ASTM A517/A517M-17(2023)

Standard Specification for Pressure Vessel Plates, Alloy Steel, High-Strength, Quenched and Tempered

ABSTRACT
This specification covers standard requirements for high-strength quenched and tempered alloy steel plates intended for use in fusion welded boilers and other pressure vessels. The steel shall be killed and shall conform to the fine austenitic grain size requirement. Heat and product analyses shall be conducted wherein the material shall conform to the required chemical composition for carbon, manganese, phosphorus, sulfur, silicon, nickel, chromium, molybdenum, boron, vanadium, titanium, zirconium, copper, and columbium. Tensile properties of the steel plate shall meet the specified values for tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation. The material shall undergo mechanical tests such as tension test and transverse Charpy V-notch impact test.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification2 covers high-strength quenched and tempered alloy steel plates intended for use in fusion welded boilers and other pressure vessels.  
1.2 This specification includes a number of grades as manufactured by different producers, but all having the same mechanical properties and general characteristics.  
1.3 The maximum thickness of plates furnished under this specification shall be as follows:    
Grade  
Thickness  
A, B  
1.25 in. [32 mm]  
H, S  
2 in. [50 mm]  
P  
4 in. [100 mm]    
F  
2.50 in. [65 mm]    
E, Q  
6 in. [150 mm]  
1.4 The values stated in either inch-pound units or SI units are to be regarded separately as standard. Within the text, the SI units are shown in brackets. The values stated in each system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system is to be used independently of the other without combining values in any way.  
1.5 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-Oct-2023
• 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 A517/A517M-17 - Standard Specification for Pressure Vessel Plates, Alloy Steel, High-Strength, Quenched and Tempered
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2023
• Refers: ASTM A578/A578M-17(2023) - Standard Specification for Straight-Beam Ultrasonic Examination of Rolled Steel Plates for Special Applications
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2023
• Refers: ASTM A577/A577M-17(2023) - Standard Specification for Ultrasonic Angle-Beam Examination of Steel Plates
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2023
• Refers: ASTM A435/A435M-17(2023) - Standard Specification for Straight-Beam Ultrasonic Examination of Steel Plates
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2023
• Refers: ASTM A435/A435M-17 - Standard Specification for Straight-Beam Ultrasonic Examination of Steel Plates
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2017
• Refers: ASTM A578/A578M-17 - Standard Specification for Straight-Beam Ultrasonic Examination of Rolled Steel Plates for Special Applications
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2017
• Refers: ASTM A577/A577M-17 - Standard Specification for Ultrasonic Angle-Beam Examination of Steel Plates
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2017
• Referred By: ASTM A20/A20M-20 - Standard Specification for General Requirements for Steel Plates for Pressure Vessels
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2023
• Referred By: ASTM A592/A592M-10(2020) - Standard Specification for High-Strength Quenched and Tempered Low-Alloy Steel Forged Parts for Pressure Vessels
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2023
• Referred By: ASTM G81-97a(2018) - Standard Test Method for Jaw Crusher Gouging Abrasion Test
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2023
• Referred By: ASTM A671/A671M-20 - Standard Specification for Electric-Fusion-Welded Steel Pipe for Atmospheric and Lower Temperatures
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2023

Overview

ASTM A517/A517M-17(2023) is an international standard specification developed by ASTM for high-strength, quenched and tempered alloy steel plates. These steel plates are specifically intended for use in fusion welded boilers and other pressure vessels where high strength and reliable toughness are required. The standard outlines requirements for killed steel that must meet fine austenitic grain size, strict chemical compositions, and stringent mechanical properties to ensure safety and performance in demanding applications.

Key Topics

• Material Grades and Thickness Limits: The specification covers various grades (A, B, E, F, H, P, Q, S) with maximum thicknesses ranging from 1.25 in. [32 mm] up to 6 in. [150 mm], depending on the grade.
• Chemical Requirements: Plates must adhere to defined ranges for elements such as carbon, manganese, phosphorus, sulfur, silicon, nickel, chromium, molybdenum, boron, vanadium, titanium, zirconium, copper, and columbium (niobium), ensuring consistent composition.
• Mechanical Properties: Required to meet minimum values for tensile strength, yield strength, elongation, and reduction of area. The standard also mandates impact testing (Transverse Charpy V-notch).
• Heat Treatment: Plates undergo quenching and tempering, with specified temperatures for both processes. Alternative stress relaxation procedures and post-weld heat treatments are referenced for certain use cases.
• Testing and Quality Control: Includes methods for heat and product analysis, tension tests, impact tests, and optional supplementary examinations such as ultrasonic inspection, magnetic particle examination, and vacuum treatments.

Applications

The ASTM A517/A517M specification is widely utilized in industries where pressure vessel quality and safety are paramount, such as:

• Power Generation: Used in the fabrication of boilers for thermal, nuclear, and combined-cycle power plants needing high-strength steel capable of withstanding elevated pressure and temperature.
• Chemical and Petrochemical Processing: Essential for pressure vessels, reactors, and storage tanks exposed to aggressive service environments requiring reliable mechanical properties and impact resistance.
• Oil & Gas Industry: Employed in upstream, midstream, and downstream projects, including refinery vessels, separators, and high-pressure containment systems.
• Industrial Boilers and Heat Exchangers: Ensures the integrity of critical components that undergo repeated thermal and pressure cycling.
• Custom Engineered Vessels: Suitable for applications demanding tailored plate thickness and mechanical properties to meet specific design codes.

By adhering to ASTM A517/A517M, manufacturers and fabricators can assure end-users of product reliability, fitness for service, and compliance with internationally recognized safety standards.

