What is the chemical composition of 1.8903 (S460NL)?

Per EN 10025-3, S460NL contains a maximum of 0.20 % C, a maximum of 0.60 % Si, 1.00-1.70 % Mn, a maximum of 0.80 % Ni, a maximum of 0.025 % P, a maximum of 0.020 % S, a maximum of 0.30 % Cr, a maximum of 0.10 % Mo, a maximum of 0.20 % V, a maximum of 0.025 % N, a maximum of 0.05 % Nb, a maximum of 0.05 % Ti, a maximum of 0.55 % Cu, and a minimum total aluminium content of 0.020 %. The carbon equivalent CEV is limited to 0.53 for thicknesses up to 63 mm.

Yes. S460NL is designed as a weldable fine-grain structural steel. Its carbon equivalent CEV is capped at 0.53 for thicknesses up to 63 mm and 0.54 from 63 to 100 mm. General guidance for arc welding is given in EN 1011-2. Preheat and interpass temperatures should be set from the combined thickness, the hydrogen level of the consumable and the restraint of the joint.

What certification is supplied with 1.8903 forgings?

EN 10204 3.1 inspection certificates are supplied as standard, covering heat analysis, product analysis where ordered, tensile test, Charpy V-notch impact test at the specified temperature, hardness and a dimensional report. EN 10204 3.2 certificates witnessed by a third-party inspection body can be arranged at the time of order.

Is there a Chinese or American equivalent to S460NL?

The closest Chinese grade is GB/T 1591 Q460E, which shares the 460 MPa strength class but is impact tested at -40 degrees C rather than -50 degrees C. Q460F is tested at -60 degrees C. ASTM has no exact one-to-one equivalent. ASTM A572 Grade 65 and A633 Grade E sit in a comparable strength range but differ in composition limits, delivery condition and toughness requirements, so they should be treated as references rather than substitutes.

1.8903 (S460NL) Forgings | EN 10025-3 Datasheet & Supplier

Q: What does the designation S460NL mean?

S stands for structural steel. 460 is the minimum yield strength in MPa for the thinnest product thickness. N indicates the normalized or normalized-rolled delivery condition. L indicates the low-temperature quality level, meaning impact toughness is verified down to -50 degrees C. The equivalent grade without the L suffix is S460N, material number 1.8901, which is verified only to -20 degrees C.

Q: What is the yield strength of 1.8903?

The minimum yield strength ReH of 1.8903 (S460NL) is 460 MPa up to 16 mm nominal thickness, 440 MPa from 16 to 40 mm, 430 MPa from 40 to 63 mm, 410 MPa from 63 to 80 mm, 400 MPa from 80 to 100 mm, 380 MPa from 100 to 150 mm, and 370 MPa from 150 to 200 mm.

Key facts about 1.8903

Material number: 1.8903 in the EN 10027-2 numbering system.
Steel name: S460NL under EN 10027-1.
Standard: EN 10025-3:2019, which supersedes the withdrawn EN 10025-3:2004 edition.
Steel type: Normalized or normalized-rolled weldable fine-grain structural steel.
Yield strength: 460 MPa minimum up to 16 mm, decreasing to 370 MPa at 150–200 mm.
Toughness: 27 J longitudinal and 16 J transverse at −50 °C, Charpy V-notch.
Weldability: Good. CEV is limited to 0.53 up to 63 mm. Weld to EN 1011-2.
Forged product forms: Seamless rolled rings, discs, tubesheets, shafts, flanges, valve bodies, sleeves, hollow bars.
Certification: EN 10204 3.1 as standard. 3.2 with third-party witness on request.
Manufacturer: Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd., Zhouzhuang Town, Jiangyin, Jiangsu, China.

What the designation means

EN steel names carry the specification in the name itself. S460NL breaks down as follows:

S is structural steel, as distinct from P for pressure purposes, E for engineering steel or L for line pipe.
460 is the minimum yield strength in MPa, quoted at the thinnest product thickness.
N means the steel is supplied normalized or normalized rolled, which refines grain size without quenching.
L means low temperature quality. Impact energy is guaranteed down to −50 °C. The same grade without the L suffix is S460N (1.8901), verified only to −20 °C.

