Baotou Steel delivers first batch of high-performance rare-earth bridge steel

To tackle challenges on load-bearing bridge components amid frigid, heavily corrosive plateau conditions requiring balanced strength, toughness and weather resistance, Inner Mongolia Baotou Steel Union Co., Ltd. has newly developed hot-rolled rare-earth H-beams for bridge applications. The products outperform mainstream industrial benchmarks, with the inaugural consignment delivered in bulk to a pivotal national infrastructure project.

Fabricated through one-pass hot rolling without follow-up welding, the H-beams feature precise dimensional tolerance, fewer welding processes and superior integral strength, making them an ideal structural material for long-span bridges. The steel achieves a minimum yield strength of 420MPa and delivers impact toughness above 160J at -45°C, fundamentally preventing brittle fracture under extreme low temperatures. Besides, rare-earth microalloying generates a dense internal protective layer to greatly enhance corrosion resistance and cut long-term maintenance expenses.