ASTM A521/A521M-06(2011)

Standard Specification for Steel, Closed-Impression Die Forgings for General Industrial Use

ABSTRACT
This specification covers untreated and heat-treated steel closed-impression die forgings for general industrial use. The Grades of forgings are as follows: Grades CA, CC, CC1, CE, CF, CF1, CG, AA, AB, AC, AD, AE, AF, AG, and AH. These Grades shall be annealed, normalized, tempered and quenched. The manufactured forgings shall be free from harmful surface discontinuities, roughness, excessive scale, and fins which are indications of overheating, burning, or other injurious conditions. A tensile test shall be done in order to determine the yield strength of the heat-treated forgings. The forgings shall be furnished in a scale-free condition and may be cleaned by acid pickling, grit blasting, sand blasting, or other abrasive method.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers untreated and heat-treated steel, closed-impression die forgings (Note 1) for general industrial use.
Note 1—For the definition of a forging, refer General Requirements Specification A788/A788M.  
1.2 The Grades of forgings are as follows, the choice depending on design and stress or service to be imposed:  
1.2.1 Grade CA—Untreated, carbon steel forgings,  
1.2.2 Grades CC, CC1, and CE—Annealed, normalized and tempered, carbon steel forgings,  
1.2.3 Grade CF—Normalized and tempered carbon steel forgings,  
1.2.4 Grade CF1—Double normalized and tempered carbon steel forgings,  
1.2.5 Grade CG—Quenched and tempered, or normalized, quenched and tempered carbon steel forgings,  
1.2.6 Grade AA—Annealed, normalized, or normalized and tempered alloy steel forgings,  
1.2.7 Grades AB and AC—Normalized and tempered alloy steel forgings, and  
1.2.8 Grades AD, AE, AF, AG, and AH—Normalized, quenched, and tempered alloy steel forgings.  
1.3 Unless the order specifies the applicable “M” specification designation, the forgings shall be furnished with the inch-pound units.
1.4 The values stated in either inch-pound units or SI (metric) units are to be regarded separately as standard. Within the text and tables, the SI units are shown in brackets. The values stated in each system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in nonconformance with the specification.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Mar-2011
• ICS: 77.140.85 - Iron and steel forgings
• Technical Committee: A01 - Steel, Stainless Steel and Related Alloys
• Drafting Committee: A01.06 - Steel Forgings and Billets

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM A521/A521M-06 - Standard Specification for Steel, Closed-Impression Die Forgings for General Industrial Use
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2011
• Replaced By: ASTM A521/A521M-06(2016) - Standard Specification for Steel, Closed-Impression Die Forgings for General Industrial Use (Withdrawn 2018)
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2016

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:A521/A521M −06(Reapproved 2011)
Standard Specification for
Steel, Closed-Impression Die Forgings for General Industrial
Use
This standard is issued under the fixed designationA521/A521M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year
of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.
A superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* 2. Referenced Documents
1.1 This specification covers untreated and heat-treated
2.1 ASTM Standards:
steel, closed-impression die forgings (Note 1) for general
A29/A29MSpecification for Steel Bars, Carbon and Alloy,
industrial use.
Hot-Wrought, General Requirements for
A275/A275MPracticeforMagneticParticleExaminationof
NOTE 1—For the definition of a forging, refer General Requirements
Steel Forgings
Specification A788/A788M.
A322Specification for Steel Bars, Alloy, Standard Grades
1.2 The Grades of forgings are as follows, the choice
A370Test Methods and Definitions for Mechanical Testing
depending on design and stress or service to be imposed:
of Steel Products
1.2.1 Grade CA—Untreated, carbon steel forgings,
A388/A388MPractice for Ultrasonic Examination of Steel
1.2.2 GradesCC,CC1,andCE—Annealed,normalizedand
Forgings
tempered, carbon steel forgings,
A576Specification for Steel Bars, Carbon, Hot-Wrought,
1.2.3 Grade CF—Normalized and tempered carbon steel
Special Quality
forgings,
A788/A788MSpecification for Steel Forgings, General Re-
1.2.4 GradeCF1—Doublenormalizedandtemperedcarbon
quirements
steel forgings,
A921/A921MSpecification for Steel Bars, Microalloy, Hot-
1.2.5 Grade CG—Quenched and tempered, or normalized,
Wrought, Special Quality, for Subsequent Hot Forging
quenched and tempered carbon steel forgings,
E3Guide for Preparation of Metallographic Specimens
1.2.6 Grade AA—Annealed, normalized, or normalized and
E45Test Methods for Determining the Inclusion Content of
tempered alloy steel forgings, Steel
1.2.7 Grades AB and AC—Normalized and tempered alloy E94Guide for Radiographic Examination
E112Test Methods for Determining Average Grain Size
steel forgings, and
E340Test Method for Macroetching Metals and Alloys
1.2.8 Grades AD, AE, AF, AG, and AH—Normalized,
E381Method of Macroetch Testing Steel Bars, Billets,
quenched, and tempered alloy steel forgings.
