2007 SECH ON Il, PART A SPECIFICATION FOR TEST METHODS, PRACTICES, AND TERMINOLOGY FOR CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF STEEL PRODUCTS [Neenical with ASTM Specifestion A 751-01 (RO6) except for INTRODUCTION ‘This standard was prepared 10 answer the need for a single document that would include all aspects of obtaining and reporting the chemical analysis of steel, stainless stcl, and related alloys, Such subjects as definitions of terms and product (check) analysis variations (tolerances) required clarification, Requirements for sampling, meeting specified Jimaits, and treatment of data usually were not clearly estab- lished in product specifications. Its intended that this standard will contain all require- ‘ments for the determination of chemical composition of steel, stainless ste], orrelated alloys so that product speci- fications will need contain only special modifications and exceptions. 1. Scope 1.1 This standard covers definitions, reference methods, practices, and guides yelating fo the chemical analysis of steel, stainless steel, and related alloys. It includes both ‘wet chemical and instrumental techniques, 1.2 Directions are provided for handling chemical requirements, product analyses, residual elements, and ref: erence standards, and for the treatment and reporting of ‘chemical analysis data 1.3. This standard applies only to those product stan- dards which include this standard or parts thereof as a sequirement, 1.4 In cases of conflict, the product specification requirements shall take precedence over the requirements of this standard 1.5. Attention is directed to Practice A $80 when there may be a need for information on criteria for evaluation of testing laboratories, SA-751 editors coections to an clement signin in Tables 1 and 2) 16 This standard does not purport to address all of the safery concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the vesponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior 10 use. 2. Referenced Documents 2 ASTM Standards. A 880 Practice for Criteria for Use in Evaluation of Testing Laboratories and Organizations for the Examination and Inspection of Steel, Stainless Steel, and Related Alloys E29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data (0 Determine Conformonee with Specifications E30 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Steet, Cast Iron, Open-Hearth tron, and Wrought Iron E SO Practices for Apparatus, Reagents, and Safety Consid- erations for Chemical Analysis of Metals, Ores, and Related Materials 59 Practice for Sampling Steel and Iron for Determina- tion of Chemical Composition E 60 Practice for Analysis of Metals, Ores, and Related Matcrials by Molecular Absorption Spectrometry E 212 Test Method for Spectrographie Analysis of Carbon and Low-Alloy Steet by the Rod-to-Rod Technique E293 Test Method for Spectrographic Determination of Acid-Soluble Aluminum in Low-Alloy Steel By the Solution Technique B 322 Method for X-Ray Emission Spectrometric Analysis of Low-Alloy Steels and Cast Irons 327 Test Method for Optical Emission Spectrometric Analysis of Stainless ‘Type 18-8 Steels by the Point-to- Plane Technique E350 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Carbon Steel, Low-Alloy Steel, Silicon Electrical Steel, Ingot Iron, anid Wrought Iron 1355sa751 352 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Tool Steels ‘and Other Similar Medium- and High-Alloy Steels, 1 353 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Stainless, Heat-Resisting, Maraging, and Other Similar Chro- minm-Nickel-Iron Alloys E 354 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of High-Tem- perature, Electrical, Magnetic, and Other Similar Iron, Nickel, and Cobalt Alloys E403 Test Method for Optical Emission Spectrometric ‘Analysis of Carbon and Low-Alloy Steel by the Point- t0-Plane Technique 5404 Test Method for Spectrographic Determination of Boron in Carbon and Low-Alloy Stee! by the Point-to- Plane Technique 415 Test Method for Optical Emission Vacuum Spectto- metric Analysis of Carbon and Low-Alloy Steel 421 Test Method for Spectrographic Determination of Silicon and Aluminum in High-Purity Iron 1B 485 Test Method for Optical Emission Vacuumn Spectro metric Analysis of Blast Furnace Iron by the Point-to- Plane Technique IE 548 Guide for General Criteria Used for Evaluating Lab- ‘oratory Competence E 572 Test Method for X-Ray Emission Spectrometric Analysis of Stainless Steel 663 Practice for Flame Atomic Absorption Analysis E 743 Guide for Spectrochemical Laboratory Quality Assurance E 851 Practice for Evaluation of Spectrochemical Labora tories B 882 Guide for Accountability and Quality Control inthe Chemical Analysis Laboratory E 1019 Test Methods for Determination of Carbon, Sulfur, Nitrogen and Oxygen in Steel and in Iron, Nickel, and Cobalt Alloys B 1024 Guide for Chemical Analysis of Metals and Metal Bearing Ores by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectropto- tometry E1063 Test Method for X-Ray Emission Spectrometric Determination of Cerium and Lanthanum in Carbon and Low-Alloy Steels E 1086 Test Method for Op