ASTM B776-12(2024)

Standard Specification for Hafnium and Hafnium Alloy Strip, Sheet, and Plate

ABSTRACT
This specification covers the standard requirements for two grades of wrought hafnium and hafnium alloy strip, sheet, and plate: Grade R1 for nuclear applications and Grade R3 for commercial applications. The materials shall be made from ingots that are produced in a furnace by vacuum or plasma arc melting, vacuum electron-beam melting, a combination of these three methods, or other melting process conventionally used for reactive metals. The various mill products shall be formed with the conventional extrusion, forging, or rolling equipment normally found in primary ferrous and nonferrous plants. The sheet, strip, and plate shall either be hot-rolled or cold-rolled and shall be supplied in the recrystallized annealed condition. Grades R1 and R3 metal shall conform to the chemical composition requirements for aluminum, carbon, chromium, copper, hydrogen, iron, molybdenum, nickel, niobium, nitrogen, oxygen, silicon, tantalum, tin, titanium, tungsten, uranium, vanadium, zirconium, and hafnium as shall be determined by chemical analysis. Mechanical properties, which shall be determined by tension tests both in longitudinal and transverse direction, shall meet the prescribed tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation requirements. Corrosion testing in water shall also be performed to determine the corrosion resistance of the materials.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers two grades of wrought hafnium and hafnium alloy strip, sheet, and plate as follows:  
1.1.1 Grade R1 for nuclear applications, and  
1.1.2 Grade R3 for commercial applications.  
1.2 Unless a single unit is used, for example corrosion mass gain in mg/dm2, the values stated in either inch-pound or SI units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system must be used independently of the other. SI values cannot be mixed with inch-pound values.  
1.3 The following precautionary caveat pertains only to the test method portions of this specification. 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.  
1.4 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: 31-Mar-2024
• ICS: 77.150.10 - Aluminium products
• Technical Committee: B10 - Reactive and Refractory Metals and Alloys
• Drafting Committee: B10.02 - Zirconium and Hafnium

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: B776 − 12 (Reapproved 2024)
Standard Specification for
Hafnium and Hafnium Alloy Strip, Sheet, and Plate
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B776; 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.
1. Scope 3. Terminology
1.1 This specification covers two grades of wrought haf- 3.1 Lot Definition:
nium and hafnium alloy strip, sheet, and plate as follows: 3.1.1 lot, n—a lot shall consist of a material of the same size,
1.1.1 Grade R1 for nuclear applications, and shape, condition, and finish produced from the same ingot by
1.1.2 Grade R3 for commercial applications. the same reduction schedule and the same heat treatment
parameters. Unless otherwise agreed upon between manufac-
1.2 Unless a single unit is used, for example corrosion mass
2 turer and purchaser, a lot shall be limited to the product of an
gain in mg/dm , the values stated in either inch-pound or SI
8-h period for final continuous anneal, or to a single furnace
units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values
load for final batch anneal.
stated in each system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each
system must be used independently of the other. SI values 3.2 Forms:
cannot be mixed with inch-pound values. 3.2.1 strip, n—a flat product, may be supplied in coil, less
than 6 in. (150 mm) in width and from 0.005 in. to 0.188 in.
1.3 The following precautionary caveat pertains only to the
(0.13 mm to 4.8 mm) in thickness.
test method portions of this specification. This standard does
not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, 3.2.2 sheet, n—a flat product 6 in. (150 mm) or more in
associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this width and from 0.005 in. to 0.188 in. (0.13 mm to 4.8 mm) in
standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environ- thickness.
mental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
3.2.3 plate, n—a flat product more than 0.125 in. (3.2 mm)
limitations prior to use.
