toughcore^® is a brand of voestalpine Grobblech GmbH and is distributed by UnionStahl in Western Europe.

toughcore^® – a Steel grades developed for extremes

toughcore^® defines a new delivery condition of thermomechanically rolled heavy plate with the unique combination of strength and excellent toughness right down to the core, while at the same time offering the best weldability.

The innovative production process leads to the following advantages:

• High toughness even at low temperatures (KBZ/CVN down to -80 °C)
• Consistent/homogeneous mechanical properties across the entire sheet thickness
• Fine grain structure over the entire sheet thickness
• improved values for crack tip opening displacement (CTOD)/ crack tip displacement concept
• improved values in the Battelle drop-weight tear test (BDWTT)/drop-weight test

Your advantages with toughcore^®

toughcore^® heavy plate offers the following advantages over conventionally thermomechanically produced steel grades:

• The steel grades guarantee a very high level of operational reliability while at the same time exploiting the potential of heavy plate under extreme conditions, such as very low temperatures or deep-sea applications, while at the same time minimizing the risk of brittle fracture.
• In the application areas of construction machinery, steel construction, pipelines and offshore, there are opportunities for cost-efficient and weight-reduced design.
• The best welding properties lead to an increase in productivity and preheating is no longer necessary for thin sheet thicknesses.
• At low application temperatures, ^{durostat® toughcore®} sheets in particular have 20 % higher hardness values and therefore better wear properties.
• Classic QT sheets are being replaced by thermomechanically rolled sheets and offer significantly better weldability and improved surface quality with a much lower carbon content for the best and most efficient processability.

toughcore^® – strong in these sectors

For maximum operational safety offshore

toughcore^® steel grades guarantee maximum safety for offshore applications. The focus here is on the entire supply chain – from exploration, assembly and transportation through to storage. These heavy plates are characterized by the combined Steel grades properties of strength, outstanding toughness even at very low temperatures and excellent weldability. These advantages are retained up to high wall thicknesses – up to 140 mm.   In platform construction, the trend is towards ever larger components and therefore greater wall thicknesses. The toughcore^® sheets enable the use of higher strength classes while maintaining the same toughness. This means that lower wall thicknesses can be used for construction, resulting in potential weight and cost savings compared to classic offshore steel grades. The improved weldability is another benefit.

For extreme cold in shipbuilding

Compared to conventional shipbuilding steel grades, toughcore^® steel grades are ideal for the construction of ice-going ships and are recommended for use in Arctic regions (up to Arctic Class III up to 100 mm plate thickness). The exploration of extreme regions is made possible, combined with the advantages of higher safety, cost savings, increased productivity and best weldability. Damage in the event of ship collisions is minimized thanks to the higher toughness at low temperatures.

For particularly high toughness in crane construction

toughcore^® sheets offer various advantages for the crane construction industry compared to the steel grades used to date. The high toughness, especially at low temperatures, leads to enormously increased component safety when used in arctic regions. The remarkably fine microstructure of toughcore^® heavy plate across the entire cross-section is the reason for its high toughness. Exceptional processing properties offer processors further benefits. Preheating of thin heavy plates is no longer necessary. The lower carbon content leads to better weldability and significantly reduces susceptibility to cold cracking. Faster welding due to higher heat input is possible while at the same time meeting the specified requirements.

For minimum wear in mining

durostat^® toughcore^® steel grades stand for minimal wear and, thanks to their higher resistance, offer opportunities for weight savings through the use of reduced sheet thicknesses. Furthermore, the thermomechanically manufactured steel grades are characterized by a longer service life of the manufactured components compared to conventionally produced wear-resistant steel grades. This is due to the higher surface hardness and lower abrasion rates. For thermomechanical steel grades, toughness at low operating temperatures is guaranteed by the manufacturer. Another advantage for fabricators is the excellent surface quality, which makes machining easier. The good weldability means that preheating is not required for thin sheet thicknesses.

For state-of-the-art design in steel construction

The combination of maximum toughness, high strength at low temperatures and excellent weldability also offers considerable advantages for this sector. Here they lead to improvements in the design of buildings. Slender and filigree-looking building structures with enhanced aesthetics, state-of-the-art design and the highest building standards are made possible. The low risk of brittle fracture leads to increased component safety.

For new possibilities in container construction

The use of toughcore^® steel grades opens up new application possibilities for fabricators in the field of tank construction. The high toughness at low temperatures and excellent weldability in particular are plus points in addition to the high operational safety. One application example is LPG tank production. Compared to the steel grades previously used here, the reduced nickel content results in a cost advantage. A further advantage can be the reduction in the CO₂ footprint of tank production as a result of the sustainable alloy concept.

For extreme loads in pipeline construction

Pipelines today have to withstand ever greater extremes, whether they are being laid in the ultra-deep sea or in arctic regions. Here, toughcore^® heavy plates offer considerable advantages over conventional linepipe steel grades and high-strength steel grades with their outstanding toughness properties at temperatures down to -80 °C. The risk of brittle fracture under these adverse environmental conditions is reduced. The pipes can withstand the highest pressures. The production of crack arrestors from toughcore^® results in maximum operational reliability. Other positive effects include higher productivity due to increased flow rates as a result of greater wall thicknesses and therefore larger pipe diameters, reduced welding costs due to welding with higher heat input, weight reduction and the associated cost reduction. Would you like more information or do you have any questions? Then contact our technical sales department. We look forward to hearing from you!