ASTM E45-05e2

Standard Test Methods for Determining the Inclusion Content of Steel

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
These test methods cover four macroscopic and five microscopic test methods (manual and image analysis) for describing the inclusion content of steel and procedures for expressing test results.
Inclusions are characterized by size, shape, concentration, and distribution rather than chemical composition. Although compositions are not identified, Microscopic methods place inclusions into one of several composition-related categories (sulfides, oxides, and silicates—the last as a type of oxide). Paragraph 12.2.1 describes a metallographic technique to facilitate inclusion discrimination. Only those inclusions present at the test surface can be detected.
The macroscopic test methods evaluate larger surface areas than microscopic test methods and because examination is visual or at low magnifications, these methods are best suited for detecting larger inclusions. Macroscopic methods are not suitable for detecting inclusions smaller than about 0.40 mm (1/64 in.) in length and the methods do not discriminate inclusions by type.
The microscopic test methods are employed to characterize inclusions that form as a result of deoxidation or due to limited solubility in solid steel (indigenous inclusions). These inclusions are characterized by morphological type, that is, by size, shape, concentration, and distribution, but not specifically by composition. The microscopic methods are not intended for assessing the content of exogenous inclusions (those from entrapped slag or refractories).
Because the inclusion population within a given lot of steel varies with position, the lot must be statistically sampled in order to assess its inclusion content. The degree of sampling must be adequate for the lot size and its specific characteristics. Materials with very low inclusion contents may be more accurately rated by automatic image analysis, which permits more precise microscopic ratings.
Results of macroscopic and microscopic test methods may be used to qualify material fo...
SCOPE
1.1 These test methods cover a number of recognized procedures for determining the nonmetallic inclusion content of wrought steel. Macroscopic methods include macroetch, fracture, step-down, and magnetic particle tests. Microscopic methods include five generally accepted systems of examination. In these microscopic 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 microscopic 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 This practice covers procedures to perform JK-type inclusion ratings using automatic image analysis in accordance with microscopic methods A and D.
1.3 Depending on the type of steel and the properties required, either a macroscopic or a microscopic 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 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. Values in parentheses are conversions and are approximate.
1.6 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: 31-Oct-2005
• ICS: 77.040.99 - Other methods of testing of metals
• Technical Committee: E04 - Metallography
• Drafting Committee: E04.09 - Inclusions

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM E45-05e1 - Standard Test Methods for Determining the Inclusion Content of Steel
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2005
• Replaced By: ASTM E45-05e3 - Standard Test Methods for Determining the Inclusion Content of Steel
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2005
• Referred By: ASTM E588-03(2020) - Standard Practice for Detection of Large Inclusions in Bearing Quality Steel by the Ultrasonic Method
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2005
• Referred By: ASTM A878/A878M-19 - Standard Specification for Steel Wire, Modified Chromium Vanadium Valve Spring Quality
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2005
• Referred By: ASTM F561-19 - Standard Practice for Retrieval and Analysis of Medical Devices, and Associated Tissues and Fluids
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2005
• Referred By: ASTM A646/A646M-17(2022) - Standard Specification for Premium Quality Alloy Steel Blooms and Billets for Aircraft and Aerospace Forgings
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2005
• Referred By: ASTM A866-18 - Standard Specification for Medium Carbon Anti-Friction Bearing Steel
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2005
• Referred By: ASTM A756-17(2022) - Standard Specification for Stainless Anti-Friction Bearing Steel
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2005
• Referred By: ASTM C1187-20a - Standard Guide for Establishing Surveillance Test Program for Boron-based Neutron Absorbing Material Systems for Use in Nuclear Fuel Storage Racks in Pool Environment
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2005
• Referred By: ASTM A534-17(2022) - Standard Specification for Carburizing Steels for Anti-Friction Bearings
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2005
• Referred By: ASTM A921/A921M-93(2022) - Standard Specification for Steel Bars, Microalloy, Hot-Wrought, Special Quality, for Subsequent Hot Forging
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2005
• Referred By: ASTM F90-23 - Standard Specification for Wrought Cobalt-20Chromium-15Tungsten-10Nickel Alloy for Surgical Implant Applications (UNS R30605)
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2005
• Referred By: ASTM D5706-16 - Standard Test Method for Determining Extreme Pressure Properties of Lubricating Greases Using a High-Frequency, Linear-Oscillation (SRV) Test Machine
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2005
• Referred By: ASTM D6425-19 - Standard Test Method for Measuring Friction and Wear Properties of Extreme Pressure (EP) Lubricating Oils Using SRV Test Machine
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2005
• Referred By: ASTM D8503-23 - Standard Test Method for Determining the Scuffing Temperature Limit of Lubricating Oils Using the SRV Test Machine
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2005