in thickness.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- 4. Classification
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
4.1 The strip, sheet, or plate is to be furnished in two grades
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
as follows:
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
4.1.1 Grade R1 (Nuclear)—Unalloyed.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
4.1.2 Grade R3 (Commercial)—Unalloyed.
2. Referenced Documents
5. Ordering Information
2.1 ASTM Standards:
5.1 Purchase orders for materials under this specification
E8/E8M Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Ma-
shall include the following information as applicable:
terials
5.1.1 Quantity (weight or number of pieces),
E21 Test Methods for Elevated Temperature Tension Tests of
5.1.2 Form (3.2) and dimensions,
Metallic Materials
5.1.3 Grade (4.1),
E29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to
5.1.4 Lot definition for continuous anneal, if applicable
Determine Conformance with Specifications
(3.1),
5.1.5 Metallurgical condition, if not in the recrystallized
annealed condition (6.3),
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B10 on
5.1.6 Chemical analysis of elements not listed (7.1.3),
Reactive and Refractory Metals and Alloys and is the direct responsibility of
5.1.7 Product analysis (7.1.1.1 and 7.1.3),
Subcommittee B10.02 on Zirconium and Hafnium.
5.1.8 Tensile test temperatures (8.1),
Current edition approved April 1, 2024. Published May 2024. Originally
5.1.9 Mechanical properties, for Grade R3 (8.1),
approved in 1987. Last previous edition approved in 2019 as B776 – 12 (2019).
DOI: 10.1520/B0776-12R24.
5.1.10 Corrosion properties and testing, (9.1 and 9.1.3),
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
5.1.11 Material condition and finish (12.1 – 12.5),
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
5.1.12 Workmanship standards and methods of inspection
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. (Section 13),
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
B776 − 12 (2024)
TABLE 2 Check Analyses Limits
5.1.13 Purchaser inspection (16.1),
5.1.14 Rejection and referee (17.2), Variations Under Min. or
Element
Over Max. %
5.1.15 Certification report (Section 18),
Hydrogen 0.002
5.1.16 Product marking (Section 19), and
Nitrogen 0.01
5.1.17 Packaging and package marking (Section 20). Carbon 0.01
Zirconium 0.02
NOTE 1—A typical ordering description is as follows: 28 pieces Iron and Chromium 0.025
hafnium plate, annealed; mechanically descaled and pickled; 0.158 in. by Tin 0.05
Niobium 0.05
6.000 in. thick by 18 in. long lengths; Grade R1; ASTM B776 – 07.
Oxygen 0.02
6. Materials and Manufacture
6.1 Material covered by this specification shall be made
elements not listed in Table 1 shall not be required unless
from ingots that are produced by vacuum or plasma arc
specified and shall be considered to be in excess of the intent
melting, vacuum electron-beam melting, a combination of
of this specification.
these three methods, or other melting processes conventionally
7.1.2 Elements intentionally added to the melt must be
used for reactive metals. All processes to be done in furnaces
identified, analyzed, and reported in the chemical analysis.
usually used for reactive metals.
7.1.3 When agreed upon by producer and purchaser and
6.2 The various mill products covered by this specification
requested by the purchaser in his written purchase order,
shall be formed with the conventional extrusion, forging, or
chemical analysis shall be completed for specific residual
rolling equipment normally found in primary ferrous and
elements not listed in this specification.
nonferrous plants.
7.2 The manufacturer’s ingot analysis shall be considered
6.3 The sheet, strip, and plate shall be supplied in the
the chemical analysis, except for certain cases where tests on
recrystallized annealed condition unless otherwise specified in
product are required, as specified in 14.1.1.
the purchase order.
7.2.1 The ingot shall be sampled in sufficient places along
the side wall so that the top sample is within 5 in. (125 mm) of
7. Chemical Composition
the top face and the distance between samples or between the
7.1 The grades of R1 and R3 metal covered by this
bottom face and a sample does not exceed one ingot diameter.
specification shall conform to the chemical composition re-
A minimum of three samples per ingot is required.
quirements prescribed in Table 1.
7.2.2 These samples shall be analyzed for the alloying and
7.1.1 The elements listed in Table 1 are intentional alloy
impurity elements given in Table 1.
additions or elements which are inherent to the manufacture of
7.2.3 Alternatively, the manufacturer may sample an inter-
sponge, ingot, or mill product.
mediate or final size during processing with the same fre-
7.1.1.1 Elements other than those listed in Table 1 are
quency and in the same positions relative to the ingot as
deemed to be capable of occurring in the grades listed in
specified in 7.2.1 to determine the composition, except for
Table 1 by and only by way of unregulated or unanalyzed scrap
hydrogen and nitrogen, which shall be determined on the
additions to the ingot melt. Therefore, product analysis for
finished product.
