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ASTM E340-23

(Practice)

Standard Practice for Macroetching Metals and Alloys

Standard Practice for Macroetching Metals and Alloys

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
3.1 Applications of Macroetching:  
3.1.1 Macroetching is used to reveal the heterogeneity of metals and alloys. Metallographic specimens and chemical analyses will provide the necessary detailed information about specific localities, but they cannot give data about variation from one place to another unless an inordinate number of specimens are taken.  
3.1.2 Macroetching, on the other hand, will provide information on variations in (1) structure, such as grain size, flow lines, columnar structure, dendrites, and so forth; (2) variations in chemical composition as evidenced by segregation, carbide and ferrite banding, coring, inclusions, and depth of carburization or decarburization. The information provided about variations in chemical composition is strictly qualitative but the location of extremes in segregation will be shown. Chemical analyses or other means of determining the chemical composition would have to be performed to determine the extent of variation. Macroetching will also show the presence of discontinuities and voids, such as seams, laps, porosity, flakes, bursts, extrusion rupture, cracks, and so forth.  
3.1.3 Other applications of macroetching in the fabrication of metals are the study of weld structure, definition of weld penetration, dilution of filler metal by base metals, entrapment of flux, porosity, and cracks in weld and heat affected zones, and so forth. It is also used in the heat-treating shop to determine location of hard or soft spots, tong marks, quenching cracks, case depth in shallow-hardening steels, case depth in carburization, effectiveness of stop-off coatings in carburization, and so forth. In the machine shop, it can be used for the determination of grinding cracks in tools and dies.  
3.1.4 Macroetching is used extensively for quality control in the steel industry, to determine the tone of a heat in billets with respect to inclusions, segregation, and structure. Forge shops, in addition, use macroetching to reveal flow...
SCOPE
1.1 These procedures describe the methods of macroetching metals and alloys to reveal their macrostructure.  
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to the International System (SI) units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.  
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
For specific warning statements, see 6.2, 7.1, 8.1.3, 8.2.1, 8.8.3, 8.10.1.1, and 8.13.2. It is further recommended to review the guidance in Guide E2014.  
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

Status
Published
Publication Date
14-Nov-2023
ICS
77.040.99 - Other methods of testing of metals
Technical Committee
E04 - Metallography
Drafting Committee
E04.01 - Specimen Preparation
Current Stage
Ref Project

