S235J2

1.0117

Hot-rolled non-alloy structural steel with specified impact toughness · EN 10025-2:2019 — Technical delivery conditions for non-alloy structural steels · EN 10025-1:2004 — General technical delivery conditions

S235J2 is the fully killed, −20 °C impact-tested quality of the S235 non-alloy structural-steel family. Its nominal 235 MPa strength designation applies only through 16 mm thickness; yield strength decreases with increasing thickness. It is readily weldable in normal structural fabrication, but the product form, thickness, delivery condition, inspection document and any special requirements for forming, galvanizing, through-thickness properties or ultrasonic testing must be stated when ordering.

Minimum average 27 J at −20 °CImpact quality · Charpy V-notch, 2 mm striker, longitudinal specimens; special provisions apply to subsized specimens and sections over 100 mm.
235 MPa at nominal thickness ≤16 mmMinimum yield strength · Reduces stepwise to 165 MPa for flat products over 250 mm through 400 mm.
Fully killed (FF)Steelmaking condition · This is a defining distinction of the J2 quality within the S235 family.
0.17%Maximum heat-analysis carbon · Applies throughout the thickness range covered for S235J2.
0.35% through 40 mmMaximum CEV · Increases to 0.38% over 40–150 mm and 0.40% over 150–400 mm; based on heat analysis.
Flat products through 400 mm; long products generally through 250 mmProduct scope · EN 10025-2 does not cover structural hollow sections or tubes.

Overview

Designation system: EN 10027 steel name and numerical designation systems
Product forms: Hot-rolled plate and sheet, Hot-rolled strip, Wide flats and flats, Hot-rolled sections, Bars and rods, Semi-finished products intended for further rolling into covered flat or long products
Condition: +AR — as rolled, +N — normalized or normalized rolled, +M — thermomechanically rolled; available for long products and hot-rolled strip, not quarto plate
Density: 7850 kg/m³ (Volumetric mass specified by EN 10025-2 for calculating nominal product mass; not a heat-specific measured value.)

What the designation means

Designation breakdown

Element	Meaning
S	Structural steel.
235	Minimum specified upper yield strength ReH of 235 MPa for nominal thickness ≤16 mm. It is not a thickness-independent yield value.
J2	Specified Charpy V-notch impact energy of 27 J minimum average at −20 °C.
1.0117	Numerical steel designation assigned under EN 10027-2.
FF	Fully killed steel, as required by the S235J2 chemical-composition table. FF is a production requirement rather than normally part of the ordered steel name.

S235J2 is a quality grade defined through chemistry, thickness-dependent tensile properties and impact toughness. The designation does not define dimensions, tolerances, surface class, internal soundness, inspection-document type or a unique rolling condition. Those matters are controlled by the order, the applicable dimensional standard and selected options in EN 10025-2.

Scope, product forms and delivery condition

Applicability of EN 10025-2 to S235J2

Item	Application
Flat products	Covered through 400 mm nominal thickness for J2 quality.
Long products	Generally covered through 250 mm nominal thickness.
Semi-finished products	May be supplied for further processing into covered flat or long products, subject to special ordering agreements.
Structural hollow sections and tubes	Not covered. These require the applicable hollow-section or tube product standard, even if a similar S235J2 designation is used.
Quarto plate delivery condition	Manufacturer may supply +AR or +N unless a condition is ordered by agreement.
Long products and hot-rolled strip	Manufacturer may supply +AR, +N or +M unless a condition is ordered by agreement.

The standard states that the specified mechanical properties do not depend on whether the permitted delivery condition is +AR, +N or +M. The condition nevertheless matters for subsequent hot forming, heat treatment and fabrication control.

Chemical composition and weldability controls

Heat analysis requirements for S235J2

Requirement	C	Si	Mn	P	S	N	Cu	Other
Maximum, mass %	0.17	Not specified in the grade table	1.40	0.025	0.025	Not specified in the grade table	0.55	Not specified in the grade table

These are heat-analysis limits. General limits for elements not defined in the grade table remain applicable under EN 10020. Deliberately added elements are to be reported in the inspection document.

Product-analysis limits when product analysis is ordered

C max.	Mn max.	P max.	S max.	Cu max.
0.19%	1.50%	0.035%	0.035%	0.60%

Product analysis is not automatically required; it is an order option. Its permissible limits are wider than the heat-analysis limits and should not be substituted for them when reviewing the cast analysis.

