BS 5045 Type E Steel Coil for Gas Cylinder

BS 5045 Type E Steel Coil for Gas Cylinder

BS 5045 Type E Steel Coil for Gas Cylinder - Comprehensive

BS 5045 Type E is a carbon manganese steel grade specified for the manufacture of welded steel gas cylinders. It offers high tensile strength, good ductility and reliable impact toughness at low temperatures.

Hot rolling, cold rolling, normalising, controlled rolling, welding, cold forming

BS 5045 Type E Steel Coil for Gas Cylinder Introduction

BS 5045 Type E is a weldable carbon manganese steel supplied in coil or plate form, originally defined in British Standard BS 5045-1 for transportable gas cylinders. The material is designed for the construction of permanently welded pressure vessels used for the storage and transport of compressed, liquefied or dissolved gases. Its chemical composition is carefully balanced to achieve a minimum yield strength of 355 MPa and a tensile strength in the range of 540–680 MPa while retaining sufficient elongation and cold formability for cylinder head and shell fabrication. The steel can be delivered in the hot-rolled, normalised or controlled-rolled condition, and typically exhibits good low-temperature toughness to meet the -20°C design temperature requirement commonly associated with gas cylinder applications.

BS 5045 Type E Steel Coil for Gas Cylinder Chemical Composition

The chemical composition of BS 5045 Type E steel is defined for ladle analysis in BS 5045-1. The steel is aluminium-killed or aluminium-grain refined and may contain small residual amounts of other elements. The limits below are typical and correspond to the standard requirements; product analysis may differ slightly according to the standard.

ElementStandard Value (wt.%)Remarks
Carbon (C)≤ 0.20
Silicon (Si)≤ 0.35
Manganese (Mn)0.90 – 1.60
Phosphorus (P)≤ 0.040
Sulfur (S)≤ 0.040
Aluminium (Altotal)≥ 0.015Required for grain refinement; if Al is used as the grain refining element
Chromium (Cr)a≤ 0.30Residual element; can be higher by agreement
Nickel (Ni)a≤ 0.30Residual element
Molybdenum (Mo)a≤ 0.10Residual element
Copper (Cu)a≤ 0.30Residual element

BS 5045 Type E Steel Coil for Gas Cylinder Thermal and Electrical Physical Properties

The data below are typical for carbon manganese structural steels at room temperature and may vary slightly depending on exact composition and processing. They are provided as general engineering guidelines.

PropertyTypical ValueUnitTest Condition
Density (ρ)7.85g/cm³20 °C
Modulus of Elasticity (E)210GPa20 °C
Shear Modulus (G)80GPa20 °C
Poisson's Ratio (ν)0.320 °C
Thermal Expansion Coefficient (α)11.5 – 12.510⁻⁶ /KRange 20–200 °C (average value)
Thermal Conductivity (λ)50W/(m·K)20 °C
Specific Heat Capacity480J/(kg·K)20 °C
Electrical Resistivity (ρe)0.15 – 0.25µΩ·m20 °C

BS 5045 Type E Steel Coil for Gas Cylinder Mechanical Properties

The mechanical properties below apply to the steel in the delivery condition (normalised or controlled-rolled) and for thicknesses ≤ 16 mm as per BS 5045-1. Testing is carried out at room temperature unless otherwise stated. Impact requirements are applicable only when specified for the design temperature (commonly -20°C).

PropertySpecified ValueUnitTest Condition
Yield Strength (ReH)≥ 355MPaTransverse direction; thickness ≤ 16 mm
Tensile Strength (Rm)540 – 680MPaTransverse direction; thickness ≤ 16 mm
Elongation (A)≥ 22%Gauge length L0 = 5.65√S0 (or proportional test piece); transverse direction
Bend Test (180°)No cracks open at the weld or base metal after bendingBend diameter = 3 × specimen thickness; test temperature ambient
Impact Absorbed Energy (KV)Average ≥ 27; individual min. 20JCharpy V-notch; transverse direction; -20°C (when specified for low-temperature service)

BS 5045 Type E Steel Coil for Gas Cylinder Fully Equivalent Material Standards and Replaceable Grades

Country/RegionStandardGradeRemarks
InternationalISO 4978Type EIdentical technical requirements for steel grades used in welded gas cylinders; chemically and mechanically equivalent.
United Kingdom (withdrawn)BS 1501-224 490224-490Former British Standard for pressure vessel steel with very similar strength and chemistry; may be accepted as equivalent by agreement.

BS 5045 Type E Steel Coil for Gas Cylinder Application Introduction

BS 5045 Type E steel is primarily intended for the fabrication of welded steel gas cylinders in accordance with BS 5045-1. The material is processed into coiled or flat plate form, then cold or hot formed into cylinder bodies and heads. Its strength and toughness allow the construction of lightweight, durable pressure vessels for a wide range of gases. Typical applications and components are listed below.

Product Applications: Seamless-appearance welded steel cylinders for compressed and liquefied gases, Transportable refillable gas bottles (water capacity up to 150 litres), Pressure vessels for stationary storage (when fabricated according to design codes), LPG automotive fuel tanks (if approved by relevant codes)

Processed into products: Cylinder shell (cylindrical body) – formed from coil/plate by rolling and longitudinal welding, Pressed or spun end closures (heads) – hot or cold formed from plate, Neck rings and foot rings – welded attachments, Valve protection caps and shrouds – secondary components often made from the same material, Base plates and mounting brackets

Application industries: Medical gas cylinder manufacturing (oxygen, nitrous oxide, medical air), Industrial gas storage and transport (argon, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, acetylene, LPG), Specialty gas packaging (calibration gases, semiconductor gases), Fire extinguisher manufacturing (portable and wheeled units), Beverage gas cylinders (CO₂ for carbonation)

BS 5045 Type E Steel Coil for Gas Cylinder Similar or Alternative Material Recommendations

Country/RegionStandardGradeRemarks
EuropeEN 10120P355NBSteel for welded gas cylinders. Minimum yield strength 355 MPa; tensile range 490–630 MPa. Not fully identical (lower max tensile) but widely used as a functional substitute.
USAASTM A516 / A516MGrade 70Carbon-silicon steel for pressure vessels. Yield ≥ 260 MPa (≥ 380 MPa for A516-70), tensile 485–620 MPa. Lower yield, but comparable strength; not specifically intended for gas cylinders, may require requalification.
ChinaGB 6653HP355Welded gas cylinder steel with min. yield 355 MPa; similar application. Chemical and mechanical properties closely matching BS 5045 Type E, but verification per product standard is required.

Notes:

Delivery conditions and testing: BS 5045 Type E steel is usually supplied in the as-rolled, normalised or controlled-rolled state, with the final condition agreed between the manufacturer and the purchaser. Mechanical testing is performed on specimens taken transverse to the rolling direction unless otherwise agreed. When gas cylinders are designed for low temperature service (typically -20°C), Charpy impact testing with average 27 J at the design temperature is mandatory. The steel is typically aluminium-killed to ensure fine grain structure and improved toughness. Third-party inspection and certification to EN 10204 3.1 or 3.2 are common for this product. For welded construction, suitable welding consumables and procedures must be qualified according to relevant pressure vessel codes. Preheating for thicknesses above 20 mm may be recommended. No specific data for higher temperatures is provided in the standard; the user must carry out design verification for special conditions.

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