ASTM E1476-04(2022)
(Guide)Standard Guide for Metals Identification, Grade Verification, and Sorting
Standard Guide for Metals Identification, Grade Verification, and Sorting
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 A major concern of metals producers, warehouses, and users is to establish and maintain the identity of metals from melting to their final application. This involves the use of standard quality assurance practices and procedures throughout the various stages of manufacturing and processing, at warehouses and materials receiving, and during fabrication and final installation of the product. These practices typically involve standard chemical analyses and physical tests to meet product acceptance standards, which are slow. Several pieces from a production run are usually destroyed or rendered unusable through mechanical and chemical testing, and the results are used to assess the entire lot using statistical methods. Statistical quality assurance methods are usually effective; however, mixed grades, off-chemistry, and nonstandard physical properties remain the primary causes for claims in the metals industry. A more comprehensive verification of product properties is necessary. Nondestructive means are available to supplement conventional metals grade verification techniques, and to monitor chemical and physical properties at selected production stages, in order to assist in maintaining the identities of metals and their consistency in mechanical properties.
4.2 Nondestructive methods have the potential for monitoring grade during production on a continuous or statistical basis, for monitoring properties such as hardness and case depth, and for verifying the effectiveness of heat treatment, cold-working, and the like. They are quite often used in the field for solving problems involving off-grade and mixed-grade materials.
4.3 The nondestructive methods covered in this guide provide both direct and indirect responses to the sample being evaluated. Spectrometric analysis instruments respond to the presence and percents of alloying constituents. The electromagnetic (eddy current) and thermoelectric methods, on the other hand, are among those that respond to pr...
SCOPE
1.1 This guide is intended for tutorial purposes only. It describes the general requirements, methods, and procedures for the nondestructive identification and sorting of metals.
1.2 It provides guidelines for the selection and use of methods suited to the requirements of particular metals sorting or identification problems.
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 establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific precautionary statements, see Section 10.
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
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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:E1476 ā04 (Reapproved 2022)
Standard Guide for
Metals Identiļ¬cation, Grade Veriļ¬cation, and Sorting
This standard is issued under the ļ¬xed designation E1476; 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 (Ā“) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope E572TestMethodforAnalysisofStainlessandAlloySteels
byWavelengthDispersiveX-RayFluorescenceSpectrom-
1.1 This guide is intended for tutorial purposes only. It
etry
describes the general requirements, methods, and procedures
E703PracticeforElectromagnetic(EddyCurrent)Sortingof
for the nondestructive identiļ¬cation and sorting of metals.
Nonferrous Metals
1.2 It provides guidelines for the selection and use of
E977Practice for Thermoelectric Sorting of Electrically
methods suited to the requirements of particular metals sorting
Conductive Materials
or identiļ¬cation problems.
F355TestMethodforImpactAttenuationofPlayingSurface
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
Systems, Other Protective Sport Systems, and Materials
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
Used for Athletics, Recreation and Play
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
F1156Terminology Relating to Product Counterfeit Protec-
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
tion Systems (Withdrawn 2001)
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
For speciļ¬c precautionary statements, see Section 10.
3. Terminology
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
3.1 Deļ¬nitionsāTerms used in this guide are deļ¬ned in the
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
standards cited in Section 2 and in current technical literature
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
or dictionaries; however, because a number of terms that are
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
used generally in nondestructive testing have meanings or
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
carry implications unique to metal sorting, they appear with
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
explanation in Appendix X1.
2. Referenced Documents
4. Signiļ¬cance and Use
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E158Practice for Fundamental Calculations to Convert
4.1 A major concern of metals producers, warehouses, and
Intensities into Concentrations in Optical Emission Spec-
users is to establish and maintain the identity of metals from
trochemical Analysis (Withdrawn 2004)
melting to their ļ¬nal application. This involves the use of
E305 Practice for Establishing and Controlling Spark
standardqualityassurancepracticesandproceduresthroughout
Atomic Emission Spectrochemical Analytical Curves
the various stages of manufacturing and processing, at ware-
E322Test Method for Analysis of Low-Alloy Steels and
housesandmaterialsreceiving,andduringfabricationandļ¬nal
CastIronsbyWavelengthDispersiveX-RayFluorescence
installation of the product. These practices typically involve
Spectrometry (Withdrawn 2021)
standard chemical analyses and physical tests to meet product
E566Practice for Electromagnetic (Eddy Current/Magnetic
acceptance standards, which are slow. Several pieces from a
Induction) Sorting of Ferrous Metals
production run are usually destroyed or rendered unusable
through mechanical and chemical testing, and the results are
usedtoassesstheentirelotusingstatisticalmethods.Statistical
This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee E07 on Nondestruc-
quality assurance methods are usually effective; however,
tiveTesting and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E07.10 on Specialized
NDT Methods. mixed grades, off-chemistry, and nonstandard physical proper-
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2022. Published December 2022. Originally
ties remain the primary causes for claims in the metals
approved in 1992. Last previous edition approved in 2014 as E1476ā04(2014).
