Development of 420 MPa Grade High-Performance Steel Plate for Wind Power

Wind power, an environmentally friendly renewable energy source, has been widely adopted globally. The advancement in large-scale wind power equipment design technology has led to increased demands for steel plates with high strength, low-temperature fracture toughness, and welding performance. By employing a composition design featuring low carbon equivalent and utilizing mechanical metallurgy technology, a high-performance EH420 steel plate with a thickness of 90 mm specifically for wind power applications was successfully developed. The steel plate exhibited mechanical properties surpassing standard requirements, with a yield strength exceeding 420 MPa and an impact energy of 195 J at-40 °C. The ultrasonic inspection quality of the steel plate met the S2E3 requirements outlined in the European EN10160-1999 standard. Welded joints demonstrated exceptional comprehensive properties with welding heat inputs ranging from 15 kJ/cm to 50 kJ/cm. In conclusion, the newly developed steel plate meets the design and operational demands of large-scale wind power equipment.