How to Select the Right SA 387 Gr 11 Plate for Your Application

Jan 05, 2026 Leave a message

How do you select the right SA 387 Gr 11 plate for your application? With many plates available, deciding which type is best can be challenging. Luckily, this article will provide key insights regarding what factors to consider during selection to ensure that the chosen plate meets all requirements and results in long-term performance with no durability issues. Read on and learn everything you need to know about selecting an SA 387 Gr 11 plate!

 

What is the SA 387 Gr 11 Plate?

SA 387 Gr 11 Plate is a pressure vessel grade steel plate designed for elevated temperature service. It is delivered in normalized condition and is typically used to produce welded boilers and pressure vessels resistant to corrosion, abrasion, and heat damage. This plate type offers exceptional oxidation and carburization resistance at temperatures up to 1100°F (593°C). Its chromium-molybdenum alloy content makes it ideal for use in high-temperature environments such as oil refineries, power plants, petrochemical plants, and aerospace applications.

 

How to choose Right SA 387 Gr 11 Plate

Material Compatibility

SA 387 Gr 11 plate is a pressure vessel grade steel utilized in elevated temperature service with excellent corrosion resistance and strength. It can be used for diverse applications, including power plant heater chambers, valves, piping systems, process vessels, and tanks. The alloy has a good combination of high tensile strength, and the spinel structure of the alloy provides good oxidation resistance at temperatures up to 1600°F (871°C). This grade is widely used for numerous industrial applications requiring corrosion resistance. When exposed to more aggressive chemically active environments such as hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid solutions, it should be combined with other materials like chromium molybdenum alloys to ensure compatibility and increase its durability depending on the use case.

Application-Specific Requirements

The operating environment and process requirements significantly affect selecting the right SA 387 Gr 11 plate. Every application requires different factors and properties like weldability, toughness, dimensional stability, thermal conductivity, and other mechanical properties. Identify all your application's essential properties and factors and choose the SA 387 Gr 11 plate that meets those specifications.

Plate Size and Availability

Considering the size and availability of the SA 387 Gr 11 plate is essential. The plate size you need for your application may be limited. In that case, you may need to look for custom-made plates or modify your application process to fit the available plate sizes. Consider this option's cost and time implications before making a final decision.

 

Manufacturer's reputation and quality assurance

Choosing the right SA 387 Gr 11 plate requires a reliable and reputable manufacturer with quality assurance programs. The manufacturer should have a record of producing high-quality plates that meet the industry's standards. Some of the quality assurance programs include ultrasonic, magnetic particle, and liquid penetrant testing. Please do your research on the manufacturer and ensure that they meet all of your requirements.

Cost-effectiveness

Choosing the right SA 387 Gr 11 plate for your application requires balancing the price with the plate's quality and performance. Please don't choose the cheapest option, which may compromise your application's efficiency and safety. However, always compare manufacturers' prices and choose the best quality-to-price ratio.

 

Choose Between SA 387 Gr 11 Class 1 and Class 2

SA 387 Gr 11 is available in two Classes, differing in heat treatment and mechanical properties-this is the most common decision point for buyers:

Factor SA 387 Gr 11 Class 1 SA 387 Gr 11 Class 2 Which to Choose?
Heat Treatment Normalized + Tempered (899–927°C + 620–650°C) Quenched + Tempered (870–900°C + 620–650°C) Class 2 for higher strength; Class 1 for cost savings
Minimum Yield Strength 240 MPa (35 ksi) 310 MPa (45 ksi) Class 2 for high-pressure applications
Minimum Tensile Strength 515 MPa (75 ksi) 515 MPa (75 ksi) Same for both
Hardness (Max) 187 HB 207 HB Class 2 for wear resistance
Cost 3–5% lower than Class 2 Slightly higher (due to Q&T processing) Class 1 for non-critical, moderate-pressure equipment
Typical Applications General tube shell heat exchangers, low-stress vessels High-pressure reactors, heavy-duty tube shell heat exchangers, sour service equipment Class 2 for critical safety-related equipment

 

 

GNEE's SA 387 Gr 11 Plate Selection Support

At GNEE, we don't just supply SA 387 Gr 11 plates-we partner with you to select the perfect material for your application. Our services include:

Free Technical Consultation: Our engineers review your temperature/pressure/medium specs to recommend Class, thickness, and testing.

