ASTM E45-97e2

Standard Test Methods for Determining the Inclusion Content of Steel

SCOPE
1.1 These test methods cover a number of recognized methods for determining the nonmetallic inclusion content of wrought steel. Macroscopical methods include macroetch, fracture, step-down, and magnetic particle tests. Microscopical methods include five generally accepted systems of examination. In these microscopical methods, inclusions are assigned to a category based on similarities in morphology, and not necessarily on their chemical identity. Metallographic techniques that allow simple differentiation between morphologically similar inclusions are briefly discussed. While the methods are primarily intended for rating inclusions, constituents such as carbides, nitrides, carbonitrides, borides, and intermetallic phases may be rated using some of the microscopical methods. In some cases, alloys other than steels may be rated using one or more of these methods; the methods will be described in terms of their use on steels.  
1.2 These test methods are suitable for manual rating of inclusion content. Other ASTM standards cover automatic methods for obtaining JK ratings (Practice E 1122) and inclusion content using image analysis (Practice E 1245).  
1.3 Depending on the type of steel and the properties required, either a macroscopical or a microscopical method for determining the inclusion content, or combinations of the two methods, may be found most satisfactory.  
1.4 These test methods deal only with recommended test methods and nothing in them should be construed as defining or establishing limits of acceptability for any grade of steel.  
1.5 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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 27-Sep-1999
• Technical Committee: E04 - Metallography
• Drafting Committee: E04.09 - Inclusions

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM E45-97(2002) - Standard Test Methods for Determining the Inclusion Content of Steel
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-1997

Standards Content (Sample)

e2
Designation: E 45 – 97
Standard Test Methods for
1
Determining the Inclusion Content of Steel
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 45; 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.
1
e NOTE—Editorial corrections were made to paragraphs 16.2.3 and 16.2.6 in February 1998.
2
e NOTE—Editorial corrections were made to footnotes 7 and 8 in October 1999.
1. Scope A 295 Specification for High-Carbon Anti-Friction Bearing
2
Steel
1.1 These test methods cover a number of recognized
A 485 Specification for High Hardenability Anti-Friction
methods for determining the nonmetallic inclusion content of
2
Bearing Steel
wrought steel. Macroscopical methods include macroetch,
A 534 Specification for Carburizing Steels for Anti-Friction
fracture, step-down, and magnetic particle tests. Microscopical
2
Bearings
methods include five generally accepted systems of examina-
A 535 Specification for Special-Quality Ball and Roller
tion. In these microscopical methods, inclusions are assigned to
2
Bearing Steel
a category based on similarities in morphology, and not
A 756 Specification for Stainless Anti-Friction Bearing
necessarily on their chemical identity. Metallographic tech-
2
Steel
niques that allow simple differentiation between morphologi-
A 866 Specification for Medium Carbon for Anti-Friction
cally similar inclusions are briefly discussed. While the meth-
2
Bearing Steel
ods are primarily intended for rating inclusions, constituents
D 96 Test Methods for Water and Sediment in Crude Oil by
such as carbides, nitrides, carbonitrides, borides, and interme-
3
Centrifuge Method (Field Procedure)
tallic phases may be rated using some of the microscopical
4
E 3 Practice for Preparation of Metallographic Specimens
methods. In some cases, alloys other than steels may be rated
4
E 7 Terminology Relating to Metallography
using one or more of these methods; the methods will be
E 381 Method of Macroetch Testing Steel Bars, Billets,
described in terms of their use on steels.
4
Blooms, and Forgings
1.2 These test methods are suitable for manual rating of
5
E 709 Guide for Magnetic Particle Examination
inclusion content. Other ASTM standards cover automatic
E 768 Practice for Preparing and Evaluating Specimens for
methods for obtaining JK ratings (Practice E 1122) and inclu-
4
Automatic Inclusion Assessment of Steel
sion content using image analysis (Practice E 1245).
E 1122 Practice for Obtaining JK Inclusion Ratings Using
1.3 Depending on the type of steel and the properties
4
Automatic Image Analysis
required, either a macroscopical or a microscopical method for
E 1245 Practice for Determining Inclusion or Second-Phase
determining the inclusion content, or combinations of the two
Constituent Content of Metals by Automatic Image Analy-
methods, may be found most satisfactory.
4
sis
1.4 These test methods deal only with recommended test
6
2.2 SAE Standards:
methods and nothing in them should be construed as defining
J421, Cleanliness Rating of Steels by the Magnetic Particle
or establishing limits of acceptability for any grade of steel.
Method
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
J422, Recommended Practice for Determination of Inclu-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
sions in Steel
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
2.3 Aerospace Material Specifications:
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
2300, Premium Aircraft-Quality Steel Cleanliness: Mag-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
netic Particle Inspection Procedure
2. Referenced Documents 2301, Aircraft Quality Steel Cleanliness: Magnetic Particle
6
Inspection Procedure
2.1 ASTM Standards:
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.05.
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 05.01.
1 4
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E-4 on Metallog- Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.01.
5
raphy and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E04.09 on Inclusions. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.03.
6
Current edition approved Apr. 10, 1997. Published June 1997. Originally Available from the Society of Automotive Engineers, 400 Commonwealth
published as E 45 – 42 T. Last previous edition E 45 – 95a. Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096.
Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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E45
2303, Aircraft Quality Steel Cleanliness: Martensitic of steel and procedures for expressing test results.
Corrosion-Resistant Steels Magnetic Particle Inspection 4.2 Inclusions are characterized by size, shape, concentra-
Procedure tion, and distr
...