Related Standards

• ASTM A20/A20M: General requirements for steel plates for pressure vessels, including testing, tolerance, and ordering details.
• ASTM A435/A435M: Standard for straight-beam ultrasonic examination of steel plates.
• ASTM A577/A577M and ASTM A578/A578M: Standards for ultrasonic angle-beam and straight-beam examination of rolled steel plates.
• ASME SA-517/SA-517M: Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code equivalent, often referenced for code compliance in North America.

These related standards help ensure comprehensive quality assurance and interoperability in pressure vessel plate design and manufacturing.

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Keywords: ASTM A517, high-strength alloy steel plate, quenched-tempered steel, pressure vessel plates, boiler steel, mechanical properties, chemical requirements, impact tested steel, fusion welded vessel, pressure vessel standard, ASTM steel standards.

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: A517/A517M − 17 (Reapproved 2023)
Standard Specification for
Pressure Vessel Plates, Alloy Steel, High-Strength,
Quenched and Tempered
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A517/A517M; 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.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope A20/A20M Specification for General Requirements for Steel
2 Plates for Pressure Vessels
1.1 This specification covers high-strength quenched and
A435/A435M Specification for Straight-Beam Ultrasonic
tempered alloy steel plates intended for use in fusion welded
Examination of Steel Plates
boilers and other pressure vessels.
A577/A577M Specification for Ultrasonic Angle-Beam Ex-
1.2 This specification includes a number of grades as
amination of Steel Plates
manufactured by different producers, but all having the same
A578/A578M Specification for Straight-Beam Ultrasonic
mechanical properties and general characteristics.
Examination of Rolled Steel Plates for Special Applica-
1.3 The maximum thickness of plates furnished under this tions
specification shall be as follows:
3. General Requirements and Ordering Information
Grade Thickness
3.1 Plates furnished to this material specification shall
A, B 1.25 in. [32 mm]
H, S 2 in. [50 mm]
conform to Specification A20/A20M. These requirements out-
P 4 in. [100 mm]
line the testing and retesting methods and procedures, permit-
F 2.50 in. [65 mm]
E, Q 6 in. [150 mm] ted variations in dimensions, and mass, quality and repair of
defects, marking, loading, and ordering information.
1.4 The values stated in either inch-pound units or SI units
are to be regarded separately as standard. Within the text, the
3.2 In addition to the basic requirements of this
SI units are shown in brackets. The values stated in each
specification, certain supplementary requirements are available
system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system is to
when additional control, testing, or examination is required to
be used independently of the other without combining values in
meet end use requirements.
any way.
3.3 If the requirements of this specification are in conflict
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
with the requirements of Specification A20/A20M, the require-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
ments of this specification shall prevail.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
4. Manufacture
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
4.1 Steelmaking Practice—The steel shall be killed and
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
shall conform to the fine austenitic grain size requirement of
Specification A20/A20M.
2. Referenced Documents
5. Heat Treatment
2.1 ASTM Standards:
5.1 Except as allowed by 5.2, the plates shall be heat treated
by heating to not less than 1650 °F [900 °C], quenching in
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A01 on Steel,
water or oil and tempering at not less than 1150 °F [620 °C].
Stainless Steel and Related Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
A01.11 on Steel Plates for Boilers and Pressure Vessels.
5.2 Plates ordered without the heat treatment specified in
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2023. Published November 2023. Originally
5.1 shall be stress relieved by the manufacturer, and subsequent
approved in 1964. Last previous edition approved in 2017 as A517/A517M – 17.
heat treatment of the plates to conform to 5.1 shall be the
DOI: 10.1520/A0517_A0517M-17R23.
For ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code applications, see related Specifi-
responsibility of the purchaser.
cation SA-517/SA-517M in Section II of that Code.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or 6. Chemical Requirements
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
6.1 The steel shall conform to the chemical requirements
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. shown in Table 1 unless otherwise modified in accordance with
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
A517/A517M − 17 (2023)
TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements
NOTE 1—Where “ … ” appears there is no requirement.
Composition, %
Elements
Grade A Grade B Grade E Grade F Grade H Grade P Grade Q Grade S
Carbon:
Heat analysis 0.15–0.21 0.15–0.21 0.12–0.20 0.10–0.20 0.12–0.21 0.12–0.21 0.14–0.21 0.10–0.20
Product analysis 0.13–0.23 0.13–0.23 0.10–0.22 0.08–0.22 0.10–0.23 0.10–0.23 0.12–0.23 0.10–0.22
Manganese:
Heat analysis 0.80–1.10 0.70–1.00 0.40–0.70 0.60–1.00 0.95–1.30 0.45–0.70 0.95–1.30 1.10–1.50
Product analysis 0.74–1.20 0.64–1.10 0.35–0.78 0.55–1.10 0.87–1.41 0.40–0.78 0.87–1.41 1.02–1.62
A
Phosphorus, max 0.025 0.025 0.025 0.025 0.025 0.025 0.025 0.025
A
Sulfur, max 0.025 0.025 0.025 0.025 0.025 0.025 0.025 0.025
Silicon:
Heat analysis 0.40–0.80 0.15–0.35 0.10–0.40 0.15–0.35 0.15–0.35 0.20–0.35 0.15–0.35 0.15–0.40
Product analysis 0.34–0.86 0.13–0.37 0.08–0.45 0.13–0.37 0.13–0.37 0.18–0.37 0.13–0.37 0.13–0.45
Nickel:
Heat analysis . . . . . . . . . 0.70–1.00 0.30–0.70 1.20–1.50 1.20–1.50 . . .
Product analysis . . . . . . . . . 0.67–1.03 0.27–0.73 1.15–1.55 1.15–1.55 . . .
Chromium:
...