Custom Fabrication: Cut-to-size plates for tube shell heat exchangers, pressure vessels, and piping.

Full Compliance: ASME Section II, PED, and NACE MR0175 certifications for global projects.

Fast Delivery: 3–7 days for in-stock items; 2–4 weeks for custom orders.

Whether you're building a tube shell heat exchanger for a refinery, a pressure vessel for a petrochemical plant, or process piping for a power plant, GNEE's SA 387 Gr 11 plates are engineered for reliability.

 

Conclusion:

Selecting the right SA 387 Gr 11 plate for your application is an important process that requires proper analysis and consideration. Ensuring that your chosen plate meets your application's requirements and is compatible with the operating environment is essential. Make an informed decision by considering the abovementioned factors, and always work with reputable manufacturers that produce high-quality plates. Following these guidelines, you can choose the right SA 387 Gr 11 plate to ensure your application's productivity, efficiency, and safety.

 

What is SA 387 GR 11 Cl 2 equivalent material?

ASME SA387

Sa 387 Gr 11 Equivalent Material is the ASME SA387 in the US markets with the European Union having modules in 13CrMoSi5-5 grade. The Sa 387 Gr 11 Cl 2 Equivalent Material is the SA387-11-2 of the ASME and ASTM standard.

 

What is the difference between SA 387 Grade 11 CL 1 and Class 2?

The difference between SA 387 Grade 11 Class 1 and Class 2 Plate lies in their mechanical properties. However, they both have the same chemical composition. The tensile strength and yield strength of class 2 material is higher than that of class 1, whereas the elongation for class 1 is higher compared to class 2.

 

What is the difference between SA 516 GR 70 and SA 387 GR 11?

Compared to carbon steel plates, SA 387 Gr 11 plates offer superior corrosion and oxidation resistance while maintaining good tensile and yield strength. Compared to SA 516 Gr 70 plates, SA 387 Gr 11 plates have better resistance to oxidation and corrosion, making them a better choice for high-temperature environments.

 

What temperature is SA 387 GR 11?

In the lower end of the temperature range SA 387 Gr 11 (1150 °F min tempering temperature) , and SA 387 Gr 22 (1250 °F min tempering temperature) are used. These grades can be specified in either class 1 or 2 and can also be provided in the Normalized & Tempered or Quenched and Tempered.

 

 

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GNEE Steel also supplies a variety of boilers and pressure vessel steel plates, such as A204 Grade B,A515 Grade 70,A537 Class 1,SA387 Grade 11 Class 1,P265GH,S537 Class 2,P355Q,P275N,P355N,P690Q,Q345R, etc. If you want to know more about other types of steel plates, you can call the consultation hotline at +8615824687445 or send an email to alloy@gneesteelgroup.com. You are welcome to consult us, and we are very willing to answer your questions.

 

