ASTM B960-18(2022)

Standard Specification for Prime Western Grade-Recycled (PWG-R) Zinc

SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers prime western grade-recycled (PWG-R) zinc made by recycling zinc secondary materials including but not limited to drosses and skimmings.  
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.  
1.3 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 become familiar with all hazards including those identified in the appropriate Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for this product/material as provided by the manufacturer, 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: 30-Sep-2022
• ICS: 77.120.60 - Lead, zinc, tin and their alloys
• Technical Committee: B02 - Nonferrous Metals and Alloys
• Drafting Committee: B02.04 - Zinc and Cadmium

Relations

• Refers: ASTM E88-11(2017) - Standard Practice for Sampling Nonferrous Metals and Alloys in Cast Form for Determination of Chemical Composition
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2017
• Refers: ASTM B899-16 - Standard Terminology Relating to Non-ferrous Metals and Alloys
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2016
• Refers: ASTM B899-15 - Standard Terminology Relating to Non-ferrous Metals and Alloys
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2015
• Refers: ASTM E536-15 - Standard Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Zinc and Zinc Alloys
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2015
• Refers: ASTM B899-14 - Standard Terminology Relating to Non-ferrous Metals and Alloys
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2014
• Refers: ASTM B897-13 - Standard Specification for Configuration of Zinc and Zinc Alloy Jumbo, Block, Half Block, and Slab Ingot
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2013
• Refers: ASTM B949-13 - Standard Specification for General Requirements for Zinc and Zinc Alloy Products
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2013
• Refers: ASTM B914-13 - Standard Practice for Color Codes on Zinc and Zinc Alloy Ingot for Use in Hot-Dip Galvanizing of Steel
• Effective Date: 01-May-2013
• Refers: ASTM B914-13e1 - Standard Practice for Color Codes on Zinc and Zinc Alloy Ingot for Use in Hot-Dip Galvanizing of Steel
• Effective Date: 01-May-2013
• Refers: ASTM B899-13 - Standard Terminology Relating to Non-ferrous Metals and Alloys
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2013
• Refers: ASTM B6-13 - Standard Specification for Zinc
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2013
• Refers: ASTM B6-12 - Standard Specification for Zinc
• Effective Date: 01-May-2012
• Refers: ASTM E88-11 - Standard Practice for Sampling Nonferrous Metals and Alloys in Cast Form for Determination of Chemical Composition
• Effective Date: 01-May-2011
• Refers: ASTM B897-10 - Standard Specification for Configuration of Zinc and Zinc Alloy Jumbo Block and Half Block Ingot
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2010
• Refers: ASTM B899-09 - Standard Terminology Relating to Non-ferrous Metals and Alloys
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2009

Overview

ASTM B960-18(2022) - Standard Specification for Prime Western Grade-Recycled (PWG-R) Zinc sets requirements for the production, quality, and identification of prime western grade-recycled zinc. PWG-R zinc is manufactured by recycling zinc secondary materials, such as drosses and skimmings. Developed under the guidance of ASTM International and aligned with World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) principles, this standard ensures consistency and reliability in recycled zinc products. It is an essential reference for manufacturers, suppliers, and users involved in zinc-based industries.

Key Topics

• Definition & Composition: PWG-R zinc is defined as a grade containing 98.5% minimum zinc and 0.5% to 1.4% lead, with controlled amounts of other elements including iron, cadmium, aluminum, copper, and trace elements such as bismuth, nickel, and tin.

• Material Sources: The standard covers zinc manufactured from secondary sources, primarily recycling zinc drosses and skimmings.

• Product Forms: PWG-R zinc is supplied in various forms, including slabs, jumbos, blocks, or other shapes as agreed between buyer and supplier, provided they meet the specified chemical requirements.

• Quality & Appearance: Zinc produced under this standard must be uniform in quality and free from surface corrosion and foreign materials.

• Sampling & Testing: Procedures for sampling and chemical analysis reference established ASTM and ISO methods to ensure accurate and consistent quality assessments.

• Units of Measurement: Inch-pound units are regarded as standard; SI conversions are provided for reference but are not considered official standards.

Applications

PWG-R zinc specified under ASTM B960-18(2022) is widely used for its sustainable profile in applications requiring non-ferrous metals with controlled chemical composition. Key applications include:

• Galvanizing Industry: Used in the hot-dip galvanizing of steel to provide corrosion protection, leveraging the recycled content of PWG-R zinc.