industry. A more comprehensive veriļ¬cation of product prop-
DOI: 10.1520/E1476-04R22.
erties is necessary. Nondestructive means are available to
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
supplement conventional metals grade veriļ¬cation techniques,
Standards volume information, refer to the standardās Document Summary page on
and to monitor chemical and physical properties at selected
the ASTM website.
production stages, in order to assist in maintaining the identi-
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
www.astm.org. ties of metals and their consistency in mechanical properties.
Copyright Ā© ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
E1476ā04 (2022)
4.2 Nondestructive methods have the potential for monitor- 5.2 Nondestructive methods may be used in conjunction
inggradeduringproductiononacontinuousorstatisticalbasis, with the accepted standard product quality tests to provide
formonitoringpropertiessuchashardnessandcasedepth,and continuous veriļ¬cation that current production lies within the
forverifyingtheeffectivenessofheattreatment,cold-working, agreed upon acceptance limits speciļ¬ed. In-line electromag-
and the like. They are quite often used in the ļ¬eld for solving
netic examinations may be used to indicate the consistency of
problems involving off-grade and mixed-grade materials. production. Any deviation from the norms set for the accep-
tance band will result in automatic alarms, kick-out, or other
4.3 The nondestructive methods covered in this guide pro-
means of alerting production personnel of a problem. Thus
vide both direct and indirect responses to the sample being
alerted,themillcandeterminethecauseforthealarmandtake
evaluated. Spectrometric analysis instruments respond to the
corrective action. Portable optical emission spectrometry units
presence and percents of alloying constituents. The electro-
may be used to determine the concentrations of critical
magnetic (eddy current) and thermoelectric methods, on the
elements without having to resort to slow physical and chemi-
other hand, are among those that respond to properties in the
cal analyses. A quality assurance program combining conven-
sample that are affected by chemistry and processing, and they
tional measurements with suitable nondestructive methods can
yield indirect information on composition and mechanical
provide effective and timely information on product composi-
properties. In this guide, the spectrometric methods are classi-
tion and physical properties. This will result in improved
ļ¬ed as quantitative, whereas the methods that yield indirect
quality and yield; savings in time, labor, and material; and
readings are termed qualitative.
reduced ļ¬eld failures and claims. This guide provides speciļ¬c
4.4 This guide describes a variety of qualitative and quan-
information regarding nondestructive metals identiļ¬cation,
titativemethods.Itsummarizestheoperatingprinciplesofeach
gradeveriļ¬cation,andsortingmethodstoassistinselectingthe
method, provides guidance on where and how each may be
optimum approach to solving speciļ¬c needs.
applied, gives (when applicable) the precision and bias that
5.3 Spectrometricmethodsarecapableofdirectlyindicating
may be expected, and assists the investigator in selecting the
the presence and percent of many of the elements that
best candidates for speciļ¬c grade veriļ¬cation or sorting prob-
characterize a metal grade. The spectrometric and thermoelec-
lems.
tric techniques examine only the outermost surfaces of the
4.5 For the purposes of this guide, the term ānondestruc-
sampleormaterial.Asaresult,forgradeveriļ¬cationpurposes,
tiveāincludestechniquesthatmayrequiretheremovalofsmall
it may be necessary to grind sufficiently deep to ensure access
amountsofmetalduringtheexamination,withoutaffectingthe
tothebasemetalforaccuratereadings.However,grindingmay
serviceability of the product.
affect the thermoelectric response. The spectrometric methods
require physical contact and often some surface preparation.
4.6 The nondestructive methods covered in this guide pro-
The electromagnetic method, however, does not require con-
vide quantitative and qualitative information on metals prop-
tact and very often is suited for on-line, automatic operation.
erties; they are listed as follows:
The thermoelectric method, although requiring contact, re-
4.6.1 Quantitative:
sponds to many of the same parameters that inļ¬uence the
4.6.1.1 X-ray ļ¬uorescence spectrometry, and
electromagnetic responses. Both respond to chemical
4.6.1.2 Optical emission spectrometry.
composition,processing,andtreatmentsthataffectthephysical
4.6.2 Qualitative:
and mechanical properties of the product. Nondestructive
4.6.2.1 Electromagnetic (eddy current),
methodsforindicatingthemechanicalpropertiesofametalare
4.6.2.2 Conductivity/resistivity,
beyond the scope of this guide.