Grades Of Pressure Vessel Plates Supplied By GNEE
ASTM ASTM A202/A202M ASTM A202 Grade A ASTM A202 Grade B    
ASTM A203/A203M ASTM A203 Grade A ASTM A203 Grade B ASTM A203 Grade D ASTM A203 Grade E
ASTM A203 Grade F      
ASTM A204/A204M ASTM A204 Grade A ASTM A204 Grade B ASTM A204 Grade C  
ASTM A285/A285M ASTM A285 Grade A ASTM A285 Grade B ASTM A285 Grade C  
ASTM A299/A299M ASTM A299 Grade A ASTM A299 Grade B    
ASTM A302/A302M ASTM A302 Grade A ASTM A302 Grade B ASTM A302 Grade C ASTM A302 Grade D
ASTM A387/A387M ASTM A387 Grade 5 Class1 ASTM A387 Grade 5 Class2 ASTM A387 Grade 11 Class1 ASTM A387 Grade 11 Class2
ASTM A387 Grade 12 Class1 ASTM A387 Grade 12 Class2 ASTM A387 Grade 22 Class1 ASTM A387 Grade 22 Class2
ASTM A515/A515M ASTM A515 Grade 60 ASTM A515 Grade 65 ASTM A515 Grade 70  
ASTM A516/A516M ASTM A516 Grade 55 ASTM A516 Grade 60 ASTM A516 Grade 65 ASTM A516 Grade 70
ASTM A517/A517M ASTM A517 Grade A ASTM A517 Grade B ASTM A517 Grade E ASTM A517 Grade F
ASTM A517 Grade P ASTM A517 Grade J    
ASTM A533/A533M ASTM A533 Grade A Class1 ASTM A533 Grade B Class1 ASTM A533 Grade C Class1 ASTM A533 Grade D Class1
ASTM A533 Grade A Class2 ASTM A533 Grade B Class2 ASTM A533 Grade C Class2 ASTM A533 Grade D Class2
ASTM A533 Grade A Class3 ASTM A533 Grade B Class3 ASTM A533 Grade C Class3 ASTM A533 Grade D Class3
ASTM A537/A537M ASTM A537 Class1 ASTM A537 Class2 ASTM A537 Class3  
ASTM A612/A612M ASTM A612      
ASTM A662/A662M ASTM A662 Grade A ASTM A662 Grade B ASTM A662 Grade C  
EN EN10028-2 EN10028-2 P235GH EN10028-2 P265GH EN10028-2 P295GH EN10028-2 P355GH
EN10028-2 16MO3      
EN10028-3 EN10028-3 P275N EN10028-3 P275NH EN10028-3 P275NL1 EN10028-3 P275NL2
EN10028-3 P355N EN10028-3 P355NH EN10028-3 P355NL1 EN10028-3 P355NL2
EN10028-3 P460N EN10028-3 P460NH EN10028-3 P460NL1 EN10028-3 P460NL2
EN10028-5 EN10028-5 P355M EN10028-5 P355ML1 EN10028-5 P355ML2 EN10028-5 P420M
EN10028-5 P420ML1 EN10028-5 P420ML2 EN10028-5 P460M EN10028-5 P460ML1
EN10028-5 P460ML2      
EN10028-6 EN10028-6 P355Q EN10028-6 P460Q EN10028-6 P500Q EN10028-6 P690Q
EN10028-6 P355QH EN10028-6 P460QH EN10028-6 P500QH EN10028-6 P690QH
EN10028-6 P355QL1 EN10028-6 P460QL1 EN10028-6 P500QL1 EN10028-6 P690QL1
EN10028-6 P355QL2 EN10028-6 P460QL2 EN10028-6 P500QL2 EN10028-6 P690QL2
JIS JIS G3115 JIS G3115 SPV235 JIS G3115 SPV315 JIS G3115 SPV355 JIS G3115 SPV410
JIS G3115 SPV450 JIS G3115 SPV490    
JIS G3103 JIS G3103 SB410 JIS G3103 SB450 JIS G3103 SB480 JIS G3103 SB450M
JIS G3103 SB480M      
GB GB713 GB713 Q245R GB713 Q345R GB713 Q370R GB713 12Cr1MoVR
GB713 12Cr2Mo1R GB713 13MnNiMoR GB713 14Cr1MoR GB713 15CrMoR
GB713 18MnMoNbR      
GB3531 GB3531 09MnNiDR GB3531 15MnNiDR GB3531 16MnDR  
DIN DIN 17155 DIN 17155 HI DIN 17155 HII DIN 17155 10CrMo910 DIN 17155 13CrMo44
DIN 17155 15Mo3 DIN 17155 17Mn4 DIN 17155 19Mn6