DC04 is a cold-rolled low-carbon steel for cold forming per EN 10130, offering the highest formability among DC01/DC03/DC04 (SPCC per JIS G3141 is the equivalent general-purpose grade). This article focuses on DC04 surface quality grades and defect control.
Specification of DC04 Steel
Quality
| Quality | Standard | Material No. | Old designation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DC04 | DIN EN 10130 | 1.0338 | St 14-03 |
| DC04+ZE | DIN EN 10152 | 1.0338 | St 14-03 |
Mechanical Properties
| Testing direction | Yield point Rp0,2 (MPa) |
Tensil Strength Rm (MPa) |
Elongation A80 (in %) |
r90 | n90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q | ≤ 210 | 270 – 350 | ≥ 38 | ≥ 1,6 | ≥ 0.180 |
Chemical properties
| C % |
Mn % |
P % |
S % |
|---|---|---|---|
| ≤ 0,08 | ≤ 0,40 | ≤ 0,030 | ≤ 0,030 |
Surface Quality Grades
| Grade | Requirement |
|---|---|
| FB (higher grade) | Minor defects that do not affect forming are allowed |
| FC (higher grade) | No obvious defects on one side; reaches FB on the other |
| FD (super high grade) | No defects on one side that affect coating appearance; reaches FB on the other |
Select the grade according to whether the sheet will be coated or used bare.
Common Surface Defects
Holes, scratches, indentations, pitting, roll marks, oxidation, edge cracks and inclusions.
Hole Defects: Causes and Countermeasures
Hole defects are mostly caused by slag curling in the casting billet and inclusions during rolling causing localized tearing. Countermeasures: strictly control the purity of the molten steel and the smelting/casting process.
Scratch Prevention
Optimize packaging (film/paper separator), reduce transportation friction, and control the surface finish of the mold and the stamping speed.
Typical Applications
DC04 is used for deep-drawn automotive parts, appliance shells and precision stampings requiring high formability; confirm thickness (e.g. 0.1-3.0 mm) and width (e.g. 300-1600 mm) ranges with the supplier's datasheet.
Packaging and Shipping
