ASTM E527-83(1997)e1

Standard Practice for Numbering Metals and Alloys (UNS)

SCOPE
1.1 This practice (Note 1) covers a unified numbering system (UNS) for metals and alloys that have a "commercial standing" (see Note 2), and covers the procedure by which such numbers are assigned. Section 2 describes the system of alphanumeric designations or "numbers" established for each family of metals and alloys. Section 3 outlines the organization established for administering the system. Section 4 describes the procedure for requesting number assignment to metals and alloys for which UNS numbers have not previously been assigned.  
Note 1-UNS designations shall not be used for metals and alloys that are not registered under the system described herein, or for any metal or alloy whose composition differs from those registered.
Note 2-The terms "commercial standing," "production usage," and others are intended to portray a material in active industrial use, although the actual amount of such use will depend, among other things, upon the type of materials. (Obviously gold will not be used in the same "tonnages" as hot-rolled steel.) Different standardizing groups use different criteria to define the status that a material has to attain before a standard number will be assigned to it. For instance, the American Iron and Steel Institute requires for stainless steels "two or more producers with combined production of 200 tons per year for at least two years"; the Copper Development Association requires that the material be "in commercial use (without tonnage limits)"; the Aluminum Association requires that the alloy be "offered for sale (not necessarily in commercial use)"; the SAE Aerospace Materials Division calls for "repetitive procurement by at least two users." While it is apparent that no hard and fast usage definition can be set up for an all-encompassing system, the UNS numbers are intended to identify metals and alloys that are in more or less regular production and use. A UNS number will not ordinarily be issued for a material that has just been conceived or that is still in only experimental trial.
1.2 The UNS provides a means of correlating many nationally used numbering systems currently administered by societies, trade associations, and individual users and producers of metals and alloys, thereby avoiding confusion caused by use of more than one identification number for the same material; and by the opposite situation of having the same number assigned to two or more entirely different materials. It also provides the uniformity necessary for efficient indexing, record keeping, data storage and retrieval, and cross referencing.  
1.3 A UNS number is not in itself a specification, since it establishes no requirements for form, condition, quality, etc. It is a unified identification of metals and alloys for which controlling limits have been established in specifications published elsewhere.
Note 3-Organizations that issue specifications should report to appropriate UNS number-assigning offices (3.1.2) any specification changes that affect descriptions shown in published UNS listings.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Mar-1997
• Technical Committee: A01 - Steel, Stainless Steel and Related Alloys
• Drafting Committee: A01.91 - Editorial

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM E527-83(2003) - Standard Practice for Numbering Metals and Alloys (UNS)
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-2003
• Referred By: ASTM A582/A582M-22 - Standard Specification for Free-Machining Stainless Steel Bars
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-1997
• Referred By: ASTM B860-18(2022) - Standard Specification for Zinc Master Alloys for Use in Hot Dip Galvanizing
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-1997
• Referred By: ASTM B914-21 - Standard Practice for Color Codes on Zinc and Zinc Alloy Ingot for Use in Hot-Dip Galvanizing of Steel
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-1997
• Referred By: ASTM B232/B232M-22 - Standard Specification for Concentric-Lay-Stranded Aluminum Conductors, Coated-Steel Reinforced (ACSR)
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-1997
• Referred By: ASTM B928/B928M-15 - Standard Specification for High Magnesium Aluminum-Alloy Products for Marine Service and Similar Environments
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-1997
• Referred By: ASTM A681-08(2022) - Standard Specification for Tool Steels Alloy
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-1997
• Referred By: ASTM B649-21 - Standard Specification for Ni-Fe-Cr-Mo-Cu-N Low-Carbon Alloy and Cr-Ni-Fe-N <brk/>Low-Carbon Alloy Bar and Wire, Ni-Cr-Fe-Mo-N Alloy Wire, and Ni-Fe-Cr-Mo-N Alloy Bar
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-1997
• Referred By: ASTM A1069/A1069M-19 - Standard Specification for Laser and Laser Hybrid Welded Stainless Steel Bars, Plates, and Shapes
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-1997
• Referred By: ASTM A955/A955M-20c - Standard Specification for Deformed and Plain Stainless Steel Bars for Concrete Reinforcement
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-1997
• Referred By: ASTM B960-18(2022) - Standard Specification for Prime Western Grade-Recycled (PWG-R) Zinc
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-1997
• Referred By: ASTM B221M-21 - Standard Specification for Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Extruded Bars, Rods, Wire, Profiles, and Tubes (Metric)
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-1997
• Referred By: ASTM B857-22 - Standard Specification for Shaped Wire Compact Concentric-Lay-Stranded Aluminum Conductors, Coated-Steel Supported (ACSS/TW)
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-1997
• Referred By: ASTM B19-20 - Standard Specification for Cartridge Brass Sheet, Strip, Plate, Bar, and Disks
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-1997
• Referred By: ASTM A269/A269M-22 - Standard Specification for Seamless and Welded Austenitic Stainless Steel Tubing for General Service
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-1997

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
e1
Designation: E 527 – 83 (Reapproved 1997)
Standard Practice for
Numbering Metals and Alloys (UNS)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 527; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
e NOTE—Keywords were added editorially in October 1997.
