What DC04 Material Is
DC04 is a deep drawing steel of the DC grade family, standardised as a cold rolled, low carbon flat product for cold forming. The grade has excellent deep drawing properties under all types of deformation, which makes it suitable for parts with high forming requirements such as deep panels, housings and complex pressings. It is normally supplied as cold rolled coil or sheet, either bare or as the substrate for a zinc coating and paint system.
DC01, DC03 and DC04 Compared
| Grade | Forming capability | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| DC01 | Simple forming work such as bending, embossing, beading and drawing | Flat and lightly shaped parts |
| DC03 | Excellent deep drawing under all types of deformation | Deep drawing and difficult profiling |
| DC04 | Very high elongation for severe draws | High forming requirements |
| DC05 | Ultra low carbon deep drawing behaviour | Very deep or complex panels |
Read the table from top to bottom as a ladder: each step widens the forming window but also raises the price of the coil and the sensitivity of the press setting. DC01 covers most flat work, DC03 handles the first genuinely deep draws, and DC04 is reserved for the parts that crack when a softer grade is not used.
Microstructure of DC04
The microstructure of DC04 consists of ferrite with clear segregation shearing lines. Those lines are the result of plastic deformation introduced during coil rolling, and they influence how the material flows inside the die. A fine, uniform ferrite grain structure with a favourable texture gives the high elongation and low yield point that deep drawing needs, so annealing and skin-pass practice are controlled to stabilise the structure before shipment.
A36 and JIS Carbon Steel Cold Rolled Coil
A36 is a structural carbon steel defined by ASTM A36 and used where strength and weldability matter rather than deep drawing. JIS carbon steel coil, for example the SPCC and SPCD grades, follows the Japanese industrial standard for cold reduced sheet. These materials and DC04 are often stocked side by side, because a fabricator may need a strong structural grade for frames and a highly formable grade for covers on the same project.
Stock, Forming and Application Notes
Cold rolled coil in A36, DC04 and related grades is commonly held in stock in a range of thicknesses so that tooling trials and short runs can start without waiting for a mill order. When forming DC04, the die radius, blank holder force and lubricant should be set to keep the material inside its forming window; for A36 the priority shifts to weld preparation and load capacity. Buyers should state the standard, the grade, the surface condition and the tolerance band at the enquiry stage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is DC04 material?
DC04 is a deep drawing steel of the DC grade family with excellent deep drawing properties under all types of deformation, and it is chosen where forming requirements are high.
Q: What is the difference between DC01 and DC04?
DC01 handles simple forming such as bending, embossing, beading and drawing, while DC03 suits deep drawing and difficult profiling, and DC04 is reserved for high forming requirements.
Q: What is DC03 steel grade?
DC03 is a mild low carbon steel for cold forming with excellent deep drawing capability under all types of deformation, suitable for deep drawing and difficult profiling.
Q: What is the microstructure of DC04 steel?
It consists of ferrite with clear segregation shearing lines produced by plastic deformation during coil rolling, which together with a uniform grain structure supports deep drawing.
Q: Is A36 suitable for deep drawing?
No. ASTM A36 is a structural carbon steel chosen for strength and weldability, so a drawing grade such as DC03 or DC04 is the better choice for deeply formed parts.
Q: What should be stated when ordering cold rolled coil?
State the standard, the exact grade, the surface condition, the thickness and width tolerance, the coil weight range and whether bare or coated material is required.