Understanding Impact Resistant Steel: Grades, Applications, and Material Selection for High-Stress Environments

In demanding industries such as mining, construction, and energy, impact resistant steel plays a vital role in safety and performance. Choosing the right impact resistant steel grades ensures toughness against shocks, wear, and low-temperature failure. By understanding steel impact resistance, engineers can select the most reliable plates and tool steels for bridges, pipelines, and heavy equipment.

In this guide, we break down the most widely used impact resistant steel plate and tool steel grades, explain the science behind the impact resistance of steel, and help you choose between structural steel, tool steel, and other impact resistant materials for high-stress applications such as pipelines, bridge decks, forging dies, or arctic tanks.

I. What is Impact Resistant Steel?

Impact resistant steel refers to a category of high-strength steels specifically designed to absorb energy during sudden force or deformation without fracturing. These steels typically feature enhanced toughness, ductility, and hardness, making them capable of resisting cracks, dents, and catastrophic failure.

Unlike standard carbon steels, impact-resistant grades are often tested using Charpy V-Notch impact testing, which measures their ability to absorb energy at various temperatures, including as low as -20°C or even -50°C.

II. Why Use High Impact Resistant Steel?

Choosing high impact resistant steel is essential when components face:

• Heavy or cyclic loading (cranes, trucks, pipelines)
• Low-temperature environments (Arctic mining, refrigerated structures)
• Abrasion and wear risks (chute liners, digger buckets, molds)
• Safety-critical designs (bridge supports, lifting frames)

In these scenarios, conventional steel might deform or fracture, leading to expensive downtime or even catastrophic failure.

III. Key Properties & Testing of Impact Resistant Steel

The impact resistance of steel is its ability to withstand sudden energy without cracking or fracturing. This is especially critical in cold climates, dynamic loading scenarios, or tooling under repeated shock.

Key parameters include:

High steel impact strength ensures that failures occur gradually (if at all), rather than catastrophically — which is critical in safety-sensitive structures like offshore platforms or lifting beams.

IV. Impact Resistant Steel Grades: Structural & Tool Steels

Here are several recognized impact resistant steel grades, including both structural and tooling applications:

High Impact-Resistant Steel Plate: Structural Grades

Several structural steel grades are known for their high impact toughness:

A516 Grade 70

• Moderate strength with good impact resistance.
• Common in pressure vessels and welded tanks.

NM400/NM500

• Wear-resistant steels with good impact performance.
• Ideal for mining, construction, and material handling.

👉 Already working with wear-intensive equipment? Explore our NM400 NM500 series for balanced abrasion and impact resistance.

AR400/AR450

• Abrasion-resistant grades with decent toughness.
• Used in machinery subject to sliding or impact wear.
• AR400 / AR450 / AR500 Steel Plates

ASTM A709

• Bridge steel plate with excellent notch toughness, especially in low temperatures.
• Available in grades like A709 Grade 50W and HPS 70W.
• Learn more: ASTM A709 product page

Impact Resistant Tool Steel – Properties and Applications

Tool steels are designed not only for strength and hardness but also for the ability to resist repeated striking and pressure. Notable types include:

5CrW2MoSiV

• A tool steel plate with exceptional wear and shock resistance.
• Designed for cold work tools operating under repeated impact.

👉 For specialized tooling under repetitive shock, visit our 5CrW2MoSiV impact tool steel page for technical details.

D2 / SKD11

• High carbon, high chromium tool steel.
• Wear-resistant, but may be brittle under severe shock.

H13

• A hot work tool steel that retains impact resistance at high temperatures.
• Common in die casting and extrusion.

S7

• Used in tools like hammers, punches, and forming dies.
• Specifically designed for impact resistance.

V. High Impact Resistant Steel – Grades & Use Cases

High impact resistant steel plates are designed for the most demanding conditions — from sub-zero pipelines to construction equipment exposed to constant shock.

Top structural grades include:

• S690QL: Used in cranes, bridge supports, and offshore frames
• ASTM A537 Cl.1 / Cl.2: Ideal for pressure vessels needing both strength and fracture toughness
• A709 HPS 70W: Bridge-grade steel with excellent toughness and corrosion resistance

These steels are essential for industries where impact resistance of steel directly translates into safety, longevity, and reduced downtime.

