C GB/T1591 Q420C GB/T1591 Q460D
GB/T1591 Q345D GB/T1591 Q390D GB/T1591 Q420D GB/T1591 Q460E
GB/T1591 Q345E GB/T1591 Q390E    
GB/T16270 GB/T16270 Q550C GB/T16270 Q550D GB/T16270 Q550E GB/T16270 Q550F
GB/T16270 Q620C GB/T16270 Q620D GB/T16270 Q620E GB/T16270 Q620F
GB/T16270 Q690C GB/T16270 Q690D GB/T16270 Q690E GB/T16270 Q690F
GB/T16270 Q800C GB/T16270 Q800D GB/T16270 Q800E GB/T16270 Q800F
GB/T16270 Q890C GB/T16270 Q890D GB/T16270 Q890E GB/T16270 Q890F
GB/T16270 Q960C GB/T16270 Q960D GB/T16270 Q960E GB/T16270 Q960F
GB/T16270 Q500      

 

A572 and A588 alloy steel plate

A572 and A588 alloy steel plate

A572 and A588 alloy steel plate

A572 and A588 alloy steel plate

A572 and A588 alloy steel plate