Blooms, and Forgings
1.3 Unless the order specifies the applicable “M” specifica-
E407Practice for Microetching Metals and Alloys
tion designation, the forgings shall be furnished with the
inch-pound units.
3. Ordering Information and General Requirements
1.4 The values stated in either inch-pound units or SI
3.1 Material supplied to this specification shall conform to
(metric) units are to be regarded separately as standard.Within
the requirements of Specification A788/A788M, which out-
the text and tables, the SI units are shown in brackets. The
lines additional ordering information, manufacturing
values stated in each system are not exact equivalents;
requirements, testing and retesting methods and procedures,
therefore,eachsystemshallbeusedindependentlyoftheother.
product analysis variations, marking, certification, and addi-
Combining values from the two systems may result in noncon-
tional supplementary requirements. Failure to comply with the
formance with the specification.
requirements of Specification A788/A788M constitutes non-
conformance with this specification
This specification is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee A01 on Steel,
Stainless Steel and RelatedAlloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
A01.06 on Steel Forgings and Billets. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved April 1, 2011. Published June 2011. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1964. Last previous edition approved in 2006 as A521/A521M–06. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
DOI: 10.1520/A0521_A0521M-06R11. the ASTM website.
*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
A521/A521M−06 (2011)
3.2 In addition to the ordering information required by 8.2 The yield strength shall be determined by the offset
SpecificationA788/A788M,thepurchasermayrequirethatthe method, using an offset value of 0.2% of the gauge length, or
tolerances stated in the appendices to this specification shall by the total extension under load method, using an extension
apply. value of 0.005 in./in. [0.005 mm/mm] (0.5%) for Grades AD
and AE, 0.006 in./in. [0.006 mm/mm] (0.6%) for Grades AF
3.3 If the requirements of this specification should conflict
and AG, and 0.007 in./in. [0.007 mm/mm] (0.7%) for Grade
with the requirements of A788/A788M, then the requirements
AH.
of this specification shall prevail.
8.3 Tests for acceptance shall be made after final heat
4. Forging Manufacture
treatment of the forgings.
4.1 Sufficient discard shall be taken from the ingot or
9. Number of Tests and Orientation
forging stock to secure freedom from piping and undue
segregation. 9.1 Unless otherwise specified, one tension test shall be
made for each heat of steel for each heat treat charge. For
4.2 Manufacturing practice shall be in accordance with
untreated forgings (Grade CA) no tension tests need be made
accepted commercial procedures designed to produce forgings
unless when specified in the purchase order, when one tension
freefromharmfulsurfacediscontinuities,roughness,excessive
test shall represent each heat.
scale, fins, indications of overheating, burning, or other inju-
rious conditions. The manufacturer may be required to certify 9.2 For the purpose of tests of heat-treated forgings, the
that furnaces used for all heating operations for forging and necessary extra forgings shall be provided. When it is imprac-
heat treating are controlled to minimize scaling and decarbur- ticabletoprovideextraforgingsfortestpurposes,testbarsmay
ization. be made from the same billet or bar material, provided they
represent the maximum cross section of the forging, do not
4.3 Heat treatment, if required, shall be in accordance with
exceed the production forging reduction, and are heat treated
the ordered Grade description.
with the forgings they represent.
5. Chemical Requirements
9.3 Unless otherwise specified, the axis of the specimen
5.1 Depending on the forging size, type of heat treatment,
shall be located at any point midway between the center and
and the requirements of the purchaser, the chemical composi-
the surface of solid forgings or at any point midway between
tion shall be as specified by the purchaser. To assist in this
theinnerandoutersurfacesofthewallofhollowforgings,and
choice attention is drawn to the chemical requirements of
shall be parallel to the direction of maximum metal flow.