VI. Impact Resistant Steel vs Standard Steel: What’s the Difference?

VII. Applications of Impact Resistant Structures

1. Structural Engineering

In bridge supports, structural beams, and offshore installations, impact resistant steel plates deliver high steel impact resistance, enduring dynamic forces such as wind loads, vibrations, and heavy traffic. By selecting proper impact resistant steel grades, engineers improve safety and extend service life.

2. Oil & Gas and Energy

Pipeline components and pressure vessels must survive both low temperatures and internal pressure surges, especially in arctic environments. High-impact steel is often used for:

• LNG tank shells
• Subsea manifolds
• Storage tank base plates

3. Tooling and Mold Manufacturing

Tool steel like 5CrW2MoSiV offers enhanced impact fatigue resistance, making it ideal for forging dies, extrusion tools, and cold heading dies that take thousands of cycles under intense load.

4. Mining and Heavy Equipment

Buckets, blade edges, dump truck liners, and hoppers require steel that resists both impact and abrasion. Here, NM500 plates provide long wear life while preventing sudden cracking.

As a global impact steel supplier, CJM Steel Group provides high-toughness structural and tool steel grades sourced from certified manufacturers. We help clients balance mechanical requirements, material costs, and international standards across diverse sectors.

VIII. How to Choose the Right Impact Resistant Steel Grade?

The selection depends on several key factors:

1. Operating temperature (cold vs heat)
2. Required hardness vs ductility
3. Weldability (preheat/post-weld treatment)
4. Thickness and shape of plates or bars
5. Corrosion exposure (consider weathering steels in coastal/chemical environments)

Additional high-impact grades & use cases:

• S7 Tool Steel: Chisels, forming dies, impact tools
• DC53 Tool Steel: Tougher, less prone to cracking
• 42CrMo / 4140: Cr-Mo alloy, high strength, good impact resistance
• 34CrNiMo6: Heavy-duty shafts, forgings, cold conditions
• MIL-DTL-46100 / MIL-A-12560: Military armor steels, ballistic resistance

IX. FAQ For Impact Resistant Steel Plate

1. What is impact resistant steel used for?

Impact resistant steel is commonly used in mining equipment, bridge supports, tooling dies, and arctic pipelines—applications where durability under sudden or repeated shock is essential.

2. How is the impact resistance of steel measured?

Impact resistance is often measured by the Charpy V-Notch test, which quantifies the energy a steel sample can absorb before fracture, especially at low temperatures such as -20°C.

3. Which steel grades are best for impact resistance?

Grades like A709, NM500, and tool steels such as S7 or 5CrW2MoSiV are known for their excellent toughness and impact resistance in structural and tooling applications.

4. What are the most common impact resistant steel grades?

Popular impact resistant steel grades include NM500, ASTM A709, A516 Grade 70, and tool steels like S7 and H13.

5. How does tool steel provide impact resistance compared to structural steel?

Tool steels are designed with higher hardness and toughness, making them suitable for molds and dies under repetitive shock. Structural steels prioritize steel impact resistance in large-scale applications such as bridges and pipelines.

X. CJM’s Expertise in Supplying Impact Resistant Steel

• Wide selection of high-impact resistant plates and tool steels
• Quenched and tempered plates for cold climates
• Precision tool steels for high-volume mold production
• Custom thicknesses and heat treatment on request
• Certifications: EN, ASTM, GB/T, ISO
• Global export capabilities

We help clients in mining, mold-making, infrastructure, and pressure vessel manufacturing choose the right impact resistant steel grades for their performance and budget needs.

📌 View our impact resistant plate range →

💡 Contact CJM Steel Group today for a technical consultation or quotation

WhatsApp: +86 181 9190 6640
Email: info@cjmstainlesssteel.com

XI. Conclusion

Selecting the right impact resistant steel isn’t just about strength — it’s about real-world performance under shock, low temperatures, and heavy loads. Working with the right steel grades ensures safety, longevity, and cost-effectiveness.

CJM Steel Group offers a global supply of certified impact resistant steel grades for Arctic structures, heavy machinery, and high-precision tooling, with fast delivery and professional technical support.