ASTM A203 Grade E: higher official minima in the 3.50% nickel family
Gangsteel produces and exports ASTM A203 Grade E nickel-alloy plate. Grade E has the same official strength minima as A203 Grade B, but it is a 3.50% nominal-nickel designation, not a 2.25% nickel plate. We would not document a Grade B order as Grade E without an approved specification change.
Strength level and delivery basis
A203/A203M-23 is the current public edition. Official Scope confirms Grade E yield strength of at least 40 ksi [275 MPa] and tensile strength of at least 70 ksi [485 MPa], with nominal nickel 3.50%. The official abstract requires killed, fine-grain steel; Grades A, B, D and E shall be normalized as required. Agree the contractual delivery route before production.
| Property | Official public value | Steelspecs compilation |
|---|---|---|
| Yield min, ksi [MPa] | 40 [275] | 40 [275] |
| Tensile min, ksi [MPa] | 70 [485] | 70 [485] |
| Tensile max, ksi [MPa] | 90 [620] | |
| Elongation min, 8 in. [200 mm], % | 17 | |
| Elongation min, 2 in. [50 mm], % | 21 |
The Grade E compilation dated 14 September 2026 gives tensile strength 70–90 ksi [485–620 MPa] and the same mechanical set for its thin and thick bands. Official Scope 1.2 for Grade E is not thickness-split; only Grade F is thickness-split in that official table. Upper tensile and elongation numbers are not public Scope values. Gauge lengths describe test specimens, not plate thickness; SI and inch-pound requirements are independent systems.
Grade E chemistry: use this designation’s own carbon limits
Official nominal nickel is 3.50%. The following figures were independently confirmed on the dated Grade E compilation, not transferred from Grade B or from a table headed “Element A203 Grade A”. These tables are compilation references, not official Table 1.
| Plate thickness | Heat C max, % | Heat Mn max, % | Product Mn max, % |
|---|---|---|---|
| ≤50 mm | 0.20 | 0.70 | 0.78 |
| >50–100 mm | 0.23 | 0.80 | 0.88 |
| Element | Heat analysis, % | Product analysis, % | Current official table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Si | 0.15–0.40 | 0.13–0.45 | |
| Ni | 3.25–3.75 | 3.18–3.82 | |
| P | 0.025 max | ||
| S | 0.025 max | ||
| C | See thickness table |
Heat-carbon maxima of 0.20% and 0.23% are Grade E’s own two-band compilation schedule, through 100 mm. They are not Grade B’s 0.21 / 0.24 / 0.25 limits, and no third carbon band is filled in here. Each manganese figure is a maximum for its own thickness band, not a combined range. Product carbon, phosphorus and sulphur numeric cells remain blank; confirm the product check under A20/A203 and the order. The 3.25–3.75% heat and 3.18–3.82% product nickel bands are labelled compilation figures beside the official 3.50% nominal content.
Equivalent materials: same minima as Grade B does not mean the same grade
Grade E must keep both its 3.50% nickel identity and its official strength level. We would not produce or document a different designation as Grade E without an approved specification change.
| Material considered | What to compare | Direct substitute? |
|---|---|---|
| A203 Grade B | Official strength minima coincide (40 / 70 ksi), but Grade B is the 2.25% nickel family and has a different labelled carbon schedule. | No. Grade B is not equivalent to Grade E. |
| A203 Grade D | Same 3.50% nominal nickel family, but official minima are lower: yield 37 ksi [255 MPa] and tensile 65 ksi [450 MPa]. Labelled heat-carbon maxima are also lower. | No. Grade D cannot directly replace a Grade E requirement. |
| A203 Grade A | A 2.25% nickel grade with Grade D’s official minima (37 / 65 ksi). | No. |
| A203 Grade F | Same nickel family, with thickness-split official minima. The dated compilation describes a quench-and-temper delivery route, not Grade E normalizing. | No. Grade F is not a drop-in for a normalized Grade E order. |
| SA-203 / ASME Code acceptance | Governing Code, certificate designation, approved delivery condition and tests must satisfy the order. | Not automatically. ASTM and ASME are not interchangeable in either direction. |
Related plate choices
A203 Grade D — compare the lower official strength minima; A203 Grade F — the thickness-split 3.50% nickel grade; A203 Grade B and A203 Grade A for the 2.25% nickel family. Use these pages for navigation, not as technical evidence or substitution approval.
Questions before releasing a Grade E order
If the strength minima match Grade B, is the nickel interchangeable?
No. Official Scope places Grade E in the 3.50% nickel family and Grade B in the 2.25% family. Confirm the drawing’s required nickel identity.
Does thicker Grade E plate use Grade B’s carbon limits?
No. The dated Grade E compilation prints its own two heat-carbon maxima, 0.20% and 0.23%, and does not add a third band from Grade B.
Does the mechanical table change at 50 mm?
The Grade E compilation gives the same set in both bands. Only Grade F is thickness-split in the official Scope table.
Is 100 mm an official ASTM maximum?
No. Scope makes maximum thickness composition-limited. A compilation supply range is not an official cap.
Are extra cooling, tempering or impact values included by default?
No. Specify any required treatment and impact test conditions. Paid ASTM/ASME full texts were not read.
Confirm your Grade E production and export requirement
Send the Grade E plate schedule to Gangsteel, identifying edition, A203/A203M unit system, sizes, quantity, treatment, testing, inspection documents and destination. We can then review the order against Grade E rather than an assumed equivalent.