Specification A576 for carbon steels, Specification A322 for
10. Test Specimen
alloy steels, and Specification A29/A29M for both carbon and
alloy steels; however, the purchaser may wish to specify more 10.1 Location, size, and number of test specimens shall be
restrictive sulfur and phosphorous limits than are provided in
specified by the purchaser. Unless otherwise stated in the
these specifications. contract or purchase order, test bars may be separately forged
or swaged from the same bars, billets, or blooms used in
5.2 For microalloyed forgings, forging stock to Specifica-
manufacture of the forgings. The percentage reduction given
tion A921/A921M may be used.
the forged tests bars shall not be greater than the minimum
5.3 Attention is drawn to the supplementary requirements
amountofreductiongiventheforgingitself.Thetestbarsshall
included in Specification A788/A788M regarding special
be heat treated with the forgings they represent. The manufac-
chemical requirements.
turer may elect to submit an extra forging in lieu of forged test
5.4 The heat and product analyses requirements of Specifi-
bars.
cation A788/A788M shall apply.
10.2 Unless otherwise specified, the axis of the specimen
shall be located at any point midway between the center and
6. Metallurgical Requirements
the surface of solid forgings or at any point midway between
6.1 Provisionhasbeenmade,throughtheuseofsupplemen-
theinnerandoutersurfacesofthewallofhollowforgings,and
tary requirements in Specification A788/A788M and this
shall be parallel to the direction of maximum metal flow.
specification, for the purchaser to specify preferred grain flow
10.3 The specimens shall be machined to the form and
and limits for grain size as well as any microscopic examina-
dimensions shown in Test Methods and Definitions A370 for
tion requirements.
the standard or subsize round tension test specimens.
7. Dimensional Tolerances
11. Cleaning
7.1 Thepurchasermayspecifytolerancesforimpressiondie
11.1 The forgings shall be furnished in a scale-free condi-
forgings according to Appendix X1 or Appendix X2 as
appropriate. tion. Unless otherwise specified, the manufacturer may clean
by acid pickling, grit blasting, sand blasting, or other abrasive
8. Tensile Properties
method.
8.1 The material shall conform to the requirements for
12. Keywords
tensile properties prescribed in Table 1 when tested in accor-
dance with the latest issue of Test Methods and Definitions 12.1 alloysteel;carbonsteel;closeddie;forgingtolerances;
A370. heat treated; impression die; Steel Forgings
A521/A521M−06 (2011)
TABLE 1 Tensile Requirements
Grade Solid Diameter or Thickness, Bored Wall Thickness in. [mm] Tensile Yield Strength, Elongation Reduction
in. [mm] Strength, min, ksi in 2 in. or of Area,
min, ksi [MPa] 50 mm, min, %
Over Not Over Over Not Over
[MPa] min, %
AA (Annealed, normalized, or . 12 [300] . . 80 [550] 50 [345] 24 40
normalized, and tempered) 12 [300] 20 [500] . . 80 [550] 50 [345] 22 38
AB (Normalized and tempered) . 7 [175] . 4 [100] 80 [550] 55 [380] 26 52
7 [175] 20 [500] 4 [100] 7 ⁄2 [190] 80 [550] 55 [380] 24 50
AC (Normalized and tempered) . 7 [175] . 4 [100] 90 [620] 60 [415] 22 44
7 [175] 20 [500] 4 [100] 7 ⁄2 [190] 90 [620] 58 [400] 21 42
AD (Normalized, quenched, and . 7 [175] . 3 ⁄2 [85] 96 [655] 70 [485] 20 50
tempered) 7 [175] 10 [250] 3 ⁄2 [85] 5 [125] 90 [620] 65 [450] 20 50
AE (Normalized, quenched, and . 7 [175] . 3 ⁄2 [85] 105 [725] 80 [550] 20 50
tempered) 7 [175] 10 [250] 3 ⁄2 [85] 5 [125] 100 [690] 75 [520] 19 50
10 [250] 20 [500] 5 [125] 8 [200] 95 [655] 70 [485] 19 50
AF (Normalized, quenched, and . 4 [100] . 2 [50] 125 [860] 105 [725] 16 50
tempered) 4 [100] 7 [175] 2 [50] 3 ⁄2 [85] 115 [795] 96 [655] 16 45
7 [175] 10 [250] 3 ⁄2 [85] 5 [125] 110 [760] 85 [585] 16 45
