S355J2W is a weathering steel with excellent low‑temperature toughness - rated for −20 °C impact performance (≥27 J). Below is how it compares to other common structural steels.
1. vs ordinary S355 structural steel (non‑weathering)
S355JR: impact at +20 °C → much worse at low temperatures
S355J0: impact at 0 °C → brittle below 0 °C
S355J2: same −20 °C toughness as S355J2W, but no corrosion resistance
2. vs other weathering steels
S355J0WP / J0W: only guaranteed to 0 °C → significantly worse below 0 °C
Q345NH / Q355NH (Chinese weathering):Typically only tested at room temperature;most batches cannot reliably meet −20 °C impact → S355J2W is tougher
09CuPCrNi‑A: high phosphorus → very brittle at low temperatures;far worse than S355J2W
3. vs Corten A / Corten B
Corten A (A242): high P → poor low‑temp toughness
Corten B (A588): usually better than average weathering steel,but not systematically certified to −20 °C like J2W→ S355J2W is more consistent and reliable in cold climates
4. vs stainless steel (304, 316)
Stainless steel has far better low‑temperature toughness(remains ductile even at cryogenic temps)
But S355J2W is much stronger, cheaper, and designed for structural use