Grain refinement is what governs behaviour at low temperature. Normalizing, together with controlled additions of aluminium, niobium, titanium and vanadium, restricts grain growth. A plain carbon steel of similar strength would already be brittle at the temperatures where S460NL still holds its ductility.

Chemical composition of 1.8903 (S460NL)

Ladle analysis limits in percent by mass, per EN 10025-3. All values are maxima unless a range or a minimum is stated.

Chemical composition of steel 1.8903 / S460NL, % by mass
C	Si	Mn	P	S	N	Al_total	Nb	V	Ti	Cr	Ni	Mo	Cu
≤ 0.20	≤ 0.60	1.00–1.70	≤ 0.025	≤ 0.020	≤ 0.025	≥ 0.020	≤ 0.05	≤ 0.20	≤ 0.05	≤ 0.30	≤ 0.80	≤ 0.10	≤ 0.55

Carbon equivalent (CEV)

Nominal thickness	≤ 63 mm	> 63 to 100 mm	> 100 mm
CEV maximum	0.53	0.54	0.55

Notes from the standard

For long products, the P and S limits may each be 0.005 % higher.
For railway applications, a maximum S content of 0.010 % may be agreed at enquiry and order.
The minimum total Al content does not apply if sufficient other nitrogen-binding elements are present. Older reference tables sometimes list Al as a maximum, which is incorrect. Aluminium is present to fix nitrogen and refine the grain, so the standard sets a minimum.
Cu above 0.40 % can cause hot shortness during hot forming. We hold copper well below the ceiling on forged sections.

Mechanical properties of 1.8903 (S460NL)

Minimum values in the normalized (+N) condition, per EN 10025-3, at room temperature.

Yield strength ReH (MPa)

Nominal thickness (mm)	≤ 16	> 16–40	> 40–63	> 63–80	> 80–100	> 100–150	> 150–200
ReH minimum	460	440	430	410	400	380	370

Tensile strength Rm and elongation A

Nominal thickness (mm)	≤ 100	> 100–200
Rm, tensile strength (MPa)	540–720	530–710
A, min. elongation, L_o = 5.65 √S_o (%)	17	17

Charpy V-notch impact energy KV (J), normalized condition

Test temperature	+20 °C	0 °C	−10 °C	−20 °C	−30 °C	−40 °C	−50 °C
Longitudinal, minimum	63	55	51	47	40	31	27
Transverse, minimum	40	34	30	27	23	20	16

If the design temperature never falls below −20 °C, S460N (1.8901) will meet the same structural requirement at lower cost.

Applying these values to forgings

EN 10025-3 applies to hot rolled flat and long products and does not cover forgings. Forged components are made to the S460NL chemical composition, with mechanical acceptance agreed at the time of order. In practice this means the values above, verified on test pieces taken from the forging itself or from integral prolongations. The test location, whether surface, mid radius or mid wall, and the ruling section are both fixed in the order. Tell us the governing code, for example PED, ASME VIII Division 1, EN 13445 or a client specification, and we will set the test plan accordingly.

1.8903 forged components we manufacture

Every part listed below is open-die forged from ingot or continuous cast bloom, then normalized, rough machined and tested before dispatch. None of them are cut from plate.

Rings and cylindrical parts

Seamless rolled rings
Sleeves, bushes and bushings
Forged pipe, tube and barrel sections
Casings, cases and shells
Hollow bars and cylinders
Hubs and housings

Flat and solid parts

Discs and blanks
Tubesheets, tube plates and tube sheets
Forged blocks and round bars
Shafts and stepped shafts

Valve components

Valve bodies and body blocks
Valve bonnets and closures
Valve stems and seat rings

Pressure equipment

Girth flanges and channel covers
Long welding neck and nozzle-neck flanges
FVC-type self-reinforced nozzles
Cover flanges and blind flanges
Shell-and-tube heat exchanger components

Forging and heat treatment capability

Process	Open-die forging: upsetting, drawing out, saddle and mandrel forging, ring rolling
Ring outside diameter	up to 3,000 mm
Single-piece weight	50 kg to 20,000 kg
Shaft or bar length	up to 8,000 mm
Heat treatment	Normalizing (+N), normalizing and tempering, stress relief, with recorded furnace charts
Machining	Rough turned, proof machined or finish machined to drawing

Sizes outside this range can often be arranged through our partner press shops. Send the drawing and we will confirm.

