With the rising need for high rise construction and critical infrastructure projects, it is very important to use very strong and stable steel bars – which can help construction structures withstand the effects of time, seismic activities, changes in temperature, natural hazards and more. Fe 500 and Fe550 grade bars are being used increasingly for the construction of various types of projects today. Read and find out about some of the major differences between the two grades of TMT bars.

Strength

The numbers, after the name of the brand, actually represents the grade of the respective TMT Steel rod, orin other words, the strength of the steel. When Steel TMT bars have a higher grade, they are much stronger in nature. The numeral actually measures the minimum stress and in N/mm2.

Properties

The two types of Steel bar grades are different in terms of chemical and physical properties slightly. Although the YTS ratio is the same in case of both, there is a difference in the elongation percentage – which means the higher the elongation percentage, the better the capacity of the TMT Steel rod to perform in extreme situations. The elongation percentage of Fe 500 grade is higher than the Fe550 grade TMT bar.

Weld-ability

With a lowering of carbon content the weld-ability of steel bars can be improved, whereas reduced impurity of sulfur and phosphorus can make TMT steel bars more ductile and tough. It is no wonder then that both grades are being used in a widespread manner, and are a top choice for contractors today.

So Which One is Better?

Fe 500 is good – due to its higher seismic ability and ductility. It is possible to use Fe 500 across a wide range of multi-storey commercial and residential projects. These come with high level of ductility and strength and are manufactured especially to give stability to high rise constructions. These can resist load much better, and are useful in all those areas with sudden loads or high seismic activities.
The tensile strength of Fe 550 grade bars is higher so these can be used across a wide variety of large scale projects. These are better than Fe 500 words in terms of strength and are used for the development of large infrastructural and industrial projects, such as bridges and structures that need to bear a higher amount of load. These kinds of bars are particularly useful in underground, marine and coastal ambiences.