1. Scope more than one identification number for the same material; and
by the opposite situation of having the same number assigned
1.1 This practice (Note 1) covers a unified numbering
to two or more entirely different materials. It also provides the
system (UNS) for metals and alloys that have a “commercial
uniformity necessary for efficient indexing, record keeping,
standing” (see Note 2), and covers the procedure by which
data storage and retrieval, and cross referencing.
such numbers are assigned. Section 2 describes the system of
1.3 A UNS number is not in itself a specification, since it
alphanumeric designations or “numbers” established for each
establishes no requirements for form, condition, quality, etc. It
family of metals and alloys. Section 3 outlines the organization
is a unified identification of metals and alloys for which
established for administering the system. Section 4 describes
controlling limits have been established in specifications pub-
the procedure for requesting number assignment to metals and
lished elsewhere.
alloys for which UNS numbers have not previously been
assigned.
NOTE 3—Organizations that issue specifications should report to appro-
priate UNS number-assigning offices (3.1.2) any specification changes
NOTE 1—UNS designations shall not be used for metals and alloys that
that affect descriptions shown in published UNS listings.
are not registered under the system described herein, or for any metal or
alloy whose composition differs from those registered.
2. Description of Numbers (or Codes) Established for
NOTE 2—The terms “commercial standing,’’ “production usage,’’ and
Metals and Alloys
others are intended to portray a material in active industrial use, although
the actual amount of such use will depend, among other things, upon the 2.1 The unified numbering system (UNS) establishes 18
type of materials. (Obviously gold will not be used in the same
series of numbers for metals and alloys, as shown in Table 1.
“tonnages’’ as hot-rolled steel.)
Each UNS number consists of a single letter-prefix followed by
Different standardizing groups use different criteria to define the status
five digits. In most cases the letter is suggestive of the family
that a material has to attain before a standard number will be assigned to
of metals identified; for example, A for aluminum, P for
it. For instance, the American Iron and Steel Institute requires for stainless
precious metals, and S for stainless steels.
steels “two or more producers with combined production of 200 tons per
2.2 Whereas some of the digits in certain UNS number
year for at least two years’’; the Copper Development Association requires
that the material be “in commercial use (without tonnage limits)’’; the
groups have special assigned meaning, each series is indepen-
Aluminum Association requires that the alloy be “offered for sale (not
dent of the others in such significance; this practice permits
necessarily in commercial use)’’; the SAE Aerospace Materials Division
greater flexibility and avoids complicated and lengthy UNS
calls for “repetitive procurement by at least two users.’’
numbers.
While it is apparent that no hard and fast usage definition can be set up
for an all-encompassing system, the UNS numbers are intended to identify
NOTE 4—This arrangement of alphanumeric six-character numbers is a
metals and alloys that are in more or less regular production and use. A
compromise between the thinking that identification numbers should
UNS number will not ordinarily be issued for a material that has just been
indicate many characteristics of the material, and the belief that numbers
conceived or that is still in only experimental trial.
should be short and uncomplicated to be widely accepted and used.
1.2 The UNS provides a means of correlating many nation-
2.3 Wherever feasible, identification “numbers’’ from exist-
ally used numbering systems currently administered by soci-
ing systems are incorporated into the UNS numbers. For
eties, trade associations, and individual users and producers of
example: carbon steel, presently identified by AISI 1020
metals and alloys, thereby avoiding confusion caused by use of
(American Iron and Steel Institute), is covered by “UNS
G 10200 ’’; and free cutting brass, presently identified by CDA
(Copper Development Association C 36000), is covered by
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A-1 on Steel,
“UNS C 36000.’’ Table 2 shows the secondary division of
Stainless Steel, and Related Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
some primary series of numbers.
A01.91 on Editorial.