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
e2
Designation: E 45 – 05
Standard Test Methods for
1
Determining the Inclusion Content of Steel
ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationE 45;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyearoforiginal
adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript
epsilon (´) 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—Table 1 was editorially corrected in February 2007.
2
e NOTE—Sections 15.2.2 and 18.5 were editorially corrected in June 2008.
1. Scope priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.1 These test methods cover a number of recognized
procedures for determining the nonmetallic inclusion content
2. Referenced Documents
of wrought steel. Macroscopic methods include macroetch,
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
fracture, step-down, and magnetic particle tests. Microscopic
D 96 Test Method for Water and Sediment in Crude Oil by
methods include five generally accepted systems of examina-
Centrifuge Method (Field Procedure)
tion. In these microscopic methods, inclusions are assigned to
E3 Guide for Preparation of Metallographic Specimens
a category based on similarities in morphology, and not
E7 Terminology Relating to Metallography
necessarily on their chemical identity. Metallographic tech-
E 381 Method of Macroetch Testing Steel Bars, Billets,
niques that allow simple differentiation between morphologi-
Blooms, and Forgings
cally similar inclusions are briefly discussed. While the meth-
E 709 Guide for Magnetic Particle Examination
ods are primarily intended for rating inclusions, constituents
E 768 Practice for Preparing and Evaluating Specimens for
such as carbides, nitrides, carbonitrides, borides, and interme-
Automatic Inclusion Assessment of Steel
tallic phases may be rated using some of the microscopic
E 1245 Practice for Determining Inclusion or Second-Phase
methods. In some cases, alloys other than steels may be rated
Constituent Content of Metals byAutomatic ImageAnaly-
using one or more of these methods; the methods will be
sis
described in terms of their use on steels.
E 1444 Practice for Magnetic Particle Examination
1.2 This practice covers procedures to perform JK-type
E 1951 Guide for Calibrating Reticles and Light Micro-
inclusion ratings using automatic image analysis in accordance
scope Magnifications
with microscopic methods A and D.
3
2.2 SAE Standards:
1.3 Depending on the type of steel and the properties
J422, Recommended Practice for Determination of Inclu-
required, either a macroscopic or a microscopic method for
sions in Steel
determining the inclusion content, or combinations of the two
3
2.3 Aerospace Material Specifications:
methods, may be found most satisfactory.
AMS 2300, Premium Aircraft-Quality Steel Cleanliness:
1.4 These test methods deal only with recommended test
Magnetic Particle Inspection Procedure
methods and nothing in them should be construed as defining
AMS 2301, Aircraft Quality Steel Cleanliness: Magnetic
or establishing limits of acceptability for any grade of steel.
Particle Inspection Procedure
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
AMS 2303, Aircraft Quality Steel Cleanliness: Martensitic
standard. Values in parentheses are conversions and are ap-
Corrosion-Resistant Steels Magnetic Particle Inspection
proximate.
Procedure
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
AMS 2304, Special Aircraft-Quality Steel Cleanliness:
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
Magnetic Particle Inspection Procedure
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
1
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E04 on contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Metallography and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E04.09 on Inclu- Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
sions. the ASTM website.
3
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2005. Published December 2005. Originally Available from Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), 400 Commonwealth
approved in 1942. Last previous edition approved in 2002 as E 45 – 97 (2002). Dr., Warrendale, PA 15096-0001.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

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e2
E45–05
4
2.4 ISO Standards: describing the inclusion content of steel and procedures for
ISO 3763, Wrought Steels—Macroscopic Methods for As- expressing test results.
sessing the Content of Nonmetallic Inc
...

This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
e1 e1
Designation: E 45 – 05 E45–05 e2
Standard Test Methods for
1
Determining the Inclusion Content of Steel
ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationE 45;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyearoforiginal
adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript
epsilon (´) 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—Table1 was editorially corrected in February 2007.
—Table 1 was editorially corrected in February 2007.
2
e NOTE—Sections 15.2.2 and 18.5 were editorially corrected in June 2008.
1. Scope
1.1 These test methods cover a number of recognized procedures for determining the nonmetallic inclusion content of wrought
steel. Macroscopic methods include macroetch, fracture, step-down, and magnetic particle tests. Microscopic methods include five
generally accepted systems of examination. In these microscopic 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 microscopic 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 This practice covers procedures to perform JK-type inclusion ratings using automatic image analysis in accordance with
microscopic methods A and D.
1.3 Depending on the type of steel and the properties required, either a macroscopic or a microscopic 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 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. Values in parentheses are conversions and are approximate.
1.6 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.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D 96 Test Method for Water and Sediment in Crude Oil by Centrifuge Method (Field Procedure)
E 3 Guide for Preparation of Metallographic Specimens
E 7 Terminology Relating to Metallography
E 381 Method of Macroetch Testing Steel Bars, Billets, Blooms, and Forgings
E 709 Guide for Magnetic Particle Examination
E 768 Practice for Preparing and Evaluating Specimens for Automatic Inclusion Assessment of Steel
E 1245 Practice for Determining Inclusion or Second-Phase Constituent Content of Metals by Automatic Image Analysis
E 1444 Practice for Magnetic Particle Examination
E 1951 Guide for Calibrating Reticles and Light Microscope Magnifications
3
2.2 SAE Standards:
J422, Recommended Practice for Determination of Inclusions in Steel
3
2.3 Aerospace Material Specifications:
AMS 2300, Premium Aircraft-Quality Steel Cleanliness: Magnetic Particle Inspection Procedure
AMS 2301, Aircraft Quality Steel Cleanliness: Magnetic Particle Inspection Procedure
1
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E04 on Metallography and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E04.09 on Inclusions .
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2005. Published December 2005. Originally approved in 1942. Last previous edition approved in 2002 as E 45 – 97 (2002).
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
Available from Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), 400 Commonwealth Dr., Warrendale, PA 15096-0001.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
e2
AMS 2303, Aircraft Quality Steel Cleanliness: Martensitic Corrosion-Resistant Steels Magnetic Particle
...