Material Certificates, Chemical Analysis and Mechanical Properties

What is a material certificate?

A material certificate is a document issued by the steel mill proving that a plate, pipe or section complies with a specific standard. It is linked to the material through the heat number printed or stamped on the product itself.

The most common types under EN 10204 are the 3.1 certificate, approved by an independent inspection department at the mill, and the 3.2 certificate, also approved by an external inspector.

Chemical analysis

This section shows the percentage of elements in the alloy such as carbon, manganese, chromium, nickel and molybdenum. Compare each value with the limits in the standard: for example, molybdenum is what distinguishes 316 from 304, and carbon content affects weldability.

Mechanical properties

• Yield strength: the stress at which the metal starts to deform permanently.
• Tensile strength: the maximum stress the metal can take before failure.
• Elongation: how far the metal can stretch, an indicator of ductility.
• Impact test: measures toughness, especially at low temperatures.
• Hardness: especially important for wear-resistant materials.

How to check compliance

Make sure the heat number on the certificate matches the one on the material, that the standard, grade and dimensions match your order, and that the chemical and mechanical values are within limits. At Mega Steel we include material certificates with every delivery and keep them in the project file.