St 22 steel (1.0332): properties, composition, equivalents
St 22 (StW 22, 1.0332) is the withdrawn DIN 1614 hot-rolled forming sheet, replaced by DD11 in EN 10111. Chemistry, what the number meant, and the modern EN, JIS and ASTM grades to order instead.
What is St 22?
St 22 is not a steel you can order any more — it is a designation from DIN 1614, the German standard for hot-rolled sheet for cold forming, withdrawn when EN 10111 took over across Europe in the 1990s. It keeps appearing on drawings, in old tenders and in enquiries from workshops working to archived documentation, which is why it still needs an answer rather than a shrug.
The historic family ran StW 22, StW 23 and StW 24 in ascending order of formability, exactly as EN 10111 now runs DD11, DD12 and DD13. St 22 was the general grade: soft, low carbon, suitable for bending, roll forming and moderate pressing, with no guaranteed yield strength and no impact requirement. The W stood for *Weichstahl*, mild steel, and the number was a quality index rather than a property.
Order DD11 today. The chemistry envelope is the same, the role is the same, and every European mill rolls it as stock. If the part has been splitting in production, the modern ladder gives you DD12 and DD13 to move up, which is a cleaner conversation than trying to source a designation that no mill certifies.
St 22 chemical composition
| Element | Mass % | Note |
|---|---|---|
| C | ≤ 0.12 | |
| Mn | ≤ 0.6 | |
| P | ≤ 0.045 | |
| S | ≤ 0.045 |
The historic DIN limits. A modern DD11 certificate to EN 10111 caps C at 0.12, Mn at 0.60, P at 0.045 and S at 0.045 — the same envelope, which is why the substitution is clean.
St 22 mechanical properties
| Thickness / condition | Yield strength ReH / Rp0.2 MPa (ksi) | Tensile strength Rm MPa (ksi) | Elongation A % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St 22 (historic) | ≈ 240 (≈ 34.8) | 340–420 (49.3–60.9) | 26 | ≈ 100–115 HB |
| DD11 (EN 10111, today) | 170–360 (24.7–52.2) | ≤ 440 (≤ 63.8) | 24 | ≈ 100–120 HB |
DIN 1614 specified a tensile band and a minimum elongation; EN 10111 specifies a yield range and a maximum tensile. The steels are the same, the way the standard describes them is not.
Impact toughness
St 22 requires a minimum Charpy V-notch energy of 0 J at °C. Neither the old nor the new standard specifies impact energy. These are forming grades; toughness requirements belong to structural standards.
St 22 equivalent grades
| Grade | System | Match | Why / differences |
|---|---|---|---|
| DD11 | EN (European) | Identical | EN 10111 DD11 is the direct replacement: same chemistry envelope, same role as the general hot-rolled forming sheet. Any supplier asked for St 22 today will quote DD11, and the certificate will say DD11. |
| A1011 CS Type B | ASTM / ASME | Near | ASTM A1011 Commercial Steel Type B covers the same ground in US practice. |
| SPHC | JIS (Japan) | Near | JIS G3131 SPHC is the Japanese commercial hot-rolled forming grade at the same level: C ≤ 0.15, tensile ≥ 270 MPa, no guaranteed yield. |
| S235JR | EN (European) | Functional | Often offered as a substitute and often wrong: S235JR is a structural grade with a guaranteed yield and impact test, and it is less formable. Use it only if the part is structural rather than formed. |
| DD12 / DD13 | EN (European) | Functional | The next two forming levels in EN 10111, for parts that split in DD11. The historic ladder ran St 22 → St 23 → St 24 in the same way. |
Identical = same composition and mechanical limits within rounding. Near = one limit differs (e.g. carbon max or impact temperature). Functional = interchangeable for most uses after an engineering check. Full cross-reference for St 22 →
Old and superseded designations
| Old name | Standard | Note |
|---|---|---|
| StW 22 | DIN 1614-1 | the full historic designation — W for Weichstahl (mild steel) |
| St 22 | DIN 1614 | the short form seen on older drawings |
| RSt 22 | DIN 1614 | the rimmed-steel variant, no longer produced |
Product forms and tolerance standards
Product forms: hot-rolled sheet and strip (historic), supplied today as DD11 to EN 10111.
Dimensional tolerances: Historic tolerances were to DIN 1016. Material ordered today follows EN 10051 for thickness, width and flatness..
Key property values
What St 22 meant
Hot-rolled mild steel sheet for cold forming to DIN 1614-1, material number 1.0332: C ≤ 0.12 %, Mn ≤ 0.60 %, tensile roughly 340–420 MPa, elongation ≥ 26 %. No guaranteed yield, no impact test.
What to order instead
DD11 to EN 10111 — yield 170–360 MPa, tensile ≤ 440 MPa, A80 ≥ 24 %, same chemical limits. Thickness 1.5–20 mm as hot-rolled coil, sheet or strip, pickled and oiled on request.
If the part splits in DD11
Move up the ladder: DD12 (A80 ≥ 27 %) then DD13 (A80 ≥ 30 %, tighter C and P). The historic equivalents were StW 23 and StW 24.
If the part is structural
The forming grades have no guaranteed yield. For a load-bearing part order S235JR to EN 10025-2, which carries a 235 MPa yield and a 27 J impact test — and accept that it forms less readily.
Physical data
Density 7.85 kg/dm³; modulus 210 GPa; thermal conductivity ≈ 50 W/mK. Identical to any plain low-carbon steel.
Weldability
Weldable by every common process without preheat or post-weld heat treatment; the carbon equivalent is around 0.20–0.25. Mill scale should be removed from the weld zone on as-rolled material. Modern DD11 behaves identically, so weld procedures written against St 22 remain valid — only the material designation on the WPS needs updating.
Machining, forming and heat treatment
Soft and ductile at 100–115 HB, with the same built-up-edge tendency as any low-carbon forming steel. Sharp positive-rake tooling and high surface speeds; punching and shearing are straightforward and cut edges stay ductile enough to bend.
Typical applications
- Legacy drawings and archived technical documentation
- Replacement parts for older machinery and vehicles
- General pressed and roll-formed parts (as DD11 today)
- Welded tube and profile feedstock
- Enclosures, brackets and ducting
Frequently asked questions
What is St 22 steel?
A withdrawn DIN 1614 designation (material number 1.0332) for hot-rolled mild steel sheet for cold forming: C ≤ 0.12 %, Mn ≤ 0.60 %, tensile about 340–420 MPa, no guaranteed yield.
What is the equivalent of St 22?
DD11 to EN 10111 is the direct replacement and what any mill will supply today. JIS G3131 SPHC and ASTM A1011 CS Type B are the Japanese and American counterparts.
Is St 22 the same as S235JR?
No. St 22 was a forming grade with no guaranteed yield strength; S235JR is a structural grade with 235 MPa yield and an impact test. Substituting one for the other changes both the formability and the structural basis.
Can I still buy St 22?
Not as a certified designation — DIN 1614 is withdrawn. Order DD11 and the certificate will satisfy any specification written for St 22.
What does the W in StW 22 mean?
Weichstahl — mild steel. The historic family was StW 22, StW 23 and StW 24 in ascending order of formability, matching today's DD11, DD12 and DD13.
Related grades
Verified against DIN 1614-1 (withdrawn); EN 10111:2008 for the replacement; DIN 1614-1:1988 (withdrawn); EN 10111:2008 Tables 1 and 2; JIS G3131:2018 (for the comparison). Last checked: September 2026.