trometric Analysis of Stainless Steel by the Point-to- Plane Excitation Technique E 1087 Practice for Sampling Molten Steel from a Ladle Using An Immersion Sampler to Produce a Specimen for Emission Spectrochemical Analysis F 1097 Guide for Direct Cursent Plasma Emission Spec: trometry Analysis E 1184 Practice for Electrothermal (Graphite Furnace) Atomic Absorption Analysis E 1282 Guide for Specifying the Chemical Compositions ‘and Selecting Sampling Practices and Quantitative Anal- ysis Methods for Metals, Ores and Related Materials 2007 SECTION H, PART A 1329 Practice for Verification and the Use of Control ‘Chanis in Spectrochemieal Analysis Terminology 3A. Definitions: Bulk Pertaining to Analyses: BALA cast or heat (formerty ladle) analysis — applies to chemical analyses representative of a heat of stec} as reported to the parchaser and determined by analyzing a test sample, preferably obtained during the pouring of the steel, for the elements designated in a specification, 31.1.2. product, check or verification analysis a chemical analysis of the semifinished or finished product, usually for the purpose of determining conformance to the specification requirements. The range of the specified composition applicable to product analysis is normally greater than that applicable to heat analysis in order to take into account deviations associated with analytical repro- ucibility (Note 1) and the beterogeneity of the steel. NOTE 1 docaent exception of Test Methos 3.113 product analysis tolerances (Note 2) — a permissible variation over the maximum limit or under the ‘minimum limit of a specified element and applicable ony to product analyses, not cast or heat analyses. Al of the chemical analysis procedures oforanced inthis do precision atmants with repredubiity data with the 0. [NOTE2— Te em “mass taleranee soften misunderstood des ‘ot apply to eas or best snalyscs dtennined to show conformance ‘peciog cenit. apes only to pret ale ad becomes ‘Pent nly when dhe het analysis ofa element ill close one fhe pei lit. For example, sunken scl UNS $3040 Finis fr hrmiin ae 18.00 16 20008, & eat hat the prods eposed at 1809 ehvniun may be fund to show T7808 ebonsiam By er rforming pode! sly the prod! analysis oleance fr sich EX cvomnium lve! is 020, he pode analysis of 17805 ehroniom would be accopable. A product analysis of 17.79% would not be seoxpabl 34.14 proprietary analytical method — & non standard analytical method, not published by ASTM, tiiz~ ing reference standards traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Teclmology (NIST) (when available) or other sources referenced in Section 10. 3.4.1.8 referee analysis — performed using ASTM methods listed in 9.1.1 and NIST reference standards ot methods and reference standards agreed! upon between par- ties. The selection of a laboratory to perform the referee alysis shall be a matter of agreement between the supplier and the purchaser: 34.1.6 certified reference material — a specimen of matetial specially prepated, analyzed, and certified for chemical content under the jurisdiction of a recognized standardizing agency or group, such as the National Ins tule of Standards and Technology, for use by analytical 13562007 SECTION I, PART A. laboratories as an accurate basis for comparison. Reference samples should bear sufficient resemblance to the material, tobe analyzed so that no significant differences are requited in procedures os corrections (for example, for interferent or inter-element effects. 3.1.1.7 working reference materials — reference ‘materials used for routine analytical control and traceable to NIST standards and other recognized standards when appropriate standards are available, 32 Pertaining 10 Elements: 3.2.1 intentionally added unspecified element — an element added in controlled amounts at the option of the producer to obiain desirable characteristies, 3.1.2.2 residual element — a specified or unspeci- fied element, not intentionally added, originating in raw materials, refractories, or ar. 3.1.2.3 specified clement — an element controlled to. specified range, maximum or minimum, in aecordance with the requirements of the product specification, 3.4.24 trace element — a residual element that Imay occur in very low concentrations, generally Jess than 001 %. 4. Concerning the Specification of Chemical Composition Requirements 4.1 It is recommended that Guide E 1282 be consulted ‘as a guide for specifying the chemical compositions for steels 4.2 The recommended practice for specifying chemical composition limits is to limit the number of significant figures for cach clement so that the number of figures 10 the right of the decimal point conforms to the following: Chemeat Maximunn Number of Figures to Concentration the Right of the Decal Post Up wo 0.010% 0.2200% or may be expressed as pm Up 010% OxxX, 0.10 to 3.00% Oxx Over 3.0% ox 4.3. For those cases in which the composition range spans cither 0.10% or 3.0%, the number of figures to the right of the decimal is to be determined by that indicated by the upper limit 4.4 Technical considerations may dictate the employ: ‘ment of less than the number of figures fo the right of the decimal as previously recommended, NOTE 4 — The recommendations shovld be employed 10 seduce the namie of siguiicea: figures, sch at from 18.00% 0 18055, but a significant fgare shold never be added ness there technical resin fo so doing SAcTS1 5. Cast or Heat Analysis 5.1 The producer shall perform analyses for those ele- ‘ments specified in the material specification, The results of such analyses shall conform to the requirements speci- fied in the material specification. 