7.3 Check Analysis:
7.3.1 Check analysis is an analysis made by the purchaser or
TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements
the manufacturer of the metal after it has been processed into
Composition, Weight
Elements
finished mill forms, and is either for the purpose of verifying
Grade R1 Grade R3
the composition of a heat or lot or to determine variations in
Aluminum 0.010 0.050
composition within a heat or lot. Acceptance or rejection of a
Carbon 0.015 0.025
Chromium 0.010 0.050
lot of material may be made by the purchaser on the basis of
Copper 0.010 .
this check analysis.
Hydrogen 0.0025 0.0050
7.3.2 Check analysis limits shall be as specified in Table 2.
Iron 0.050 0.0750
Molybdenum 0.0020 .
These limits are the amounts an individual result for a given
Nickel 0.0050 .
element may vary under or over the specified limits shown in
Niobium 0.010 .
Table 1.
Nitrogen 0.010 0.015
Oxygen 0.040 0.130
7.3.3 Check analysis tolerances do not broaden the specified
Silicon 0.010 0.050
heat analysis requirements but cover variations between labo-
Tantalum 0.020 .
ratories in the measurement of chemical content.
Tin 0.0050 .
Titanium 0.010 0.050
7.3.4 The manufacturer shall not ship material that is
Tungsten 0.0150 0.0150
outside the limits specified in Table 1 for the applicable grade.
Uranium 0.0010 .
Vanadium 0.0050 .
A A
Zirconium 8. Mechanical Properties
Hafnium balance balance
8.1 Grade R1 shall conform to the requirements prescribed
A
Zirconium shall be reported. Acceptable levels shall be established by mutual
in Table 3 for room temperature mechanical properties. El-
agreement between purchaser and producer.
evated temperature properties shall be used to determine
B776 − 12 (2024)
TABLE 3 Grade 1 Mechanical Properties
11.1.4 Plate, Table 7.
Tensile Yield Elongation,
11.2 Width—The variations in width are given in the fol-
Strength, Strength, (min %)
Sample Test
lowing tables:
Condition min ksi min ksi in
Direction Temperature
(MPa) (MPa) 2 in.
11.2.1 Hot-rolled strip, Table 8.
(50 mm)
11.2.2 Cold-rolled strip, Table 9.
Longitudinal annealed RT 58 (400) 22 (151) 20
11.2.3 Hot- and cold-rolled sheet, Table 10.
Longitudinal annealed 600 °F (315 °C) 25 (172) 11 (76) 25
11.2.4 Plate, Table 11.
Transverse annealed RT 45 (310) 25 (172) 20
Transverse annealed 600 °F (315 °C) 23 (158) 14 (96) 30
11.3 Length—The variations in length are given in the
following tables:
11.3.1 Hot- and cold-rolled strip, Table 12.
TABLE 4 Permissible Variations in Thickness of Hot-Rolled
A
11.3.2 Hot- and cold-rolled sheet, Table 13.
Hafnium Strip
11.3.3 Plate, Table 11.
Variations from Specified Thickness
for Widths Given,
11.4 Crown Tolerances—The variations in crown tolerances
Over and Under, in. (mm)
Specified Width, in. (mm)
are given in the following tables:
0.083 to 0.118 Over 0.118 to 0.188
(2.1 to 3.0) (3.0 to 4.78) 11.4.1 Hot-rolled strip, Table 14.
To 3 ⁄2 (90), incl 0.005 (0.13) 0.006 (0.15) 11.4.2 Cold-rolled strip, Table 15.
Over 3 ⁄2 to 6 (90 to 150), incl 0.006 (0.15) 0.007 (0.18)
11.4.3 Hot-rolled sheet, Table 16.
A
Thickness measurements are taken at least ⁄8 in. (10 mm) from edge.