Relations

Replaces
ASTM E340-15 - Standard Practice for Macroetching Metals and Alloys
Effective Date
15-Nov-2023
Referred By
ASTM A983/A983M-06(2021) - Standard Specification for Continuous Grain Flow Forged Carbon and Alloy Steel Crankshafts for Medium Speed Diesel Engines
Effective Date
15-Nov-2023
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ASTM E1077-14(2021) - Standard Test Methods for Estimating the Depth of Decarburization of Steel Specimens
Effective Date
15-Nov-2023
Referred By
ASTM E1180-08(2021) - Standard Practice for Preparing Sulfur Prints for Macrostructural Evaluation
Effective Date
15-Nov-2023
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ASTM A957/A957M-21 - Standard Specification for Investment Castings, Steel and Alloy, Common Requirements, for General Industrial Use
Effective Date
15-Nov-2023
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ASTM E2014-17 - Standard Guide on Metallographic Laboratory Safety
Effective Date
15-Nov-2023
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ASTM A668/A668M-23 - Standard Specification for Steel Forgings, Carbon and Alloy, for General Industrial Use
Effective Date
15-Nov-2023
Referred By
ASTM A872/A872M-21 - Standard Specification for Centrifugally Cast Ferritic/Austenitic Stainless Steel Pipe for Corrosive Environments
Effective Date
15-Nov-2023
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ASTM A989/A989M-23 - Standard Specification for Hot Isostatically-Pressed Alloy Steel Flanges, Fittings, Valves, and Parts for High Temperature Service
Effective Date
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ASTM F788/F788M-20e1 - Standard Specification for Surface Discontinuities of Bolts, Screws, Studs, and Rivets, Inch and Metric Series
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ASTM A703/A703M-20a - Standard Specification for Steel Castings, General Requirements, for Pressure-Containing Parts
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15-Nov-2023
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ASTM A781/A781M-21 - Standard Specification for Castings, Steel and Alloy, Common Requirements, for General Industrial Use
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ASTM A182/A182M-23 - Standard Specification for Forged or Rolled Alloy and Stainless Steel Pipe Flanges, Forged Fittings, and Valves and Parts for High-Temperature Service
Effective Date
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ASTM A778/A778M-22 - Standard Specification for Welded, Unannealed Austenitic Stainless Steel Tubular Products
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ASTM A988/A988M-23 - Standard Specification for Hot Isostatically-Pressed Stainless Steel Flanges, Fittings, Valves, and Parts for High Temperature Service
Effective Date
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Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: E340 − 23
Standard Practice for
1
Macroetching Metals and Alloys
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E340; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope 3.1.1 Macroetching is used to reveal the heterogeneity of
metals and alloys. Metallographic specimens and chemical
1.1 These procedures describe the methods of macroetching
analyses will provide the necessary detailed information about
metals and alloys to reveal their macrostructure.
specific localities, but they cannot give data about variation
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
from one place to another unless an inordinate number of
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
specimens are taken.
conversions to the International System (SI) units that are
3.1.2 Macroetching, on the other hand, will provide infor-
provided for information only and are not considered standard.
mation on variations in (1) structure, such as grain size, flow
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
lines, columnar structure, dendrites, and so forth; (2) variations
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the in chemical composition as evidenced by segregation, carbide
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
and ferrite banding, coring, inclusions, and depth of carburiza-
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter- tion or decarburization. The information provided about varia-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.For
tions in chemical composition is strictly qualitative but the
specific warning statements, see 6.2, 7.1, 8.1.3, 8.2.1, 8.8.3, location of extremes in segregation will be shown. Chemical
8.10.1.1, and 8.13.2. It is further recommended to review the
analyses or other means of determining the chemical compo-
guidance in Guide E2014. sition would have to be performed to determine the extent of
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
variation. Macroetching will also show the presence of discon-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- tinuities and voids, such as seams, laps, porosity, flakes, bursts,
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
extrusion rupture, cracks, and so forth.
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- 3.1.3 Other applications of macroetching in the fabrication