5.1L For multiple heats, either individual heat ot cast analysis or an average heat or cast analysis shall be reported. If significant veriations in heat or east size are involved, a weighted average heat or cast analysis, based ‘on the relative quantity of metal in each heat or east, shall be reported. 5.1.2 For consumable electrode remelted material, a heat is defined as all the ingots remelied by the same process from a primary heat. The heat analysis shall be ‘obiained from one remelted ingot, or the product of one zemelted ingot, from each primary mel. If this heat analys does not meet the heat analysis requirements ofthe specifi cation, one sample from the product of each remelted ingot shall be analyzed, and the analyses shall meet the heat analysis requirements 5.2 If the test samples taken for the heat analysis are lost, inadequate, or not representative of the heat, a product analysis of the semifinished or finished product may be used to establish the heat analysis. 52.1 If a product analysis is made to establish the heat analysis, the product analysis shall meet the specified. limits for heat analysis and the product analysis tolerances described in Section 6 do not apply. 6. Product Analysis Rea 6.1 For product analysis, the range of the specified chemical composition is normally greater (lesignated prod uct analysis tolerances) than that applicable to heat analyses to fake into account deviations associated with analytical reproducibility and the heterogeneity ofthe stet, If several determinations of any element in the heat are made, they aay not vary both above and below the specified range, 62 Product analysis (olerances may not be used to determine conformance tothe specified heat or cast analy- sis unless permitted by the individual material specifi cation. 6.3 Product analysis tolerances, where available, ate given in the individual material specifications or in the general requirement specifications. Unspecified Elements (Note 4) 71 Reporting analyses of unspecified elements is per- mitted, NOTE 4 — All commercial metals contain stall amounts of various lerens in addition to those which ave specified It is nether practical 387A751 nor neces to specify Limits for every unspeciie clement that night ‘oe present, despite the fact dat the presence of many ofthese elements is offen routinely determined by the produce 72 Analysis limits shall be established for specific elements rather than groups of elements such as “all others,” “rare earths,” and “balance.” Sampling B.A Cast or Heat Analyses BA.1 Samples shall be taken, insofar as possible, during the casting of a heat, at atime which, inthe produc ers judgment, best represents the composition of the cast 8.1.2 In case the heat analysis samples or analyses are lost or inadequate, or when its evideat thatthe sample does not truly represent the heat, representative samples may be taken from the scmifinished or finished product, in which case such samples may be analyzed to satisfy the specified requirements. The analysis shall meet the specified limits for heat analysis. 8.2 Check, Product, or Verification Analyses —~ Unless otherwise specified, the latest revision of Practice E59 shall be used as a guide for sampling 9. Test Methods 9.1. This section lists some test methods that have been found acceptable for chemical analysis of steels, 9.1.1 The following ASTM wet chemical test meth- ‘ods have been found acceptable as referee test methods, and as a base for standardizing instrumental analysis tech niques: ‘Test Methods Generat Description 530 eden to Methods F 350 dwongh 354 5350 ‘he basic wet chemical procedave for sels F352 ‘wet ehemical procedure for tol steels E353 ‘wot ehemical procedure for sales sees B34 wet chemical procedure for high nickel see's E119 determination of exon, sulfur, nitvogen, oxygen, and aydrogen in steed in ivan, nickel, ad eobalt alloys 9.1.2 The following ASTM instrumental test meth- ‘ods, practices, and guides may be employed for chemical analysis of steels or may be useful as a guide in the calibra tion and standardization of instrumental equipment for rou tine sampling and analysis of steels: 2007 SECTION 11, PART A Stands 4 3 Description E50 apparatus, reagens, and safety 0 photometric snl spostrophotonesie werk 22 ‘gecirogrophi analysis of soos (Foto tod tech: igus) 5293 tpcecopotometiesnalysis of acieoluble alo E32 Xeray fuoescence for stele ERT ‘specremeatic analysis sales steels Ea ectroattie anys of seals a0 spectrograpic determination of sels for boron (poincso-plane technique) Bais ‘vacua spectrometric analysis of steels E421 spectrograph deternination