4.6.2.3 Thermoelectric,
5.4 Each method has particular advantages and disadvan-
4.6.2.4 Chemical spot tests,
tages. The selection of suitable candidates for a speciļ¬c grade
4.6.2.5 Triboelectric, and
veriļ¬cation or sorting application requires an understanding of
4.6.2.6 Spark testing (special case).
the technical operating features of each method.These include
the precision and bias necessary for the application and
5. Background
practical considerations such as product conļ¬guration, surface
5.1 The standard quality assurance procedures for verifying
condition, product and ambient temperatures, environmental
the composition and physical properties of a metal at a
constraints, etc.
producing facility are through chemical analysis and mechani-
cal testing. These required tests result in the sacriļ¬ce of a
6. General Procedures
certain amount of production for the preparation of samples,
6.1 Standardization/Calibration:
are costly and time-consuming, and may not provide timely
information regarding changes in product quality. In a market 6.1.1 Of primary concern in any materials identiļ¬cation or
in which a single failure can result in heavy litigation and sorting program is delineation of the pertinent product charac-
damage costs, the manufacturer requires assurance that his teristics (such as chemical composition, processing,
production will meet the customerās acceptance standards. conļ¬guration, and physical properties) and the assignment of
Nondestructivegradeveriļ¬cationprovidesonemeansofmoni- acceptance limits to each. Often prescribed by materials
toring production to ensure that the product will meet accep- speciļ¬cations, they also may result from quality assurance
tance requirements. proceduresorbyagreementbetweentheproducerandtheuser.
E1476ā04 (2022)
6.1.2 Of equal importance is the selection of reference electromagnetic method. Composition, size, processing, sur-
standards. Quantitative methods employ coupon standards that face condition, ļ¬nish, straightness, and temperature must be
are representative of the metals or alloy compositions to be nominally the same as that represented by the standard
veriļ¬ed, and the analytical instrumentation is standardized samples. To a lesser degree, this is also true for the thermo-
against them. The indirect methods, particularly those that electricmethod.Fortheothermethods,size,conļ¬guration,and
respond to physical properties as well as composition, require mechanical processing usually do not affect composition read-
reference standards that will represent the material speciļ¬ed in ings to any signiļ¬cant degree.
composition, mechanical and physical properties, and
6.2.2 The means for performing the examination must be
processing, as well as cover the means and extremes of the
controlled. If some surface metal removal is necessary (as it is
acceptance band. Coupon reference standards or product ref-
forspectrometricexaminations),theamountofremoval,means
erence standards, or both, may be selected as required.
of removal, and removal location on the piece must be
6.1.2.1 Coupon Reference StandardsāThese are small, eas-
speciļ¬ed and monitored closely. For electromagnetic
ily handled metal panels made to speciļ¬ed chemical composi-
examinations, the piece should be positioned in the same
tions. They are available commercially in sets, singly, or to
manner relative to the coil as is the product standard sample.
speciļ¬cation. They are useful for instrument standardization,
Failuretocontrolvariablescanresultinthemisidentiļ¬cationof
determining separability among metals, and ļ¬eld use with
samples.
portable equipment.They are not intended to reļ¬ect the effects
6.3 Display and Accept/Reject Criteria:
of processing or heat treatment on the acceptability of a
6.3.1 Most systems employ some form of visual display or
product.
readout to indicate the response to piece variables. Meter
6.1.2.2 Product Reference StandardsāThesemustrepresent
readings, oscilloscope patterns, digital signals, and colored
the product speciļ¬ed in composition and mechanical and
spots (from a reagent in chemical spot testing) are typical
physical properties. Ideally, three or more product reference
examples. On instruments with digital or cathode ray tube
standards covering the mean, plus two or more covering the
displays,itiscommonpracticetoshowthepositionandextent
extremes, should be obtained, suitably catalogued, and marked
of adjustable gates for the setting of automatic alarm circuits.
for proper identiļ¬cation.
6.3.2 Automaticalarmgatesmaybepositionedandadjusted
6.1.3 Standardization or calibration procedures, or both, for
tobetriggeredbythepresenceorabsenceofasignalofagiven
each method must be followed as speciļ¬ed by the instrument
amplitude and location. Both of these are adjustable. They are
manufacturer. Coupon reference standards are used to stan-
designed for use in automatic or operator-assisted systems to
dardize and set up quantitative (spectrometric) or qualitative
indicate when a product falls outside the acceptance limits, as
(thermoelectric and chemical spot test, etc.) veriļ¬cations, as
well as to indicate whether it falls on the high or the low side.
wellasformetalssortingchecksonelectromagnetic,electrical
Similarly, instruments may be equipped with a computer buss
conductivity, and similar instruments. Rod, bar, wire, and
interface for electronic data processing.
tubularproductreferencestandardsareusedalmostexclusively
6.3.
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