Clad steel plates (also known as composite clad plates) are a low-cost steel alternative when compared with to the purchase of conventional steels. The process involves the bonding of stainless steel (the cladding material) with a carbon steel or base metal plate. The cladding material can be bonding to one or both sides of the base metal material.

The true benefit of clad plate material is that it offers a low-cost alternative without compromising in quality and performance.  For this reason alone, clad plates have become a viable alternative when considering the purchase of more traditional steels.  The material displays excellent strength characteristics when compared to structural grade steels and also offers good corrosive and heat-resistant properties.  Depending on the specification, the steel can be heat-treated after the forming process if required.  It is also true to say that in many cases, the material is available in greater width and lengths.

The finished steel can be supplied in the form of heavy plates, pipes and sections.

The material is used in a variety of applications including shipbuilding plate, construction material and in the fabrication of industrial tanks and pressurised vessels.  It can also be found in desulfurization units and desalination plants.

Dished Ends and Pressure Vessel Heads

Dished Ends and Pressure Vessel Heads are the end caps found in steel pressure vessels.  Clad plate material is commonly used as a material in the forming of dished ends as again the material offers an economic alternative when compared to high alloy plates.

Other Cladding material

Titanium, nickel and copper nickel alloys can also be used as the copper clad steel material.  Common base metals used include pressure vessel grade material such as ASTM A516 Grade 70 and also certain fine grain structural steels.  The finished material offers stable impressive dimensional accuracy coupled with stable performance.