Current edition approved March 10, 1997. Published October 1997. Originally
published as E 527 – 74. Last previous edition E 527 – 83.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
e1
E 527 – 83 (1997)
TABLE 1 Primary Series of Numbers
Nonferrous Metals and Alloys
A00001–A99999 aluminum and aluminum alloys
C00001–C99999 copper and copper alloys
E00001–E99999 rare earth and rare earth-like metals and alloys (18
items; see Table 2)
L00001–L99999 low melting metals and alloys (15 items; see Table 2)
M00001–M99999 miscellaneous nonferrous metals and alloys (12 items;
see Table 2)
N00001–N99999 nickel and nickel alloys
P00001–P99999 precious metals and alloys (8 items; see Table 2)
R00001–R99999 reactive and refractory metals and alloys (14 items; see
Table 2)
Z00001–Z99999 zinc and zinc alloys
Ferrous Metals and Alloys
D00001–D99999 specified mechanical properties steels
F00001–F99999 cast irons and cast steels
G00001–G99999 AISI and SAE carbon and alloy steels
H00001–H99999 AISI H-steels
J00001–J99999 cast steels (except tool steels)
K00001–K99999 miscellaneous steels and ferrous alloys
S00001–S99999 heat and corrosion resistant (stainless) steels
T00001–T99999 tool steels
Specialized Metals and Alloys
W00001–W99999 welding filler metals, covered and tubular electrodes,
classified by weld deposit composition (see Table 2)
TABLE 2 Secondary Division of Some Series of Numbers
E00001–E99999 Rare Earth and Rare Earth-Like Metals and Alloys
E00000–E00999 actinium
E01000–E20999 cerium
A
E21000–E45999 mixed rare earths
E46000–E47999 dysprosium
E48000–E49999 erbium
E50000–E51999 europium
E52000–E55999 gadolinium
E56000–E57999 holmium
E58000–E67999 lanthanum
E68000–E68999 lutetium
E69000–E73999 neodymium
E74000–E77999 praseodymium
E78000–E78999 promethium
E79000–E82999 samarium
E83000–E84999 scandium
E85000–E86999 terbium
E87000–E87999 thulium
E88000–E89999 ytterbium
E90000–E99999 yttrium
F00001–F9999 Cast Irons
K00001–K99999 Miscellaneous Steels and Ferrous Alloys
L00001–L99999 Low-Melting Metals and Alloys
L00001–L00999 bismuth
L01001–L01999 cadmium
L02001–L02999 cesium
L03001–L03999 gallium
L04001–L04999 indium
L05001–L05999 lead
L06001–L06999 lithium
L07001–L07999 mercury
L08001–L08999 potassium
L09001–L09999 rubidium
L10001–L10999 selenium
L11001–L11999 sodium
L12001–L12999 thallium
L13001–L13999 tin
M00001–M99999 Miscellaneous Nonferrous Metals and Alloys
M00001–M00999 antimony
M01001–M01999 arsenic
M02001–M02999 barium
M03001–M03999 calcium
NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
e1
E 527 – 83 (1997)
TABLE 2 Continued
M04001–M04999 germanium
M05001–M05999 plutonium
M06001–M06999 strontium
M07001–M07999 tellurium
M08001–M08999 uranium
M10001–M19999 magnesium
M20001–M29999 manganese
M30001–M39999 silicon
P00001–P99999 Precious Metals and Alloys
P00001–P00999 gold
P01001–P01999 iridium
P02001–P02999 osmium
P03001–P03999 palladium
P04001–P04999 platinum
P05001–P05999 rhodium
P06001–P06999 ruthenium
P07001–P07999 silver
R00001–R99999 Reactive and Refractory Metals and Alloys
R01001–R01999 boron
R02001–R02999 hafnium
R03001–R03999 molybdenum
R04001–R04999 niubium (columbium)
R05001–R05999 tantalum
R06001–R06999 thorium
R07001–R07999 tungsten
R08001–R08999 vanadium
R10001–R19999 beryllium
R20001–R29999 chromium
R30001–R39999 cobalt
R40001–R49999 rhenium
R50001–R59999 titanium
R60001–R69999 zirconium
W00001–W99999 Welding Filler Metals Classified by Weld Deposit
Composition
W00001–W09999 carbon steel with no significant alloying elements
W10000–W19999 manganese-molybdenum low alloy steels
W20000–W29999 nickel low alloy steels
W30000–W39999 austenitic stainless steels
W40000–W49999 ferritic stainless steels
W50000–W59999 chromiun low alloy steels
W60000–W69999 copper base alloys
W70000–W79999 surfacing alloys
W80000–W89999 nickel base alloys
Z00001–Z99999 Zinc and Zinc Alloys
A
Alloys in which the rare earths are used in the ratio of their natural occurrence (that is, unseparated rare earths). In this mixture, cerium is the most abundant of the
rare earth elements.
2.4 Welding filler metals fall into two general categories: associations also publish similar listings related to materials of
those whose compositions are determined by the filler metal primary interest to their organizations.
analysis (e.g. solid bare wire or rods and cast rods) and those
3. Organization for Administering the UNS for Metals
whose composition is determined by the weld deposit analysis
and Alloys
(e.g. covered electrodes, flux-cored and other composite wire
3.1 The organization for administering the UNS consists of
electrodes). The latter are assigned to a new primary series with
the letter W as shown in Table 1. The solid bare wire and rods the following:
3.1.1 Advisory Board—The Advisory Board has approxi-
continue to be assigned in the established number series
according to their composition. mately 20 volunteer members who are affiliated with major
producing and using industries, trade associations, government
NOTE 5—Readers are cautioned not to make their own assignments of
agencies, and standards societies, and who have extensive
number
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