Shandong Steel wins HRB600E rebar patent, driving upgrade in construction steel

On June 18, 2025, Shandong Iron and Steel (600022) announced that its independently developed "HRB600E High-Strength Rebar and Its Production Method" has officially obtained national invention patent authorization (Patent No.: CN202310848195.4). This breakthrough achievement marks a new milestone in China's technological level in the field of high-strength construction steel, providing critical material support for promoting high-quality development in green buildings and infrastructure.

Technological Breakthrough: Strength-to-Yield Ratio ≥1.27, Solving Industry Challenges

According to the patent abstract, the HRB600E rebar achieves significant performance improvements through precise control of chemical composition and rolling processes. The composition of its continuous casting billet, by mass percentage, includes:

Core elements: C (0.25–0.28%), Si (0.45–0.60%), Mn (1.35–1.55%)

Microalloying design: Nb (0.005–0.010%), Cr (0.15–0.25%), V (0.10–0.11%)

Strict impurity control: P ≤ 0.035%, S ≤ 0.035%  The key innovation lies in regulating the rolling temperature of the finishing mill to the austenite non-recrystallization zone and controlling the cumulative deformation rate of intermediate billets to 20%–40%, optimizing the anisotropy of grain size. This enables the rebar to achieve an industry-leading strength-to-yield ratio of ≥1.27. This metric directly enhances the material's seismic performance and structural safety, making it particularly suitable for high-rise buildings, bridges, and projects with stringent seismic requirements.

R&D Trends: Dual Adjustments in Patent Quantity and Investment, Focusing on High-Value Technologies

Although Shandong Iron and Steel has secured 89 patent authorizations cumulatively in 2025 (a 17.59% decrease year-on-year), its R&D investment remains high. The 2024 annual report shows that its annual R&D expenditure reached 1.841 billion yuan, a decline of 11.75% year-on-year, but funds were further allocated to high-value-added products. The successful patenting of HRB600E exemplifies the results of its "quality-over-quantity" technological strategy.

Industry Impact: Supporting "Dual Carbon" Goals and Promoting Green Construction

As the construction industry demands higher material strength and energy efficiency, the application of HRB600E rebar can significantly reduce steel consumption. For example, in a 100,000-square-meter residential project, using this material can decrease rebar usage by approximately 12%, corresponding to a reduction of about 800 tons of carbon emissions. Currently, Shandong Iron and Steel has reached cooperation agreements with several leading construction enterprises, with large-scale supply expected within the year.

Conclusion：This patent authorization not only consolidates Shandong Iron and Steel's technological advantage in the high-end construction materials market but also provides a core material solution for China's construction industry transformation under the "Dual Carbon" strategy. In the future, with the large-scale application of HRB600E, the balance between cost and performance in green construction may reach a new breakthrough point.

(Yongding Metals, July 22, 2025)