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Eternal
Jiangyin Eternal Heavy Industry Co.,Ltd is a professional manufacturer of 15CrMoR forged tube sheets for shell-and-tube heat exchangers, reactors, and high-temperature pressure vessels. Our 15CrMoR tubesheets are open-die forged, normalized and tempered, and 100% ultrasonically tested to ensure metallurgical integrity in hydrogen-rich and elevated-temperature service. 15CrMoR is the Chinese designation for a 1Cr-0.5Mo low-alloy chrome-moly steel with a chromium content of approximately 1%, providing excellent resistance to hydrogen attack and creep at temperatures up to 550°C.
Element | Content Range (%) | Function |
Carbon (C) | 0.12 – 0.18 | Balances strength and weldability |
Silicon (Si) | 0.15 – 0.40 | Deoxidation, improves oxidation resistance |
Manganese (Mn) | 0.40 – 0.70 | Increases hardenability and strength |
Chromium (Cr) | 0.80 – 1.20 | Forms protective Cr₂O₃ oxide film; enhances high-temperature strength |
Molybdenum (Mo) | 0.45 – 0.60 | Improves creep strength and resistance to hydrogen embrittlement |
Phosphorus (P) | ≤ 0.025 | Impurity; controlled to minimize cold brittleness |
Sulfur (S) | ≤ 0.010 | Impurity; controlled to prevent hot cracking |
The precise balance of chromium and molybdenum is the cornerstone of 15CrMoR's performance: chromium forms a stable, dense Cr₂O₃ oxide film that impedes hydrogen atom diffusion into the steel, while molybdenum significantly boosts high-temperature strength and suppresses temper embrittlement.
After normalizing and tempering, 15CrMoR delivers a well-balanced combination of strength, ductility, and toughness:
Property | Value | Test Condition |
Tensile Strength (Rm) | 450 – 600 MPa | Room temperature |
Yield Strength (Rp0.2) | ≥ 295 MPa | Room temperature |
Elongation (A) | ≥ 19% | Room temperature |
Impact Energy (KV₂) | ≥ 31 J | 0°C, transverse |
Hardness | ≤ 179 HB | As-delivered |
High-Temp Yield (Rp0.2) | ≥ 85 MPa | 550°C |
In field applications, forged 15CrMoR tube sheets have demonstrated yield strength exceeding 310 MPa and impact energy ≥ 41 J at -20°C after normalizing and tempering, with tube hole machining accuracy reaching H8 grade. At 550°C, 15CrMoR maintains a creep strength approximately 3 times higher than ordinary carbon steel, ensuring reliable long-term service under sustained high-temperature conditions.
15CrMoR has well-established equivalents across major international standards, facilitating material substitution and cross-standard procurement:
Standard | Equivalent Grade | Notes |
China (GB/T 713.2) | 15CrMoR | Primary specification |
USA (ASTM/ASME) | SA387 Gr.12 CL2 / SA336 F12 | 1Cr-0.5Mo alloy steel for pressure parts |
Germany (DIN) | 13CrMo44 (DIN 17155) | Widely recognized European equivalent |
Japan (JIS) | SB49 (JIS G 3103) / SCMV 410 | Japanese pressure vessel steel standard |
Europe (EN) | 13CrMo4-5 (EN 10028-2) | European pressure vessel plate standard |
The American equivalent SA387 Gr.12 CL2 (1Cr-0.5Mo) is the most commonly referenced comparison in international procurement. When specifying a forged tubesheet to ASME standards, ASME SA336 F12 is the relevant forging specification for 1Cr-0.5Mo alloy steel for pressure and high-temperature parts.
Heating Temperature: 1050 – 1150°C. Ingots are slowly heated to avoid thermal stress cracking in large cross-sections.
Forging Ratio: ≥ 3.5 for general tubesheets; ≥ 6 is recommended for critical high-pressure applications to ensure adequate grain refinement and internal soundness.
Deformation: Multi-directional forging (upsetting + drawing) is employed to align metal flow lines along the tubesheet profile, eliminating porosity, shrinkage cavities, and segregation inherited from the casting process.
Final Forging Temperature: ≥ 850°C to avoid cracking due to excessive deformation resistance at low temperatures.
Normalizing: 900 – 930°C, holding time approximately 3 min/mm, followed by air cooling. This refines the grain structure and homogenizes the microstructure.
Tempering: ≥ 650°C (typically 680°C), holding time approximately 3 min/mm. Tempering temperature is not highly sensitive for 15CrMoR, but 680°C provides the optimal strength-toughness balance.
Post-Forging Result: Tempered sorbite microstructure with hardness ≤ 179 HB, ensuring good machinability and weldability.
