ASTM B6-23

Standard Specification for Zinc

ABSTRACT
This specification covers zinc metal made from ore or other material by a process of distillation or by electrolysis in five grades as follows: LME grade, special high grade, high grade, intermediate grade, and prime western grade. The zinc metal shall be tested and conform to the chemical composition requirements of lead, iron, cadmium, aluminum, copper, tin, and non-zinc metals prescribed in this specification. The material shall be free of surface corrosion and adhering foreign matter. Representative samples from the molten metal during casting, and all part of these samples may be cast into shapes suitable for use in spectrochemical methods.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers zinc metal made from ore or other material by a process of distillation or by electrolysis in five grades as follows:  
1.1.1 LME Grade  
1.1.2 Special High Grade  
1.1.3 High Grade  
1.1.4 Intermediate Grade  
1.1.5 Prime Western Grade  
Note 1: Certain continuous galvanizing grades are specified in Specification B852. Other continuous galvanizing and controlled lead grades are not included in this specification but are covered by specific user purchasing specifications.  
1.2 This specification does not cover zinc produced by “sweating” or remelting of secondary zinc.  
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered 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 become familiar with all hazards including those identified in the appropriate Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for this product/material as provided by the manufacturer, 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.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Mar-2023
• ICS: 77.120.60 - Lead, zinc, tin and their alloys
• Technical Committee: B02 - Nonferrous Metals and Alloys
• Drafting Committee: B02.04 - Zinc and Cadmium

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: B6 − 23 American Association of State
Highway and Transportation
Officials Standard
AASHTO No: M120-77
Standard Specification for
1
Zinc
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B6; 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* 2. Referenced Documents
1.1 This specification covers zinc metal made from ore or 2.1 The following documents of the issue in effect on the
other material by a process of distillation or by electrolysis in date of material purchase form a part of this specification to the
five grades as follows: extent referenced herein.
1.1.1 LME Grade 2
2.2 ASTM Standards:
1.1.2 Special High Grade
B852 Specification for Continuous Galvanizing Grade
1.1.3 High Grade
(CGG) Zinc Alloys for Hot-Dip Galvanizing of Sheet
1.1.4 Intermediate Grade
Steel
1.1.5 Prime Western Grade
B897 Specification for Configuration of Zinc and Zinc Alloy
Jumbo, Block, Half Block, and Slab Ingot
NOTE 1—Certain continuous galvanizing grades are specified in Speci-
fication B852. Other continuous galvanizing and controlled lead grades
B899 Terminology Relating to Non-ferrous Metals and Al-
are not included in this specification but are covered by specific user
loys
purchasing specifications.
B914 Practice for Color Codes on Zinc and Zinc Alloy Ingot
1.2 This specification does not cover zinc produced by
for Use in Hot-Dip Galvanizing of Steel
“sweating” or remelting of secondary zinc.
B949 Specification for General Requirements for Zinc and
Zinc Alloy Products
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
E29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
Determine Conformance with Specifications
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
E527 Practice for Numbering Metals and Alloys in the
and are not considered standard.
Unified Numbering System (UNS)
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
E536 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Zinc and Zinc
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
Alloys
responsibility of the user of this standard to become familiar
3
2.3 ISO Standards:
with all hazards including those identified in the appropriate
ISO 3815-1 Zinc and zinc alloys — Part 1: Analysis of solid
Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for this product/material as provided
samples by optical emission spectrometry
by the manufacturer, to establish appropriate safety, health,
ISO 3815-2 Zinc and zinc alloys — Part 2: Analysis by
and environmental practices, and determine the applicability
inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry
of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
3. Terminology
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
3.1 Terms shall be defined in accordance with Terminology
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
B899.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1 2
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B02 on For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Nonferrous Metals and Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
B02.04 on Zinc and Cadmium. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved April 1, 2023. Published April 2023. Originally the ASTM website.
3
approved in 1911. Last previous edition approved in 2018 as B6 – 18. DOI: Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
10.1520/B0006-23. 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
B6 − 23
3.2.1 LME Grade, n—a grade of zinc containing a minimum 7.2 Zinc metal may be ordered in jumbos or blocks, as
of 99.995 % zinc, with controlled impurity levels, as specified specified in Specification B897.
in Table 1.
7.3 Zinc metal may also be ordered in anodes
...

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: B6 − 18 B6 − 23 American Association of State
Highway and Transportation
Officials Standard
AASHTO No: M120-77
Standard Specification for
1
Zinc
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B6; 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 This specification covers zinc metal made from ore or other material by a process of distillation or by electrolysis in five grades
as follows:
1.1.1 LME Grade
1.1.2 Special High Grade
1.1.3 High Grade
1.1.4 Intermediate Grade
1.1.5 Prime Western Grade
NOTE 1—Certain continuous galvanizing grades are specified in Specification B852. Other continuous galvanizing and controlled lead grades are not
included in this specification but are covered by specific user purchasing specifications.
1.2 This specification does not cover zinc produced by “sweating” or remelting of secondary zinc.
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered 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 become familiar with all hazards including those identified in the appropriate Safety Data Sheet
(SDS) for this product/material as provided by the manufacturer, 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.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B02 on Nonferrous Metals and Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B02.04 on Zinc
and Cadmium.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2018April 1, 2023. Published January 2019April 2023. Originally approved in 1911. Last previous edition approved in 20132018 as
B6 – 13.B6 – 18. DOI: 10.1520/B0006-18.10.1520/B0006-23.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
B6 − 23
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 The following documents of the issue in effect on the date of material purchase form a part of this specification to the extent
referenced herein.
2
2.2 ASTM Standards:
B852 Specification for Continuous Galvanizing Grade (CGG) Zinc Alloys for Hot-Dip Galvanizing of Sheet Steel
B897 Specification for Configuration of Zinc and Zinc Alloy Jumbo, Block, Half Block, and Slab Ingot
B899 Terminology Relating to Non-ferrous Metals and Alloys
B914 Practice for Color Codes on Zinc and Zinc Alloy Ingot for Use in Hot-Dip Galvanizing of Steel
B949 Specification for General Requirements for Zinc and Zinc Alloy Products
E29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications
E527 Practice for Numbering Metals and Alloys in the Unified Numbering System (UNS)
E536 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Zinc and Zinc Alloys
3
2.3 ISO Standards:
ISO 3815-1 Zinc and zinc alloys — Part 1: Analysis of solid samples by optical emission spectrometry
ISO 3815-2 Zinc and zinc alloys — Part 2: Analysis by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry
3. Terminology
3.1 Terms shall be defined in accordance with Terminology B899.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 LME Grade, n—a grade of zinc containing a minimum of 99.995 % zinc, with controlled impurity levels, as specified in
Table 1.
3.2.2 Special High Grade, n—a high purity grade of zinc containing a minimum of 99.990 % zinc, with controlled impurity levels,
as specified in Table 1.
3.2.3 High Grade, n—a grade of zinc containing a minimum of 99.95 % zinc, with controlled impurity levels, as specified in Table
1.
TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements
NOTE 1—The following
...