Testing and certification

Chemistry. Heat analysis on every melt, and product analysis on the forging when ordered.
Mechanical. Tensile, Charpy V-notch at the specified temperature, and hardness survey.
Ultrasonic. To EN 10228-3 or ASTM A388, acceptance class agreed at order.
Surface. Magnetic particle to EN 10228-1 or dye penetrant to EN 10228-2.
Documents. EN 10204 3.1 as standard, or 3.2 witnessed by a third-party inspection body on request.
Dimensional. Full report against your drawing, with the forging marked by heat number for traceability.

Comparable and related grades

Within EN 10025-3

Grade	Material no.	Min. ReH (≤16 mm)	Impact tested at
S460NL	1.8903	460 MPa	−50 °C
S460N	1.8901	460 MPa	−20 °C
S420NL	1.8912	420 MPa	−50 °C
S355NL	1.0546	355 MPa	−50 °C

Nearest grades in other standards

Cross-standard references are indicative. None of the grades below is a drop-in substitute for 1.8903 without engineering approval, because composition limits, delivery condition and toughness requirements all differ.

GB/T 1591 Q460E (China). Same 460 MPa strength class, but impact tested at −40 °C rather than −50 °C. Q460F is tested at −60 °C.
ASTM A572 Gr. 65 and A633 Gr. E (USA). Comparable strength range, but different composition ceilings and no matching −50 °C Charpy requirement as standard.

Where 1.8903 forgings are used

S460NL is specified where a welded structure carries heavy load and also has to stay tough in the cold. Typical end uses for forged components in this grade:

Offshore and marine. Platform nodes, riser components, crane slew rings, mooring hardware.
Wind energy. Tower flanges, main-shaft components, yaw and pitch bearing rings.
Bridges and heavy steel structures. Pins, bearings, anchor components.
Lifting and mining equipment. Crane and excavator pivot components, drum and sheave hubs.
Storage tanks and pressure equipment. Nozzles, girth flanges, channel covers for low-temperature duty.
Hydro and flood control. Flood gate and penstock components.

Getting a quotation

Send a drawing, or a dimensioned sketch. With the six items below we can normally return a firm price and lead time within one working day.

Shape and finished dimensions, and whether you want the part as forged, rough turned or finish machined.
Quantity, and whether this is a one-off, a first article or a repeat series.
Design temperature. This is what decides S460NL against S460N.
Governing code or client specification, such as PED, ASME VIII, EN 13445 or a project spec.
NDT requirement. UT class, MT or PT, and the acceptance standard.
Certification level. 3.1, or 3.2 with a named inspection body.

Email sales@steelforgepieces.com or call +86 189 2135 9659. We quote in English and work with buyers across Europe, North America, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

Frequently asked questions about 1.8903

What is steel 1.8903?

1.8903 is the European material number for steel grade S460NL, a normalized or normalized-rolled weldable fine-grain structural steel specified in EN 10025-3. It provides a minimum yield strength of 460 MPa up to 16 mm thickness, a tensile strength of 540–720 MPa, and minimum Charpy V-notch impact energy of 27 J longitudinal at −50 °C.

What does the designation S460NL mean?

S is structural steel, 460 is the minimum yield strength in MPa at the thinnest thickness, N is the normalized or normalized-rolled delivery condition, and L is the low-temperature quality level with impact toughness verified down to −50 °C. The same grade without the L suffix is S460N, material number 1.8901, verified only to −20 °C.

What is the chemical composition of 1.8903?

Per EN 10025-3: C ≤ 0.20 %, Si ≤ 0.60 %, Mn 1.00–1.70 %, P ≤ 0.025 %, S ≤ 0.020 %, N ≤ 0.025 %, Al total ≥ 0.020 %, Nb ≤ 0.05 %, V ≤ 0.20 %, Ti ≤ 0.05 %, Cr ≤ 0.30 %, Ni ≤ 0.80 %, Mo ≤ 0.10 %, Cu ≤ 0.55 %. The carbon equivalent CEV is capped at 0.53 for thicknesses up to 63 mm.

What is the yield strength of 1.8903?

