- A36 steel is used in countless applications and supplied by numerous dealers. As a result, it is easy to obtain A36 steel and to find a manufacturer with the specific form you require. A36 steel can typically be found in round rod, square bar and rectangle bar forms. It is also possible to find I-beams, H-beams and angles. All commercially available steel must meet the standards of the American Society for Testing and Materials.
- A36 steel has an elongation rating of 20 percent, meaning that when stress is applied it will stretch an additional 20 percent of its size before it breaks. This is more than twice the ductility of other types of steel. As a result, it bends much easier than other varieties, such as 1018 mild steel. This makes it useful for sheets or bars that require angles. The result, however, is that A36 is less machinable -- meaning it is harder to cut and shape with industrial cutting tools. A366/1008 steel is one of the few commonly supplied steels with a significantly higher elongation rating than A36.
- One of the reasons A36 steel is so common is that it fulfills the structural requirements for many different applications. It can be bolted and riveted for use in construction and building, as well as easily and inexpensively welded -- e.g. in different types of arc welding. For this reason, it is used in everything from garages to ships.
- The cost of A36 steel tends to be significantly less than 1018 mild steel and some other forms. This is particularly advantageous considering its versatility. For some projects, the cost can be reduced because it is more useful to buy A36 in bulk because it is used much more than other types of steel. The Steel Index publishes periodic steel market prices to help consumers compare different kinds of steel.
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