• Zinc Alloy Production: Acts as a raw material in the manufacture of zinc alloys for automotive, construction, and electrical industries.

• General Metal Manufacturing: Suitable for producers and fabricators seeking to incorporate recycled zinc with guaranteed chemical requirements in their products.

• Sustainability Initiatives: Supports circular economy models by promoting the reuse of zinc-rich secondary materials, reducing dependency on primary raw zinc extraction.

Related Standards

The implementation and use of ASTM B960-18(2022) are supported by several other key standards:

• ASTM B6: Specification for Zinc.
• ASTM B897: Specification for the configuration of zinc and zinc alloy ingots, including jumbos, blocks, and slabs.
• ASTM B899: Terminology relating to non-ferrous metals and alloys.
• ASTM B914: Practice for color codes on zinc and zinc-alloy ingots for use in galvanizing.
• ASTM B949: Specification for general requirements for zinc and zinc alloy products.
• ASTM E29, E88, E527, E536: Various practices and methods for sampling, chemical analysis, and numbering of metals and alloys.
• ISO 3815-1 & ISO 3815-2: Analytical methods for zinc and zinc alloys.

These supporting documents ensure a comprehensive framework for the production, testing, and use of recycled zinc products.

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Keywords: ASTM B960, prime western grade-recycled zinc, PWG-R zinc, recycled zinc specification, zinc alloys, secondary zinc, zinc standards, galvanizing zinc, non-ferrous metals, sustainable zinc production.

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:B960 −18 (Reapproved 2022)
Standard Specification for
Prime Western Grade-Recycled (PWG-R) Zinc
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B960; 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 B914 Practice for Color Codes on Zinc and ZincAlloy Ingot
for Use in Hot-Dip Galvanizing of Steel
1.1 This specification covers prime western grade-recycled
B949 Specification for General Requirements for Zinc and
(PWG-R) zinc made by recycling zinc secondary materials
Zinc Alloy Products
including but not limited to drosses and skimmings.
E29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
Determine Conformance with Specifications
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
E88 Practice for Sampling Nonferrous Metals and Alloys in
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
Cast Form for Determination of Chemical Composition
and are not considered standard.
E527 Practice for Numbering Metals and Alloys in the
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the Unified Numbering System (UNS)
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
E536 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Zinc and Zinc
responsibility of the user of this standard to become familiar Alloys
with all hazards including those identified in the appropriate
2.3 ISO Standards:
Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for this product/material as provided
ISO 3815-1 Zinc and zinc alloys—Part 1: Analysis of solid
by the manufacturer, to establish appropriate safety, health,
samples by optical emission spectrometry
and environmental practices, and determine the applicability
ISO 3815-2 Zinc and zinc alloys—Part 2: Analysis by
of regulatory limitations prior to use.
inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
3. Terminology
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
3.1 Terms shall be defined in accordance with Terminology
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
B899.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
3.2.1 Prime Western Grade-Recycled, n—a grade of zinc
containing 0.5 % to 1.4 % lead, a minimum or 98.5 % zinc,
2. Referenced Documents
with controlled impurity levels as specified in Table 1 made by
2.1 The following documents of the issue in effect on the
recycling zinc secondary materials.
dateofmaterialpurchaseformapartofthisspecificationtothe
extent referenced herein. 3.3 Abbreviations:
3.3.1 PWG-R—Prime Western Grade-Recycled Zinc
2.2 ASTM Standards:
B6 Specification for Zinc
4. Ordering Information
B897 Specification for Configuration of Zinc and ZincAlloy
4.1 See Specification B949.
Jumbo, Block, Half Block, and Slab Ingot
B899 Terminology Relating to Non-ferrous Metals and Al-
5. Materials and Manufacture
loys
5.1 The manufacturer shall use care to have each lot of zinc
metal be as uniform in quality as possible.
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B02 on
Nonferrous Metals and Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
6. Chemical Composition
B02.04 on Zinc and Cadmium.
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2022. Published November 2022. Originally
6.1 The zinc metal shall conform to the requirements
approved in 2008. Last previous edition approved in 2018 as B960 – 18. DOI:
prescribed in Table 1.
10.1520/B0960-18R22.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
the ASTM website. 4th
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