DIN 17100 ST52-3 is a very common and widely used high-strength material grade for manufacturing Longitudinal Submerged Arc Welded (LSAW) pipes [citation:1, citation:2, citation:4]. This combination is a standard product offered by numerous manufacturers globally for demanding structural and engineering applications [citation:1, citation:2, citation:4, citation:7].
It is important to understand that "DIN 17100 ST52-3" refers to the material grade of the steel plate used as the raw material. The finished LSAW pipe product is manufactured to meet the specifications of this grade and is available from suppliers who list DIN 17100 grades in their production range [citation:1, citation:2, citation:4]. The German standard DIN 17100 has been replaced by the European standard EN 10025-2, and the modern equivalent of ST52-3 is S355J2 [citation:3, citation:6].
Here is the detailed specification for a DIN 17100 ST52-3 LSAW pipe:
Key Specifications
| Attribute | Description |
|---|---|
| Material Standard (Historical) | DIN 17100: German standard for hot-rolled products in non-alloy steels [citation:1, citation:3, citation:6]. This standard has been superseded . |
| Steel Grade (Historical) | ST52-3: A high-strength low-alloy structural steel grade. The "ST" stands for "Stahl" (steel), "52" indicates the minimum tensile strength (approximately 520 MPa), and "-3" denotes the quality grade with specified impact requirements [citation:1, citation:9]. |
| Material Number | 1.0570 (for ST52-3N) or 1.0553 (for ST52-3U) [citation:2, citation:3, citation:6]. |
| Modern Equivalent Standard | EN 10025-2: Hot-rolled products of structural steels [citation:3, citation:6]. |
| Modern Equivalent Grade | S355J2 (Material Number 1.0577) [citation:3, citation:6]. The "355" indicates the minimum yield strength in MPa, and "J2" denotes 27 Joules impact energy at -20°C [citation:3, citation:6]. |
| Product Standard | LSAW pipes can be manufactured to various product standards depending on the final application, such as EN 10219 (structural hollow sections) or EN 10217 (pressure purposes) . |
| Process | LSAW (Longitudinal Submerged Arc Welding) : Pipes are manufactured by forming steel plates into a cylinder (using JCOE, UOE, or similar forming processes) and welding the longitudinal seam both internally and externally using a submerged arc process [citation:1, citation:2, citation:4]. |
| Chemical Composition (max %) [citation:1, citation:2, citation:3, citation:6, citation:8, citation:9] | Values vary slightly by source and thickness, typical ranges are: |
| Carbon (C): ≤ 0.20 - 0.24 | |
| Silicon (Si): ≤ 0.55 - 0.60 | |
| Manganese (Mn): ≤ 1.60 - 1.70 | |
| Phosphorus (P): ≤ 0.040 - 0.045 | |
| Sulfur (S): ≤ 0.040 - 0.045 | |
| Mechanical Properties (min) [citation:1, citation:2, citation:3, citation:5, citation:6, citation:8, citation:9] | |
| Yield Strength (t ≤ 16mm): 355 MPa | |
| Yield Strength (16mm < t ≤ 40mm): 345 MPa | |
| Yield Strength (40mm < t ≤ 63mm): 335 MPa | |
| Yield Strength (63mm < t ≤ 80mm): 325 MPa | |
| Yield Strength (80mm < t ≤ 100mm): 315 MPa | |
| Tensile Strength (3mm ≤ t ≤ 100mm): 490-630 MPa | |
| Elongation: ≥ 18-22% (varies by thickness) [citation:5, citation:8, citation:9] | |
| Impact Properties [citation:3, citation:5, citation:6, citation:8, citation:9] | Charpy V-notch Impact Energy: ≥ 27 J at -20°C (Modern equivalent S355J2) [citation:3, citation:6]. Historical ST52-3 specified 27J at 0°C [citation:8, citation:9]. |
| Typical Size Range [citation:2, citation:4] | |
| Outside Diameter: 355.6 mm to 2500 mm (approx. 14" to 100") | |
| Wall Thickness: 5 mm to 75 mm (up to 120 mm available from some manufacturers) | |
| Length: 3 m to 18.3 m (customizable, up to 32 m available for piling) | |
| Manufacturing Steps [citation:1, citation:2, citation:4] | 1. Steel plate selection and edge milling. 2. Edge crimping and forming using JCOE or UOE processes. 3. Internal and external submerged arc welding. 4. Mechanical expanding (for UOE/JCOE). 5. Non-destructive testing (Ultrasonic, X-ray). 6. Hydrostatic testing. 7. End facing and beveling. |
| Common Applications [citation:1, citation:2, citation:4, citation:5, citation:8] | High-strength structural components; bridge construction; offshore platforms; piling foundations; heavy machinery manufacturing; crane booms and chassis; pressure vessels and storage tanks; large-diameter fluid transmission (water, gas, oil). |
| Certification | Mill Test Certificate typically to EN 10204 / 3.1 . |
🔍 Important Notes on the Standard
Withdrawn Standard: DIN 17100 has been largely superseded by the European standard EN 10025-2 (withdrawn in 2004) [citation:3, citation:6]. While ST52-3 is still widely recognized in industry and often referenced by manufacturers for market familiarity, for new projects, it is recommended to specify the modern equivalent S355J2 to EN 10025-2 [citation:3, citation:6].
Grade Designation Evolution:
| Historical (DIN) | Modern Equivalent (EN) |
|---|---|
| ST52-3 (1.0570) | S355J2 (1.0577) [citation:3, citation:6] |
| ST52-3U (1.0553) | S355J0 (1.0553) [citation:3, citation:6] |
Properties Evolution: The modern S355J2 offers improved Charpy impact requirements (27J at -20°C) compared to the historical ST52-3 which typically specified 27J at 0°C [citation:5, citation:6, citation:9]. This provides better low-temperature performance.
Impact Testing Temperature: The "-3" suffix in ST52-3 historically indicated a specific quality level. For modern applications requiring guaranteed low-temperature toughness, S355J2 (with -20°C impact testing) is the appropriate specification [citation:3, citation:6].
Weldability: ST52-3/S355J2 has excellent weldability due to its controlled chemistry and low carbon equivalent, making it suitable for common welding methods including submerged arc welding (SAW), which is the process used for LSAW pipe manufacturing [citation:1, citation:8].
Summary
In conclusion, DIN 17100 ST52-3 LSAW pipe is a well-established, high-strength product that combines the robust properties of ST52-3 structural steel with the versatile LSAW manufacturing process. While the original German standard has been superseded by EN 10025-2 S355J2, ST52-3 remains a widely recognized grade in the industry [citation:3, citation:6]. These pipes are commonly used for demanding structural applications, bridges, offshore projects, and heavy machinery, with LSAW production enabling large diameters and thick walls [citation:1, citation:4, citation:8]. For new projects, it is best practice to specify the modern equivalent: EN 10025-2 S355J2 LSAW pipe [citation:3, citation:6].
