ASTM A738/A738M-07

Standard Specification for Pressure Vessel Plates, Heat-Treated, Carbon-Manganese-Silicon Steel, for Moderate and Lower Temperature Service

ABSTRACT
This specification covers heat-treated carbon-manganese-silicon steel plates intended for use in welded pressure vessels at moderate and lower temperature service. The materials are available in four strength levels and five grades, namely Grades A, B, C, D, and E. The maximum thickness of plates is limited only by the capacity of the chemical composition and heat treatment to meet the specified mechanical property requirements. The steel shall be killed and the plates shall be subjected to heat treatment, quenching, and tempering. The plates shall undergo a tension test to determine mechanical properties such as tensile strength, yield strength and elongation.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers heat-treated carbon-manganese-silicon steel plates intended for use in welded pressure vessels at moderate and lower temperature service.
2. Material under this specification is available in four strength levels, 75 ksi [515 MPa], 85 ksi [585 MPa], 80 ksi [550 MPa], and 90 ksi [620 MPa] minimum ultimate tensile strengths.
1.3 The maximum thickness of plates is limited only by the capacity of the chemical composition and heat treatment to meet the specified mechanical property requirements; however, current practice normally limits the maximum thickness of plates furnished under this specification to 6 in. [ 150 mm] for Grade A, 4 in. [100 mm] for Grade B, and 6 in. [150 mm] for Grade C. For Grades D and E, the maximum permitted nominal thickness is 1.5 in. [40 mm].
1.4 Grade A is the material that, prior to 1984, was covered by Specification A 738 without a grade designation.  
1.5 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.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Oct-2007
• ICS: 77.140.30 - Steels for pressure purposes
• Technical Committee: A01 - Steel, Stainless Steel and Related Alloys
• Drafting Committee: A01.11 - Steel Plates for Boilers and Pressure Vessels

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM A738/A738M-05 - Standard Specification for Pressure Vessel Plates, Heat-Treated, Carbon-Manganese-Silicon Steel, for Moderate and Lower Temperature Service
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2007
• Replaced By: ASTM A738/A738M-12 - Standard Specification for Pressure Vessel Plates, Heat-Treated, Carbon-Manganese-Silicon Steel, for Moderate and Lower Temperature Service
• Effective Date: 01-May-2012
• Referred By: ASTM A20/A20M-20 - Standard Specification for General Requirements for Steel Plates for Pressure Vessels
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2007

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: A738/A738M – 07
Standard Specification for
Pressure Vessel Plates, Heat-Treated, Carbon-Manganese-
1
Silicon Steel, for Moderate and Lower Temperature Service
This standard is issued under the fixed designationA738/A738M; 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* Steel Plates for Pressure Vessels
2
1.1 This specification covers heat-treated carbon-
3. General Requirements and Ordering Information
manganese-silicon steel plates intended for use in welded
3.1 Plates supplied to this product specification shall con-
pressure vessels at moderate and lower temperature service.
form to the requirements of Specification A20/A20M, which
1.2 Material under this specification is available in four
outlines the testing and retesting methods and procedures,
strength levels, 75 ksi [515 MPa], 85 ksi [585 MPa], 80 ksi
permissible variations in dimensions and mass, quality, repair
[550 MPa], and 90 ksi [620 MPa] minimum ultimate tensile
of defects, marking, loading, etc.
strengths.
3.2 Specification A20/A20M also establishes the rules for
1.3 The maximum thickness of plates is limited only by the
compliance to the ordering information when purchasing
capacity of the chemical composition and heat treatment to
material to this specification.
meetthespecifiedmechanicalpropertyrequirements;however,
3.3 In addition to the basic requirements of this specifica-
current practice normally limits the maximum thickness of
tion, certain supplementary requirements are available when
plates furnished under this specification to 6 in. [ 150 mm] for
additional control, testing, or examination is required to meet
GradeA, 4 in. [100 mm] for Grade B, and 6 in. [150 mm] for
the end use requirements.
GradeC.ForGradesDandE,themaximumpermittednominal
3.4 The purchaser is referred to the listed supplementary
thickness is 1.5 in. [40 mm].
requirements in this specification and to the supplementary
1.4 GradeAis the material that, prior to 1984, was covered
requirements in Specification A20/A20M.
by Specification A738 without a grade designation.
1.5 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units
4. Manufacture
are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in
4.1 Steelmaking Practice—The steel shall be killed and
each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each
shall conform to the fine austenitic grain size requirement of
system shall be used independently of the other. Combining
Specification A20/A20M.
values from the two systems may result in non-conformance
with the standard.
5. Heat Treatment
5.1 Grade A plates 2.5 in. [65 mm] and under in thickness
2. Referenced Documents
3 shall be supplied in either the normalized or quenched and
2.1 ASTM Standards:
tempered condition.
A20/A20M Specification for General Requirements for
5.2 Grade A plates over 2.5 in. [65 mm] in thickness and
Grade B, Grade C, Grade D, and Grade E plates in all
thicknesses shall be quenched-and-tempered.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction ofASTM CommitteeA01 on Steel,
5.3 When plates are tempered, the minimum tempering
Stainless Steel and RelatedAlloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
A01.11 on Steel Plates for Boilers and Pressure Vessels.
temperature shall be 1100°F [595°C].
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2007. Published December 2007. Originally
approved in 1976. Last previous edition approved in 2005 as A738/A738M–05.
6. Chemical Requirements
DOI: 10.1520/A0738_A0738M-07.
2
6.1 The steel shall conform to the chemical requirements
For ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code applications see related Specifi-
cation SA-738/SA-738M in Section II of that Code.
showninTable1unlessotherwisemodifiedinaccordancewith
3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Supplementary Requirement S 17, Vacuum Carbon-
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Deoxidized Steel in Specification A20/A20M.
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
*ASummary 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 ----------------------
A738/A738M – 07
TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements
Composition, %
Element
Grade A Grade B Grade C Grade D Grade E
A B
Carbon, max 0.24 0.20 0.20 0.10 0.12
Manganese:
Heat analysis
B
1.5 in. [40 mm] and under 1.50 max 0.90–1.50 1.50 max 1.00–1.60 1.10–1.60
CC
Over 1.5 to 2.5 in. 1.50 max 0.90–1.50 1.50 max
[40 to 65 mm], incl
CC
...

