by The most critical thing about building a home is the materials and the quality of the material used in the construction process. If you don’t have much knowledge about the construction materials, go through these easy material help guides. Here, we will be discussing one important material ‘steel’ which plays a fundamental role in the construction. Read further to know which is the best steel brands in India.
What are the types of steel bars?
TMT Steel or TMX steel is the best bet for house construction. They are the latest generation of reinforcement steel (high-strength and ductile than their predecessors) .
They are graded as Fe415, Fe500, Fe500D, Fe550 i.e. yield strength of 415, 500 and 550 N/ sq mm respectively . Higher grade are also available.
Thermex steel bar also abbreviated has TMX steel is called as ‘New Generation Bar’. It is manufactured using German ‘THERMAX’ technology with the help of state-of-the-art manufacturing processes that result in the production of superior quality steel.
While TMT Steel is ‘Thermo Mechanically Treated’ steel bars and are manufactured using ‘TEMPACORE’ technology. For residential constructions the most widely used steel is TMT.
Comparison: The major difference between TMX and TMT steel is its manufacturing process. As said earlier TMX rods are manufactured using THERMAX technology and TMT rods are manufactured using TEMPCORE technology. However, both these manufacturing processes yield different types of steel and in comparison with their physical aspects Thermex steel is of higher quality than TMT steel.
So, which properties of TMX make it better steel than TMT?
One major property that highlights TMX rod is its ‘Heat/ Fire Resistance’ ability.
Thermex has low carbon percentage i.e., 0.15% (TMT Steel carbon percentage: 0.30 Max).
Thermex bars also have higher elongation i.e., 16 – 23% (TMT Steel – 14.5%), thus providing better resistance over earthquakes and other natural hazards.
In comparison with TMT steel rods, Thermex rods have better ductility, weld-ability, and bend-ability property.
Their prominent Rib designs across the rod give them improved adhesive property and provides a longer life for the construction.
Why should you use TMT Bar steel brands in India?
Application of TMT Steel rods in constructions has increased over the past few years because of certain peculiar characteristics that they display
TMT steel bars are produced using TEMPCORE technology that provides the bar with strong out core marcasite steel with a soft inner core, which makes the bars strong and ductile.
TMT Rod ribbing is a responsible bond between the steel rod and concrete. This bond is extremely important to structure integrity because of TMT steel rod bonds with concrete securely, minimizing the chances of cracks occurring in the structures.
While manufacturing a TMT Steel Rod, the TMT steel rod requires to go through a layered cooling period. An inner core of malleable ferrite-pear lite is the resulting process. This gives it its characteristic flexibility, to be moulded into any kind of construction.
TMT Steel bars have different range and variety available in the market for various structural needs. In India, the different grades are available with different steel brands in India – Fe 415, Fe 500, & Fe 550. TMT bars have a different range of diameters from 6MM to 32MM.
Tests for steel brands in India
Physical test
- Tensile test
- Compression test
- Bending test
- Brinell hardness test
- Rockwell hardness test
- Impact test
- Torsion test
- Shear test
Specification of TMT bars weights (Kg/Mtr)
AS PER IS-1786:2008
| Size | Std | Min | Max |
| 8 mm | 0.395 | 0.367 | 0.423 |
| 10 mm | 0.617 | 0.574 | 0.660 |
| 12 mm | 0.888 | 0.844 | 0.932 |
| 16 mm | 1.578 | 1.499 | 1.657 |
| 20 mm | 2.466 | 2.392 | 2.540 |
| 25 mm | 3.854 | 3.738 | 3.970 |
| 28 mm | 4.835 | 4.690 | 4.980 |
| 32 mm | 6.316 | 6.127 | 6.505 |
Mechanical properties of TMT bars
| Specification | Fe-415 | Fe-500 | Fe-500D |
| Yield Stress(N/mm2) | 415 | 500 | 500 |
| Ultimate Tensile Strength (N/mm2) | 485 | 545 | 565 |
| Elongation(%) | 14.5 | 12 | 16 |
| Total Elongation @ Max Force(%) | – | – | 5 |
| Ration (UTS/YS) | 1.16 | 1.09 | 1.13 |
Specification of TMT bars chemical composition (%)
| Parameter IS-1786:2008 | Fe-415 | Fe-500 | Fe-500D |
| Carbon (C) | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.25 |
| Sulphur (S) | 0.060 | 0.055 | 0.040 |
| Phosphorus (P) | 0.060 | 0.055 | 0.040 |
| Sulphur + Phosphorus (S+P) | 0.110 | 0.105 | 0.075 |
Qualities
- High Strength
- Higher elongation (which makes it safe for earthquake-prone areas)
- High Bend/ re-bending properties
- Corrosion resistance
- Good weld-ability
Which steel brands are best in India for construction?
1.TATA Tiscon bars are a reliable name when it comes to residential construction.
2.Vizag Steel . It is the Indian Government undertaking.
3.SAIL Sail Authority of India ltd.
4.Jindal Panther steel It is one of the leading steel manufacturing company.
These are few of the prominent primary TMT steel brands in India. We will be explaining the difference between Primary and Secondary TMT bars in the next article.
If you are planning to build a house and looking for the best steel brands in India, you might have got your answer. Please share your thoughts!