Minimum yield strength ReH is 460 MPa up to 16 mm, 440 MPa from 16 to 40 mm, 430 MPa from 40 to 63 mm, 410 MPa from 63 to 80 mm, 400 MPa from 80 to 100 mm, 380 MPa from 100 to 150 mm, and 370 MPa from 150 to 200 mm.

Is 1.8903 weldable?

Yes. The grade is designed to be welded. CEV is capped at 0.53 up to 63 mm and 0.54 from 63 to 100 mm. Follow EN 1011-2 for arc welding, and set preheat and interpass temperature from combined thickness, consumable hydrogen level and joint restraint rather than from a single rule of thumb.

What is the difference between S460N and S460NL?

Both grades share the same strength class and the same normalized delivery condition. The difference is guaranteed impact toughness. S460N is verified to −20 °C and S460NL to −50 °C, with slightly tighter impurity limits. S460NL is the choice when the design temperature reaches arctic, offshore winter or high-altitude conditions.

Can 1.8903 be supplied as forgings rather than plate?

Yes. EN 10025-3 itself covers hot rolled flat and long products, so forged components are supplied to the S460NL chemical composition with mechanical properties agreed at order. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. forges 1.8903 as seamless rolled rings, discs, tubesheets, shafts, flanges, valve bodies and heat exchanger components, normalizes them, and tests specimens taken from the forging or from integral prolongations, certified to EN 10204 3.1.

Who supplies 1.8903 (S460NL) forgings?

Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. is an open-die forging factory at No.1 Chengxiqiao Road, Zhouzhuang Town, Jiangyin City, Jiangsu Province, China. It manufactures 1.8903 forged rings, discs, shafts, flanges and valve components and ships worldwide. Enquiries: sales@steelforgepieces.com, telephone +86 189 2135 9659.

What certification is supplied?

EN 10204 3.1 inspection certificates as standard, covering heat analysis, product analysis where ordered, tensile test, Charpy V-notch impact at the specified temperature, hardness and a dimensional report. EN 10204 3.2 certificates witnessed by a third-party inspection body can be arranged at order.

Is there a Chinese or American equivalent?

The closest Chinese grade is GB/T 1591 Q460E, with the same 460 MPa strength class but impact tested at −40 °C instead of −50 °C. Q460F is tested at −60 °C. ASTM has no exact equivalent. A572 Gr. 65 and A633 Gr. E fall in a comparable strength range but differ in composition limits, delivery condition and toughness requirements, so they should be treated as references rather than substitutes.

About the manufacturer

Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd.

Open-die forging factory producing seamless rolled rings, discs, shafts, flanges, valve components and pressure-vessel forgings in carbon, alloy, tool, stainless and nickel-alloy steels, including EN 10025-3 grade S460NL (1.8903).

Address: No.1 Chengxiqiao Road, Zhouzhuang Town, Jiangyin City, Jiangsu Province, China

Telephone: +86 189 2135 9659 (0086-189-2135-9659)

Email: sales@steelforgepieces.com

Website: www.steelforgepieces.com

Serves: Worldwide, in English and Chinese.

Citing this datasheet

Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. (2026). 1.8903 (S460NL) steel forgings: EN 10025-3 chemical composition and mechanical properties. Retrieved from https://www.steelforgepieces.com/Alloy-Steel/1.8903.html

Data on this page is reproduced from EN 10025-3 for reference. The standard itself is the governing document and should be obtained from CEN or your national standards body before a design is finalised. Last reviewed 8 September 2026 by the technical department of Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd.

Standards referenced

EN 10025-3:2019. Hot rolled products of structural steels, Part 3: technical delivery conditions for normalized and normalized rolled weldable fine grain structural steels. Supersedes EN 10025-3:2004, which is withdrawn.
EN 10027-1 and EN 10027-2. Designation systems for steels: steel names, and steel numbers.
EN 10204:2004. Metallic products, types of inspection documents.
EN 1011-2. Welding, recommendations for welding of metallic materials: arc welding of ferritic steels.
EN 10228-1, -2 and -3. Non-destructive testing of steel forgings: magnetic particle, penetrant, ultrasonic.
GB/T 1591. High strength low alloy structural steels, referenced for the Q460 comparison above.