Aspect | Forged Tube Sheet | Rolled Plate Tube Sheet |
Internal Soundness | No porosity, shrinkage, or lamination | Potential internal defects from rolling |
Grain Flow | Continuous, aligned with stress directions | Less favorable grain orientation |
Thickness Range | 50 – 600 mm | Typically limited to ≤ 200 mm |
UT Reliability | Superior due to homogeneous structure | May encounter inclusion clusters |
Service Life | Longer fatigue and creep life | Standard performance |
Forging eliminates casting defects such as porosity and shrinkage, and the continuous grain flow resulting from plastic deformation provides higher impact toughness and fatigue resistance compared to rolled plate of equivalent thickness. For tube sheets that serve as the primary pressure boundary between shell-side and tube-side fluids in heat exchangers, this metallurgical integrity is critical.
Parameter | Capability |
Material | 15CrMoR, 15CrMo, SA387 Gr.12, 13CrMo44 and other Cr-Mo grades |
Outer Diameter | 300 mm – 5,500 mm (custom sizes available) |
Thickness | 50 mm – 600 mm |
Tube Hole Tolerance | ±0.02 mm |
Surface Roughness (Gasket Face) | Ra 1.6 – 3.2 μm |
Forging Process | Open-die forging, ring forging |
Heat Treatment | Normalizing + tempering in calibrated furnaces (±7.5°C uniformity) |
NDT | 100% UT (ultrasonic testing), MT, PT per ASME/ASTM/EN standards |
Standards | ASME, ASTM, GB/T 713, DIN, JIS, EN |
Every 15CrMoR forged tube sheet undergoes comprehensive quality control:
Chemical Analysis — Spectrometer verification of each heat to confirm compliance with GB/T 713.2 or SA387 Gr.12.
Ultrasonic Testing (UT) — 100% volumetric inspection per NB/T 47013.3 / ASME Section V, with acceptance criteria to Level I or II.
Mechanical Testing — Tensile, yield, elongation, and Charpy impact tests on test coupons from the same forging.
Hardness Survey — Brinell hardness mapping to verify uniform heat treatment.
Dimensional Inspection — CMM verification of tube hole positions, ligament thickness, and flatness.
Surface Inspection — Magnetic particle (MT) or liquid penetrant (PT) testing on machined surfaces.
Documentation — EN 10204 3.1 / 3.2 certificates available upon request.
15CrMoR forged tube sheets are specified for equipment operating in hydrogen-containing, high-temperature, and high-pressure environments:
Hydrogenation Reactors — Tube sheets for hydrocracking and hydrotreating unit heat exchangers
Shell-and-Tube Heat Exchangers — Crude oil preheaters, reformer feed/effluent exchangers
Coal Chemical Equipment — Gasifiers and shift converters in coal-to-chemical plants
Power Generation — Steam surface condensers and feedwater heaters in thermal and nuclear power plants
Petrochemical Reactors — Methanation furnaces, conversion gas steam generators, and waste heat boilers
15CrMoR is particularly favored in the petrochemical and coal chemical sectors where equipment must withstand the combined effects of elevated temperature, high pressure, and hydrogen-rich process media.
Is 15CrMoR a stainless steel?
No. 15CrMoR is a low-alloy chrome-moly steel with a chromium content of only 0.80–1.20%, far below the 10.5% minimum required for stainless steel classification. It is designed for high-temperature strength and hydrogen resistance, not general corrosion resistance.
Can 15CrMoR be forged?
Yes. 15CrMoR has good hot working characteristics and is routinely forged into tube sheets, flanges, and other pressure-retaining components. The key is to control the forging temperature (1050–1150°C), maintain an adequate forging ratio, and follow up with normalizing + tempering heat treatment.
What is the maximum service temperature for 15CrMoR?
15CrMoR is designed for service temperatures up to 550°C. It maintains high creep strength and resistance to hydrogen attack within this range. Above 550°C, alternative materials such as 2.25Cr-1Mo (SA387 Gr.22) or modified 9Cr-1Mo may be considered.
What is the delivery condition of 15CrMoR forged tube sheets?
Standard delivery condition is normalizing + tempering (N+T) with hardness ≤ 179 HB. Alternative conditions such as quenching + tempering (Q+T) can be provided for specific property requirements.
How does 15CrMoR compare to SA387 Gr.12?
15CrMoR and SA387 Gr.12 CL2 are essentially equivalent — both are 1Cr-0.5Mo low-alloy steels for pressure service. The primary difference lies in the governing standard (GB/T 713 vs. ASTM/ASME) and minor compositional tolerances. For international projects requiring ASME compliance, SA387 Gr.12 CL2 is the reference grade.