This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM 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:A 738/A738M–05 Designation: A 738/A 738M – 07
Standard Specification for
Pressure Vessel Plates, Heat-Treated, Carbon-Manganese-
1
Silicon Steel, for Moderate and Lower Temperature Service
ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationA738/A738M;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyear
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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope*
2
1.1 This specification covers heat-treated carbon-manganese-silicon steel plates intended for use in welded pressure vessels at
moderate and lower temperature service.
1.2 Material under this specification is available in four strength levels, 75 ksi [515 MPa], 85 ksi [585 MPa], 80 ksi [550 MPa],
and 90 ksi [620 MPa] minimum ultimate tensile strengths.
1.3The1.3 The maximum thickness of plates is limited only by the capacity of the chemical composition and heat treatment to
meet the specified mechanical property requirements; however, current practice normally limits the maximum thickness of plates
furnished under this specification to 6 in. [ 150 mm] for GradeA, 4 in. [100 mm] for Grade B, and 6 in. [150 mm] for Grade C.
For Grades D and E, the maximum permitted nominal thickness is 1.5 in. [40 mm].
1.4 Grade A is the material that, prior to 1984, was covered by Specification A738 without a grade designation.
1.5 The values stated in either inch-poundSI units or SIinch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standards. Within the
text,theSIunitsareshowninbrackets.standard.Thevaluesstatedineachsystemaremaynotbeexactequivalents;therefore,each
systemmustshallbeusedindependentlyoftheother.Combiningvaluesfromthetwosystemsmayresultinnon-conformancewith
the specification. standard.
2. Referenced Documents
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
A20/A20M Specification for General Requirements for Steel Plates for Pressure Vessels
3. General Requirements and Ordering Information
3.1 Plates supplied to this product specification shall conform to the requirements of SpecificationA20/A20M/A20M,, which
outlinesthetestingandretestingmethodsandprocedures,permissiblevariationsindimensionsandmass,quality,repairofdefects,
marking, loading, etc.
3.2 Specification A20/A20M/A20M also establishes the rules for compliance to the ordering information when purchasing
material to this specification.
3.3In3.3 In addition to the basic requirements of this specification, certain supplementary requirements are available when
additional control, testing, or examination is required to meet the end use requirements.
3.4The3.4 The purchaser is referred to the listed supplementary requirements in this specification and to the supplementary
requirements in Specification A20/A20M.
4. Manufacture
4.1 Steelmaking Practice—The steel shall be killed and shall conform to the fine austenitic grain size requirement of
Specification A20/A20M/A20M. .
5. Heat Treatment
5.1 GradeAplates 2.5 in. [65 mm] and under in thickness shall be supplied in either the normalized or quenched and tempered
condition.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction ofASTM CommitteeA01 on Steel, Stainless Steel,Steel and RelatedAlloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
A01.11 on Steel Plates for Boilers and Pressure Vessels.
Current edition approved MayNov. 1, 2005.2007. Published May 2005.December 2007. Originally approved in 1976. Last previous edition approved in 20032005 as
A738/A738M–03a.A738/A738M–05.
2
For ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code applications see related Specification SA-738/SA-738M in Section II of that Code.
3
ForreferencedASTMstandards,visittheASTMwebsite,www.astm.org,[e-mail] Annual Book ofASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
*ASummary 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 ----------------------
A 738/A 738M – 07
5.2 Grade A plates over 2.5 in. [65 mm] in thickness and Grade B, Grade C, Grade D, and Grade E plates in all thicknesses
shall be quenched-and-tempered.
5.3 When plates are tempered, the minimum tempering temperature shall be 1100°F [595°C].
6. Chemical Requirements
6.1 The steel shall conform to the chemical requirements shown in Table 1unless otherwise modified in accordance with
Supplementary Requir
...