AG (Normalized, quenched, and . 4 [100] . 2 [50] 145 [1000] 120 [830] 15 45
tempered) 4 [100] 7 [175] 2 [50] 3 ⁄2 [85] 140 [965] 115 [795] 14 40
7 [175] 10 [250] 3 ⁄2 [85] 5 [125] 135 [930] 110 [760] 13 40
AH (Normalized, quenched, and . 4 [100] . 2 [50] 170 [1175] 140 [965] 13 40
tempered) 4 [100] 7 [175] 2 [50] 3 ⁄2 [85] 165 [1140] 135 [930] 12 35
7 [175] 10 [250] 3 ⁄2 [85] 5 [125] 160 [1105] 130 [895] 11 35
CA (Untreated) No tensile requirement except as covered by 8.1
CC (Annealed, normalized, or . 12 [300] . . 60 [415] 30 [205] 25 36
normalized, and tempered) 12 [300] . . . 60 [415] 30 [205] 24 36
CC1 (Annealed, normalized, or . 12 [300] . . 66 [455] 33 [230] 23 36
normalized and tempered) 12 [300] 20 [500] . . 66 [455] 33 [230] 22 34
CE (Annealed, normalized, or . 8 [200] . . 75 [520] 37 [290] 24 40
normalized and tempered) 8 [200] 12 [300] . . 75 [520] 37 [290] 22 35
12 [300] 20 [500] . . 75 [520] 37 [290] 20 32
20 [500] . . . 75 [520] 37 [290] 19 30
CF (Normalized and tempered) . 8 [200] . . 80 [550] 40 [275] 22 36
8 [200] 12 [300] . . 80 [550] 40 [275] 21 33
12 [300] 20 [500] . . 80 [550] 40 [275] 20 31
CF1 (Double normalized and tempered) . 8 [200] . . 85 [585] 44 [300] 25 40
8 [200] 12 [300] . . 83 [570] 43 [295] 23 37
12 [300] 20 [500] . . 83 [570] 43 [295] 22 35
CG (Quenched, and tempered or . 4 [100] . 2 [50] 90 [620] 55 [380] 20 39
normalized, quenched and tempered) 8 [200] 7 [175] 2 [50] 3 ⁄2 [85] 85 [585] 50 [345] 20 39
7 [175] 10 [250] 3 ⁄2 [85] 5 [125] 85 [585] 50 [345] 19 37
... ... 5 [125] 10 [250] 82 [565] 48 [330] 19 36
SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENTS
One or more of the following supplementary requirements shall apply only when specified by the
purchaser in the inquiry, contract, and order. Details of these supplementary requirements shall be
specified by purchaser.
S1. Magnetic Particle Test revealflowlines.Thesectionmaybepreservedusingacoating
of mineral oil or clear lacquer.
S1.1 When magnetic particle inspection of forgings is
S2.2 Unless otherwise specified by the purchaser, Method
required, the areas to be inspected, and the acceptance stan-
dards shall be specified by purchaser. E381 or Test Method E340 shall be used.
S1.2 Unless otherwise required by the purchaser, Test
Method A275/A275M shall be used. S3. Microscopic Examination
S3.1 Whenmicroscopicalexaminationisspecified,thesteel
S2. Grain Flow
shallbeinspectedbyutilizingsamplescutfromtheundistorted
S2.1 Whenaspecificpatternofgrainflowisrequiredbythe
portion of tension test specimens. Requirements for number of
purchaser,asampleforgingshallbesectionedasspecified.The
microscopical tests, grain size, cleanliness, or microstructure
sectionshallbegroundandsubjectedtoacidetching,usingthe
shall be specified by purchaser.
type of acid, temperature, and time of etching agreed upon to
A521/A521M−06 (2011)
S3.2 For grain size determinationTest Methods E112 or the S6. Radiographic Tests
grainsizeprovisionsofSpecificationA29/A29Mshallbeused,
S6.1 When radiographic tests are required, the number of
and the grain size requirement shall be as specified by the
tests, location, and ASTM standards of acceptance shall be
purchaser.
specified by the purchaser. Reference shall be made to Guide
S3.3 For non-metallic inclusion rating Test Methods E45
E94.
shall be used, and the acceptance limits shall be specified by
the purchaser.
S7. Brinell Hardness
S3.4 Guide E3 and Practice E407 shall be used for the
determination of the microstructure. Acceptance criteria shall
S7.1 Whenhardnessisrequired,Brinellhardnessteststaken
be specified by the purchaser.
in accordance with Test Methods A370 shall be made of
sample forgings from each furnace charge of heat-treated
S4. Impact Test
forgings, or from an 8 h shift for continuo
...