ASTM A738/A738M-03a

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

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.  
1.2 Material under this specification is available in three strength levels, 75 ksi [515 MPa], 85 ksi [585 MPa], and 80 ksi [550 MPa], minimum ultimate tensile strengths.  
1.3 The maximum thickness of Grade A plates is limited only by the capacity of the chemical composition and heat treatment to meet the specified mechanical property requirements. The maximum thickness of Grade B plates is limited to 2.5 in. [65 mm]. The maximum thickness of Grade C is limited to 6 in.  
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-pound units or SI units are to be regarded separately as standards. Within the text, the SI units are shown in brackets. The values stated in each system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system must 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: 05-Nov-2003
• 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-00 - Standard Specification for Pressure Vessel Plates, Heat-Treated, Carbon-Manganese-Silicon Steel, for Moderate and Lower Temperature Service
• Effective Date: 06-Nov-2003
• Replaced By: 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-May-2005
• Referred By: ASTM A20/A20M-20 - Standard Specification for General Requirements for Steel Plates for Pressure Vessels
• Effective Date: 06-Nov-2003

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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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: A 738/A738M – 03a
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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
Note—Corrections to Table 1 were made editorially and the year date was changed on November 6, 2003.
1. Scope* SI units are shown in brackets. The values stated in each
2
system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system must
1.1 This specification covers heat-treated carbon-
beusedindependentlyoftheother.Combiningvaluesfromthe
manganese-silicon steel plates intended for use in welded
two systems may result in nonconformance with the specifi-
pressure vessels at moderate and lower temperature service.
cation.
1.2 Material under this specification is available in four
strength levels, 75 ksi [515 MPa], 85 ksi [585 MPa], 80 ksi
2. Referenced Documents
[550 MPa], and 90 ksi [620 MPa] minimum ultimate tensile
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
strengths.
A20/A20M Specification for General Requirements for
1.3 The maximum thickness of plates is limited only by the
Steel Plates for Pressure Vessels
capacity of the chemical composition and heat treatment to
meetthespecifiedmechanicalpropertyrequirements;however,
3. General Requirements and Ordering Information
current practice normally limits the maximum thickness of
3.1 Material supplied to this specification shall conform to
plates furnished under this specification to 6 in. [ 150 mm] for
the requirements of Specification A20/A20M. These require-
GradeA,4in.[100mm]forGradeB,6in.[150mm]forGrade
mentsoutlinethetestingandretestingmethodsandprocedures,
C, and 1.5 in. [40 mm] for Grades D and E.
permissible variations in dimensions and mass, quality, repair
1.4 GradeAis the material that, prior to 1984, was covered
of defects, marking, loading, etc.
by Specification A738 without a grade designation.
3.2 Specification A20/A20M also establishes the rules for
1.5 The values stated in either inch-pound units or SI units
compliance to the ordering information when purchasing
are to be regarded separately as standards. Within the text, the
material to this specification.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction ofASTM CommitteeA01 on Steel,
Stainless Steel, and RelatedAlloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
A01.11 on Steel Plates for Boilers and Pressure Vessels.
3
Current edition approved Nov. 6, 2003. Published December 2003. Originally For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
approved in 1976. Last previous edition approved in 2003 as A738/A738M–03. contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
2
For ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code applications see related Specifi- Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
cation SA-738/SA-738M in Section II of that Code. 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.
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A 738/A738M – 03a
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 1.50 max 0.90–1.50 1.50 max 1.00 — 1.60 1.10 — 1.60
under
CC
Over 1.5 in. [40 mm] to 1.50 max 0.90–1.50 1.50 max
2.5 in. [65 mm] incl
CC
Over 2.5 in. [65 mm] 1.60 max 0.90–1.60 1.60 max
Product analysis
B
1.5 in. [40 mm] and 1.62 max 0.84–1.62 1.62 max 0.92–1.72 1.02–1.72
under
CC
Over 1.5 in. [40 mm] 1.62 max 0.84–1.62 1.62 max
2.5 in. [65 mm] incl
CC
Over 2.5 in. [65 mm] 1.72 max 0.84–1.72 1.72 max
A
Phosphorus, max 0.035 0.030 0.025 0.015 0.015
A
Sulfur, max 0.035 0.030 0.025 0.006 0.006
Silicon:
Heat analysis 0.15–0.50 0.15–0.55 0.15–0.50 0.15–0.50 0.15–0.50
Product analysis 0.13–0.55 0.13–0.60 0.13–0.55 0.13–0.55 0.13–0.55
Copper, max:
Heat analysis 0.35 0.35 0.35 0.35 0.35
Product analysis 0.38 0.38 0.38 0.38 0.38
Nickel, max:
Heat analysis 0.50 0.60 0.50 0.60 0.70
Product analysis 0.53 0.63 0.53 0.63 0.73
Chromium, max:
Heat analysis 0.25 0.30 0.25 0.25 0.30
Product analysis 0.29 0.34 0.29 0.29 0.34
Molybdenum, max:
Heat analysis
1.5 in. [40 mm] and 0.08 0.20 0.08 0.30 0.35
under
CC
Over 1.5 in. [40 mm] 0.08 0.30 0.08
Product analysis
1.5 in. [40 mm] and 0.09 0.21 0.09 0.33 0.38
under
CC
Over 1.5 in. [40 mm] 0.09 0.33 0.09
Vanadium, max:
D
Heat analysis 0.07 0.07 0.05 0.08
...