This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM 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:A 738/A738M–05 Designation: A738/A738M – 07
Standard Specification for
Pressure Vessel Plates, Heat-Treated, Carbon-Manganese-
1
Silicon Steel, for Moderate and Lower Temperature Service
This standard is issued under the fixed designationA738/A738M; 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
1.1 This specification covers heat-treated carbon-manganese-silicon steel plates intended for use in welded pressure vessels at
moderate and lower temperature service.
1.2 Material under this specification is available in four strength levels, 75 ksi [515 MPa], 85 ksi [585 MPa], 80 ksi [550 MPa],
and 90 ksi [620 MPa] minimum ultimate tensile strengths.
1.3The1.3 The maximum thickness of plates is limited only by the capacity of the chemical composition and heat treatment to
meet the specified mechanical property requirements; however, current practice normally limits the maximum thickness of plates
furnished under this specification to 6 in. [ 150 mm] for GradeA, 4 in. [100 mm] for Grade B, and 6 in. [150 mm] for Grade C.
For Grades D and E, the maximum permitted nominal thickness is 1.5 in. [40 mm].
1.4 Grade A is the material that, prior to 1984, was covered by Specification A738 without a grade designation.
1.5 The values stated in either inch-poundSI units or SIinch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standards. Within the
text,theSIunitsareshowninbrackets.standard.Thevaluesstatedineachsystemaremaynotbeexactequivalents;therefore,each
systemmustshallbeusedindependentlyoftheother.Combiningvaluesfromthetwosystemsmayresultinnon-conformancewith
the specification. standard.
2. Referenced Documents
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
A20/A20M Specification for General Requirements for Steel Plates for Pressure Vessels
3. General Requirements and Ordering Information
3.1 Plates supplied to this product specification shall conform to the requirements of Specification A 20A20/A20M/A 20M,,
which outlines the testing and retesting methods and procedures, permissible variations in dimensions and mass, quality, repair of
defects, marking, loading, etc.
3.2 SpecificationA20A20/A20M/A20Malsoestablishestherulesforcompliancetotheorderinginformationwhenpurchasing
material to this specification.
3.3In3.3 In addition to the basic requirements of this specification, certain supplementary requirements are available when
additional control, testing, or examination is required to meet the end use requirements.
3.4The3.4 The purchaser is referred to the listed supplementary requirements in this specification and to the supplementary
requirements in Specification A 20/A 20MA20/A20M.
4. Manufacture
4.1 Steelmaking Practice—The steel shall be killed and shall conform to the fine austenitic grain size requirement of
Specification A 20A20/A20M/A 20M. .
5. Heat Treatment
5.1 GradeAplates 2.5 in. [65 mm] and under in thickness shall be supplied in either the normalized or quenched and tempered
condition.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction ofASTM CommitteeA01 on Steel, Stainless Steel,Steel and RelatedAlloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
A01.11 on Steel Plates for Boilers and Pressure Vessels.
Current edition approved May 1, 2005. Published May 2005. Originally approved in 1976. Last previous edition approved in 2003 as A 738/A 738M–03a.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2007. Published December 2007. Originally approved in 1976. Last previous edition approved in 2005 as A738/A738M–05. DOI:
10.1520/A0738_A0738M-07.
2
For ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code applications see related Specification SA-738/SA-738M in Section II of that Code.
3
ForreferencedASTMstandards,visittheASTMwebsite,www.astm.org,[e-mail] Annual Book ofASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
*ASummary 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 ----------------------
A738/A738M – 07
5.2 Grade A plates over 2.5 in. [65 mm] in thickness and Grade B, Grade C, Grade D, and Grade E plates in all thicknesses
shall be quenched-and-tempered.
5.3 When plates are tempered, the minimum tempering temperature shall
...