of silicon and alu uma in high-paty fon Bass, ‘optical emission vacuvm specometsc analysis of bas furnace on by the pointoplanetechaique Em Xray emission speotometic analysis of stainless stele E68 fla atomic absorption EsD sccouniability and quality canta E1019 or SO2, or both, by thermal conductivity or infrared detectors = % ferment Ranges Ble 02-50 s 6.0005-0.1 13582007 SECTION U, PART A 9.2.6 Determination of nitrogen and oxygen by ision (in a helium atmosphere) and measurement of N2 by thermal conductivity and oxygen by measurement of CO by infraxed or thermal conductivity detectors Element Ranges % Blement Ranges % Ne 0.0005-03 0; emos-002 9.2.7 Analysis of solutions using inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy (ICP) or direct plasma em sion spectroscopy (DCP). Normal elements and ranges for stainless steels are as follows: 0.0002-Not ‘.0n02-00t ‘bo0n2-a01 001-02 001-111 005-0. 001-001 9.3. There are additional common techniques often used for chemical analysis of standards for instrument analysis such as: polarographic analysis, ion exchange separations, tadioactivation, and mass spectrometry. 10. Reference Materials 10 For referee analyses, refer ‘ognized standardizing agency shall be employed with pref erence given to NIST standard reference materials when applicable. (NIST dees not produce seference standards suitable for all elements or all alloys.) 10.1.1 When standard reference materials for certain alloys are not available from NIST, reference materials, may be produced by employing ASTM standard procedures and NIST standard reference materials to the extent that such procedures and reference standards are available, Sev- ‘ral independent laboratories should be used for certifica- tion of these standards and their results statistically reviewed and merged. 10.1.2. Methods not published by ASTM such as a definitive analytical method may be used when the method is validated by analyzing certified reference materials along sA.781 with the canclidste reference material, Examples of defini- tive analytical methods include gravimetric, coulometry, titrimetric based on normality, and mass spectrometry, 10.2 Working reference materials may be used for rou- tine analytical control, 11. Significant Numbers UL.1 Laboratories shall report cach element to the same number of significant numbers as used in the pertinent ‘material specifications 11.2 When a chemical determination yields a greater number of significant numbers than is specified tor an element, the result shall be rounded in accordance with Section 12. 12, Rounding Procedure 12.1 To determine conformance with the specification requirements, an observed value or calculated value shall be rounded in accordance with Practice E 29 to the nearest ‘unit in the last right-hand place of values listed in the table ‘of chemical requirements, 12.2 In the special case of rounding the mumber “5” when no additional numbers other than “0” follow the "S", rounding shall be done in the direction of the specification analysis limits if following Practice E 29 would cause rejection of material, 13, Records 13.1 In addition to the test data requested, the test records shall contain the following information as «ppro- 13.1.1 Description of the material tested, for exam- ple, heat number, grade of material, product specification. 13.1.2 Test method(s) or unambiguous description ‘of the nonstandard method(s) used. 14, Keywords 14.1 cast analysis; chemical analysis; heat analysis; product analysis; reference materials, 1359sAz51 io si cr Ni al Mo. SPECTROSCOPY Element Ranges % 0.005-15.0 ow o.001-0.5, oo 0.008-5.0 v 01-260 w o1-360 co 0.002-55 Sn 0.008-80 w TABLE 2 2007 SECTION 11, PART A TABLE 1 NORMAL ELEMENTS AND RANGES FOR STAINLESS, STEELS USING X-RAY FLUORESCENCE lement Ranpes % 0.005-4.0, 0.005-3.6 0.008-2.0 0.005-2.5, 0.005-4.0 0.002-0.20 0.005-3.0 NORMAL ELEMENTS AND RANGES FOR STAINLESS, STEELS USING SPARK EMISSION SPECTROSCOPY Element Ranges % Element Ranges % Ns Mo si cr Ni at Mo ou oo 0.009-5.0 0.0005-0.1 o.0020-03 0.005-15.9, 0.001-1.5 0.005-5.0 001-260 901-260 9001-55 0.005-6.0 9.005-4.0 0.005-3.0 1360 t co Sn Pb co Ma a Ta 9.005-2.0 9005-25 9.005-4.0 9.001-0.20 0.005-3.0 0,002-0.05 0,0005-0.05 0,0002-0.01 9.001-0.0 9.001-0.2 o.001-0.1 0.005-0.52007 SECTION HL, PART A, SA-TS1 APPENDIX. (Nonmandatory Information) XI. QUALITY ASSURANCE FOR VALIDITY OF ANALYTICAL RESULTS X11 The requirements embodied in Guide E548 and Practices A 880 and E 851, provide generic requirements for production of valid chemical-analysis results. ‘X12 Additional pertinent standards for improving the competency of chemical analysis laboratories are included in Guides E743 and B 882. X13 Keys to improving validity of chemical analytical results are as follows: 1361 X1.3.4 Replication of sampling and testing to improve the precision of results; X1.32. Use of reference materials is crucial to accurate results; X13.3- Inst ‘maintained; and mentation that is appropriate and properly X1.3.4 Personnel who are properly trained, ethical chemists of technicians anc! who work with properly docu mented, current standards1362