IIW carbon-equivalent formula used by EN 10025-2

CEV = C + Mn/6 + (Cr + Mo + V)/5 + (Ni + Cu)/15

Element contents are expressed as mass percentages. The specified maximum CEV is based on heat analysis.

Maximum CEV by nominal thickness

Nominal product thickness (%)	≤30 mm	>30–40 mm	>40–150 mm	>150–250 mm	>250–400 mm
Maximum CEV by nominal thickness	0.35%	0.35%	0.38%	0.40%	0.40%

The maximum may be increased when certain EN 10025-2 options concerning copper alloying or galvanizing composition are selected.

S235J2 is normally straightforward to weld, but the grade name alone does not determine whether preheat is required. Welding controls should be established from the actual inspection-certificate chemistry and CEV together with product thickness, joint restraint, heat input, diffusible hydrogen, consumable class and fabrication temperature. EN 1011-2 is the relevant European welding guidance referenced by EN 10025-2.

Mechanical properties at room temperature

Yield and tensile requirements

Nominal thickness	Minimum ReH	Tensile strength Rm
<3 mm	235 MPa for the ≤16 mm yield band	360–510 MPa
3–16 mm	235 MPa	360–510 MPa
>16–40 mm	225 MPa	360–510 MPa
>40–63 mm	215 MPa	360–510 MPa
>63–80 mm	215 MPa	360–510 MPa
>80–100 mm	215 MPa	360–510 MPa
>100–150 mm	195 MPa	350–500 MPa
>150–200 mm	185 MPa	340–490 MPa
>200–250 mm	175 MPa	340–490 MPa
>250–400 mm	165 MPa	330–480 MPa

The upper thickness ranges apply to covered flat products; S235J2 long products are generally limited to 250 mm by the standard's scope. ReH is used where a yield phenomenon occurs; the applicable proof strength is used otherwise under the tensile-test standard.

Minimum elongation after fracture for thickness ≥3 mm

Test-piece orientation	>=3–40 mm	>40–63 mm	>63–100 mm	>100–150 mm	>150–250 mm	>250–400 mm
Longitudinal, A	26%	25%	24%	22%	21%	21%
Transverse, A	24%	23%	22%	22%	21%	21%

Proportional gauge length L0 = 5.65√S0. For plate, strip and wide flats at least 600 mm wide, transverse values apply; for other products, longitudinal values apply.

The familiar statement that S235 has a 235 MPa yield strength is incomplete unless thickness is stated. Design, substitution and certificate review must use the applicable thickness band rather than the designation number alone.

Impact toughness and test interpretation

Charpy V-notch requirement

Test temperature	Specimen orientation	Nominal thickness	Minimum average KV2
−20 °C	Longitudinal	≤150 mm	27 J
−20 °C	Longitudinal	>150–250 mm	27 J
−20 °C	Longitudinal	>250–400 mm flat products	27 J

Testing uses EN ISO 148-1 V-notch specimens with a 2 mm striker. For sections over 100 mm, impact values are to be agreed at ordering.

The 27 J requirement is an average for a set of three specimens, not necessarily a minimum for every individual specimen. One value may fall below 27 J provided it is at least 70% of the specified value; the standard defines additional-test and acceptance rules when the initial set does not meet all criteria. Subsized specimens use reduced energy requirements proportional to specimen cross-sectional area.

J2 establishes a standardized material test at −20 °C. It is not, by itself, an unrestricted statement that every S235J2 component is suitable for service at −20 °C. Brittle-fracture assessment also depends on detail category, stress level, plate thickness, loading rate, fabrication quality and the governing design code.