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
of metals are the study of weld structure, definition of weld
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
penetration, dilution of filler metal by base metals, entrapment
of flux, porosity, and cracks in weld and heat affected zones,
2. Referenced Documents and so forth. It is also used in the heat-treating shop to
2
determine location of hard or soft spots, tong marks, quenching
2.1 ASTM Standards:
cracks, case depth in shallow-hardening steels, case depth in
E3 Guide for Preparation of Metallographic Specimens
carburization, effectiveness of stop-off coatings in
E381 Method of Macroetch Testing Steel Bars, Billets,
carburization, and so forth. In the machine shop, it can be used
Blooms, and Forgings
for the determination of grinding cracks in tools and dies.
E2014 Guide on Metallographic Laboratory Safety
3.1.4 Macroetching is used extensively for quality control in
the steel industry, to determine the tone of a heat in billets with
3. Significance and Use
respect to inclusions, segregation, and structure. Forge shops,
3.1 Applications of Macroetching:
in addition, use macroetching to reveal flow lines in setting up
the best forging practice, die design, and metal flow. For an
example of the use of macroetching in the steel forging
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E04 on
industry see Method E381. Forging shops and foundries also
Metallography and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E04.01 on Specimen
use macroetching to determine the presence of internal faults
Preparation.
and surface defects. The copper industry uses macroetching for
Current edition approved Nov. 15, 2023. Published November 2023. Originally
control of surface porosity in wire and bar. In the aluminum
approved in 1968. Last previous edition approved in 2015 as E340 – 15. DOI:
10.1520/E0340-23.
industry, macroetching is used to evaluate extrusio
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: E340 − 15 E340 − 23
Standard Practice for
1
Macroetching Metals and Alloys
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E340; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope
1.1 These procedures describe the methods of macroetching metals and alloys to reveal their macrostructure.
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
conversions to SI the International System (SI) units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and healthsafety, health, and environmental practices and determine
the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.For specific warning statements, see 6.2, 7.1, 8.1.3, 8.2.1, 8.8.3, 8.10.1.1,
and 8.13.2.For specific warning statements, see 6.2, 7.1, 8.1.3, 8.2.1, 8.8.3, 8.10.1.1, and 8.13.2. It is further recommended to
review the guidance in Guide E2014.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E3 Guide for Preparation of Metallographic Specimens
E381 Method of Macroetch Testing Steel Bars, Billets, Blooms, and Forgings
E2014 Guide on Metallographic Laboratory Safety
3. Significance and Use
3.1 Applications of Macroetching:
3.1.1 Macroetching is used to reveal the heterogeneity of metals and alloys. Metallographic specimens and chemical analyses will
provide the necessary detailed information about specific localities, but they cannot give data about variation from one place to
another unless an inordinate number of specimens are taken.
3.1.2 Macroetching, on the other hand, will provide information on variations in (1) structure, such as grain size, flow lines,
columnar structure, dendrites, and so forth; (2) variations in chemical composition as evidenced by segregation, carbide and ferrite
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E04 on Metallography and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E04.01 on Specimen Preparation.
Current edition approved June 1, 2015Nov. 15, 2023. Published July, 2015November 2023. Originally approved in 1968. Last previous edition approved in 20132015 as
E340 – 13.E340 – 15. DOI: 10.1520/E0340-15.10.1520/E0340-23.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E340 − 23
banding, coring, inclusions, and depth of carburization or decarburization. The information provided about variations in chemical
composition is strictly qualitative but the location of extremes in segregation will be shown. Chemical analyses or other means of
determining the chemical composition would have to be performed to determine the extent of variation. Macroetching will also
show the presence of discontinuities and voids, such as seams, laps, porosity, flakes, bursts, extrusion rupture, cracks, and so forth.
3.1.3 Other applications of macroetching in the fabrication of metals are the study of weld structure, definition of weld penetration,
dilution of filler metal by base metals, entrapment of flux, porosity, and cracks in weld and heat affected zones, and so forth. It
is also used in the heat-treating shop to determine location of hard or soft spots, tong marks, quenching cracks, case depth in
shallow-hardening steels, case depth in carburization of dies, carburization, effectiveness of stop-off coatings in carburization, and
so forth. In the machine shop, it can be used for
...

