From the perspective of material range, both ASTM A36 steel and ASTM A283 steel are structural quality carbon steels for general applications.
ASTM A36 steel covers carbon steel beams (I-beams and H beams), channel steels, angle steels, tees, bars (round, square, hexagonal, etc.), flat steels and others special carbon steel
shapes. ASTM A36 steel can be used as load-bearing plates for bridges and other structures. If necessary, at least 0.20% copper should be added to improve the corrosion resistance of ASTM A36 steel under wet or humid conditions. In that case, ASTM A36 steel is a typical low-alloy steel-copper steel (also known as weathering steel).
ASTM A283 steel is a low-to-medium tensile strength carbon steel plate with structural quality. ASTM A283 steel has four common variants, each of which is represented as a separate material. This specification covers carbon steel plates of four structural quality grades for general applications. Steel samples should be melted in an open hearth furnace, alkaline oxygen or electric furnace. Heat treatment and product analysis should be carried out, in which the steel should meet the required chemical composition of carbon, manganese, phosphorus, sulfur, silicon and copper. The steel sample should also be subjected to a tensile test, and should meet the required values of tensile strength, yield point and elongation.