Fabrication and processing implications

Practical controls

Operation	What matters
Welding	Use actual heat chemistry and CEV when setting preheat and hydrogen controls. Increasing thickness, restraint and hydrogen raise cold-cracking risk.
Cold forming	Plain S235J2 does not automatically carry the specific cold-forming guarantees associated with S235J2C. Order the C designation and relevant option when guaranteed flanging, roll forming or cold drawing is required.
Hot forming	Only material supplied in +N is specified to retain the tabulated properties after compliant hot forming or subsequent normalizing. +AR and +M products are not designated as suitable for hot forming.
Stress relieving	Exposure above 580 °C or for more than one hour can impair mechanical properties. For normalized or normalized-rolled flat products, the stated recommended maximum is 560 °C unless post-treatment properties are agreed.
Flame straightening and local heating	Incorrect high-temperature processing can reduce mechanical strength; obtain producer guidance where severe heating is planned.
Hot-dip galvanizing	Specify EN 10025-2 Option 5 when controlled Si/P chemistry is required for coating formation. Grade compliance alone does not control galvanizing response.
Machining	Machinable by common operations, but the grade's ductility can produce long chips and less favorable surface finish. Enhanced machinability requires a separately agreed composition or treatment.
Corrosion protection	S235J2 is not a weathering or corrosion-resistant steel. Coating, galvanizing or another protection system must be selected for the exposure.

Ordering and inspection

A technically complete order should identify the product form and dimensional standard, nominal dimensions and tolerances, EN 10025-2:2019–S235J2 or 1.0117, required delivery condition where it must not remain at the manufacturer's discretion, inspection-document type under EN 10204, and every required option. Specifying only “S235J2 plate” leaves several commercially and technically important matters unresolved.

Items to settle before purchase

Order item	Reason
Exact product form and dimensions	The covered thickness range, mechanical-property band, test orientation and tolerances depend on product geometry.
Delivery condition: +AR, +N or +M	The manufacturer otherwise has discretion within the conditions permitted for the relevant product form.
EN 10204 inspection document	Certificate type must be requested; project or execution standards may impose a particular document.
Impact-testing scope	J2 impact testing is part of specific inspection, but testing per parent plate or coil requires Option 13 or 14.
Product analysis	Order Option 2 if verification on the finished product is required in addition to heat analysis.
Internal soundness	Ultrasonic examination is optional and must identify the applicable test standard and acceptance class.
Through-thickness properties	If lamellar-tearing resistance is needed, specify an EN 10164 Z-quality by agreement; it is not inherent in S235J2.
Surface condition	Default classes differ for plate, sections, bars and rods. Agree any more stringent class explicitly.
Cold-forming guarantee	Specify S235J2C and the applicable forming option rather than assuming ordinary S235J2 is qualified.
Galvanizing chemistry	Invoke the relevant option and agree the Si/P category if coating appearance or thickness is important.

When reviewing a certificate, check the standard edition, grade and steel number, product dimensions, delivery condition, heat number, heat analysis and CEV, tensile results for the correct thickness band, impact-test temperature and orientation, specimen size, and any ordered supplementary tests.

Limits on substitution

Substitution should be assessed against the complete purchase and design requirements, not a generic equivalence chart. Matching nominal yield strength is insufficient where the original requirement includes −20 °C impact testing, fully killed steel, maximum CEV, a particular product standard, delivery condition, inspection regime, dimensions, surface class or fabrication qualification. Materials such as ASTM A36 may occupy a similar commercial role but are not direct specification equivalents to S235J2.

Sources

BS EN 10025-2:2019 — Hot rolled products of structural steels: Technical delivery conditions for non-alloy structural steelsBritish Standards Institution
NEN-EN 10025-2:2019 — Scope and standard informationRoyal Netherlands Standardization Institute
BS EN 10025-1:2004 — Hot rolled products of structural steels: General technical delivery conditionsBritish Standards Institution
Declaration of Performance No. 1.0117 — S235J2Marcegaglia
S235J2 / 1.0117 material informationthyssenkrupp Materials Processing Europe

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Discussing: S235J2 / 1.0117

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1.0117	Identical numerical designation	The EN steel number corresponding to S235J2.
S235JR / 1.0038	Same S235 strength family, lower impact-quality level	JR specifies 27 J at +20 °C and is not a substitute where J2 toughness is required.
S235J0 / 1.0114	Same S235 strength family, intermediate impact-quality level	J0 specifies 27 J at 0 °C, rather than −20 °C.
S235J2C / 1.0119	Related cold-forming quality	Carries specific suitability for cold flanging, cold roll forming and cold drawing when ordered with the applicable options; it is not the same steel number as S235J2.
S235J2G4	Historical predecessor-style designation	Encountered on older documentation. Verify the historical governing standard, product form and delivery condition rather than treating the old designation as automatically interchangeable.
ASTM A36	Common commercial comparison, not equivalent	Chemistry, impact-toughness requirements, thickness-dependent strength rules, product specifications and certification differ.