11.4.4 Cold-rolled sheet, Table 17.
11.5 Camber Tolerances—The variations in camber toler-
ances are given in the following tables:
compliance only when specified in the purchase order. When 11.5.1 Hot- and cold-rolled strip, Table 18.
11.5.2 Hot- and cold-rolled sheet, Table 19.
required by the purchaser, Grade R3 mechanical properties
shall conform to the limits specified in the purchase order. 11.5.3 Plate, Table 20.
11.6 Diameter—The variation in diameter tolerance for
9. Corrosion Properties
circular plates is given in Table 21.
9.1 When required by the purchaser and stated in the
11.7 Flatness—The permissible variation from a flat surface
purchase order, the following corrosion testing shall be per-
for plate is given in Table 22.
formed:
11.8 Weight—The actual shipping weight of any one item of
9.1.1 Two samples chosen at random from each lot shall be
an ordered thickness and width in any finish may exceed
corrosion tested in water at 680 °F (360 °C), 2690 psi (18.5
estimated weight by as much as 10 %.
MPa) for 672 + 8 − 0 h using the manufacturer’s standard
procedure.
12. Condition and Finish
9.1.2 Grade R1—Coupons shall exhibit a weight gain of not
more than 10 mg/dm .
12.1 Sheet, strip, or plate shall be furnished in one of the
9.1.3 Grade R3 will be tested for information only, if
following conditions as designated on the purchase order:
required by purchase order.
Form Condition
10. Significance of Numerical Limits Strip hot-rolled
hot-rolled, annealed
10.1 For the purpose of determining compliance with the
cold-rolled
cold-rolled, annealed
specified limits for requirements of the properties listed in the
cold-rolled, annealed, followed by a final light cold-
following table, an observed value or a calculated value shall
rolled pass, generally on polished rolls.
be rounded as indicated in accordance with the rounding
Sheet hot-rolled
hot-rolled, annealed
methods of Practice E29.
cold-rolled, annealed
Property Rounded Unit for Observed or
cold-rolled, annealed, followed by a final light cold-
Calculated Value
rolled pass, generally on polished rolls.
Plate hot-rolled
Chemical composition, and nearest unit in the last righthand place
hot-rolled, annealed
tolerances (when expressed as of figures of the specified limit
12.2 Hot-rolled sheet, strip, or plate shall be furnished with
decimals)
Tensile strength and yield nearest 1000 psi (10 MPa)
one of the following finishes, as designated in the purchase
strength
order:
Elongation nearest 1 %
12.2.1 Not descaled,
11. Permissible Variations in Dimensions and Weights 12.2.2 Mechanically descaled, or
12.2.3 Mechanically descaled and pickled.
11.1 Thickness—The variations in thickness of strip, sheet,
and plate are given in the following tables: 12.3 Cold-rolled sheet or strip shall be furnished with one of
11.1.1 Hot-rolled strip, Table 4. the following finishes as designated in the purchase order:
11.1.2 Cold-rolled strip, Table 5. 12.3.1 Cold-rolled,
11.1.3 Hot- and cold-rolled sheet, Table 6. 12.3.2 Ground 32 μin. (0.8 μm) rms or better, or
B776 − 12 (2024)
TABLE 5 Permissible Variations in Thickness of Cold-Rolled Hafnium Strip
NOTE 1—For thickness under 0.010 in. (0.25 mm) and in width to 6 in. (150 mm), a tolerance of ±10 % of the thickness shall apply.
NOTE 2—Thickness measurements shall be taken ⁄8 in. (10 mm) in from edge of the strip, except on widths less than 1 in. (25 mm), where the tolerances
are applicable for measurements at all locations.
Permissible Variations in Thickness, for Widths Given, ± in. (mm)
Specified Thickness, in. (mm)
⁄16 to 1 (4.8 to 25), excl 1 to 3 (25 to 75), excl 3 to 6 (75 to 150), excl
0.188 to 0.160 (4.78 to 4.06), incl 0.0
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