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1.2 This practice may be used as a controlling document in commercial situations.  
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. Inch-pound units given in parentheses are for information only.  
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

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ASTM E82/E82M-14(2019)(Test Method)
Standard Test Method for Determining the Orientation of a Metal Crystal

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 The physical properties of metals and other materials are often anisotropic (for example: Young's modulus will typically vary in different crystallographic directions). As such, it is often desirable or necessary to determine the orientation of a single crystal to ascertain the relation of any pertinent physical properties with respect to different directions in the material.  
4.2 This test method can be used commercially as a quality control test in production situations in which a desired orientation, within prescribed limits, is required.  
4.3 With the use of an adjustable, fixed holder that can later be mounted on a saw, lathe, or other machine, a single crystal material can be moved to a preferred orientation and subsequently sectioned, ground, or processed otherwise.  
4.4 If the grains in a polycrystalline material are large enough, this test method can also be used to determine their orientations and differences in orientation can be documented or mapped or both.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the back-reflection Laue procedure for determining the orientation of a metal crystal. The back-reflection Laue method for determining crystal orientation may be applied to macrograins and micrograins depending on the beam size within polycrystalline aggregates, as well as to single crystals of any size. This test method is described with reference to cubic crystals and other structures such as: hexagonal, tetragonal, or orthorhombic crystals.  
1.2 Most natural crystals have well developed external faces, and the orientation of such crystals can usually be determined from inspection. The orientation of a crystal having poorly developed faces or no faces at all (for example, a metal crystal prepared in the laboratory) shall be determined by more elaborate methods. The most convenient and accurate of these involves the use of X-ray diffraction. The “orientation of a metal crystal” is known when the positions in space of the crystallographic axes of the unit cell have been located with reference to the surface geometry of the crystal specimen. This relation between unit cell position and surface geometry is most conveniently expressed by stereographic or gnomonic projection.  
1.3 Units—The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard.  
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

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ASTM E2283-08(2019)(Practice)
Standard Practice for Extreme Value Analysis of Nonmetallic Inclusions in Steel and Other Microstructural Features

ABSTRACT
This practice describes a methodology to statistically characterize the distribution of the largest indigenous non-metallic inclusions in steel specimens based upon quantitative metallographic measurements. This practice enables the experimenter to estimate the extreme value distribution of inclusions in steels. The procedures in determining non-metallic inclusions in steel are presented and discussed in details.
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This practice is used to assess the indigenous inclusions or second-phase constituents in metals using extreme value statistics.  
5.2 It is well known that failures of mechanical components, such as gears and bearings, are often caused by the presence of large nonmetallic oxide inclusions. Failure of a component can often be traced to the presence of a large inclusion. Predictions related to component fatigue life are not possible with the evaluations provided by standards such as Test Methods E45, Practice E1122, or Practice E1245. The use of extreme value statistics has been related to component life and inclusion size distributions by several different investigators (3-8). The purpose of this practice is to create a standardized method of performing this analysis.  
5.3 This practice is not suitable for assessing the exogenous inclusions in steels and other metals because of the unpredictable nature of the distribution of exogenous inclusions. Other methods involving complete inspection such as ultrasonics must be used to locate their presence.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice describes a methodology to statistically characterize the distribution of the largest indigenous nonmetallic inclusions in steel specimens based upon quantitative metallographic measurements. The practice is not suitable for assessing exogenous inclusions.  
1.2 Based upon the statistical analysis, the nonmetallic content of different lots of steels can be compared.  
1.3 This practice deals only with the recommended test methods and nothing in it should be construed as defining or establishing limits of acceptability.  
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.4.1 For measurements obtained from light microscopy, linear feature parameters shall be reported as micrometers, and feature areas shall be reported as micrometers.  
1.5 The methodology can be extended to other materials and to other microstructural features.  
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.7 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

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ASTM E562-19e1(Test Method)
Standard Test Method for Determining Volume Fraction by Systematic Manual Point Count

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This test method is based upon the stereological principle that a grid with a number of regularly arrayed points, when systematically placed over an image of a two-dimensional section through the microstructure, can provide, after a representative number of placements on different fields, an unbiased statistical estimation of the volume fraction of an identifiable constituent or phase (1, 2, 3).3  
5.2 This test method has been described  (4) as being superior to other manual methods with regard to effort, bias, and simplicity.  
5.3 Any number of clearly distinguishable constituents or phases within a microstructure (or macrostructure) can be counted using the method. Thus, the method can be applied to any type of solid material from which adequate two-dimensional sections can be prepared and observed.  
5.4 A condensed step-by-step guide for using the method is given in Annex A1.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method describes a systematic manual point counting procedure for statistically estimating the volume fraction of an identifiable constituent or phase from sections through the microstructure by means of a point grid.  
1.2 The use of automatic image analysis to determine the volume fraction of constituents is described in Practice E1245.  
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

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