Inside a DEW steel certificate: how to read data and controls (EN 10204)

28 April 2026
Blog

After analyzing the differences between certificates according to EN 10204, it is now time to move into a practical perspective.

In this article, we will analyze a real steel certificate:
👉 DEW certificate – 1.2343 – Thermodur® 2343 Superclean, thickness 115 mm

The goal is not only to read the document, but to understand what the reported data actually represent and how they relate to steel quality.

👉 For a general overview of steel certificates:

https://www.bonomiacciai.it/il-certificato-di-analisi-e-controllo/

🧾 Steel certificate: what we are looking at

A steel certificate like this is the final result of a series of controls carried out throughout the entire production process, in compliance with EN 10204.

At first glance, it may appear as a set of technical data.
In reality, each section represents a specific level of verification.

👉 In this article, we highlight the main areas, which will be explored in detail in the next contents of the series.

🔍 Main sections of a steel certificate

Below is the complete certificate: scroll through the images to analyze each section.

🧪 Chemical analysis in a steel certificate

Here we find the chemical composition of the steel:

Carbon (C)
Silicon (Si)
Manganese (Mn)
Chromium (Cr)
Molybdenum (Mo)
Vanadium (V)

✔ Defines the identity of the material ✔ Directly influences its characteristics

👉 This will be the focus of an upcoming article:
“Chemical analysis: the identity of steel”

🔩 Steel hardness

Indicates the material’s resistance to deformation.

✔ fundamental parameter for processing and application
✔ related to the delivery condition

👉 Upcoming in-depth article:
“Hardness: the resistance of the material”

💥 Impact toughness (Charpy test)

Measures the steel’s ability to absorb energy without breaking.

✔ essential for critical applications
✔ depends on temperature and structure

👉 Upcoming article:
“Toughness: how steel reacts to impact”

🔬 Grain size in a steel certificate

Represents the internal structure of the material.

✔ influences strength and toughness
✔ key metallurgical parameter

👉 Upcoming article:
“Grain size: balance between strength and toughness”

🧼 Steel cleanliness (inclusions)

Evaluates the presence of non-metallic inclusions.

✔ directly impacts reliability and durability
✔ essential for high-quality steels

👉 Upcoming article:
“Steel cleanliness: inclusion control”

🔍 Microstructure (metallography)

Analysis of the internal structure through microscopy.

✔ allows verification of treatments and metallurgical quality

👉 Upcoming article:
“Metallography: the invisible structure”

📡 Ultrasonic testing

Internal inspection of the material.

✔ detects non-visible defects
✔ essential for safety

👉 Upcoming article:
“Ultrasonic testing: seeing inside steel”

☢️ Radiometric control

Verifies the absence of radioactive contamination.

✔ fundamental requirement in many industrial sectors

👉 Upcoming article:
“Radiometric control: safety at the core of the process”

🧠 What a steel certificate really means

This certificate is not just a technical document.

👉 It is the summary of:

chemical controls
mechanical tests
metallographic verifications
non-destructive testing

Every value reported is the result of a precise process.

🔄 The role of the certificate in steel quality

This article represents the central point of the series.

👉 From here on, each content will focus on a single section of the certificate.

This will allow a deeper understanding of:

how data are generated
what they actually mean
why they are essential for steel quality

🎯 Conclusion: how to read a steel certificate

A certificate like this DEW document is not just a sheet.

It is a map that tells everything that has been done on the material before delivery.

Understanding it means truly understanding steel quality.