ASTM B652/B652M-10(2018)

Standard Specification for Niobium-Hafnium Alloy Ingots

ABSTRACT
This specification covers hafnium alloyed niobium ingots prepared by vacuum- or plasma- arc melting or electron-beam furnace melting, or a combination of these methods, to produce consolidated metal for processing to various mill shapes. The material shall conform to the required chemical composition prescribed. Each ingot should be tested for soundness by non-destructive test methods, such as dye penetrant and ultrasonic testing. Each ingot shall be tested for chemical composition in at least three positions along the length of the ingot.
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
10.1 The following applies to all specified limits in this standard for purposes of determining conformance with this specification: The observed value or a calculated value shall be rounded off to the nearest unit in the last right-hand digit used in expressing the specification limit, in accordance with the rounding-off method of Practice E29.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers hafnium alloyed niobium ingots prepared by vacuum- or plasma- arc melting or electron-beam furnace melting, or a combination of these methods, to produce consolidated metal for processing to various mill shapes.  
1.2 The material covered by this specification is Grade R04295, niobium-base alloy containing approximately 10 % hafnium and 1 % titanium.  
1.3 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard.  
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-2018
• ICS: 77.150.99 - Other products of non-ferrous metals
• Technical Committee: B10 - Reactive and Refractory Metals and Alloys
• Drafting Committee: B10.03 - Niobium, Tantalum, and Vanadium

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM B652/B652M-10 - Standard Specification for Niobium-Hafnium Alloy Ingots
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2018
• Refers: ASTM E29-08 - Standard Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2008
• Refers: ASTM E2626-08 - Standard Guide for Spectrometric Analysis of Reactive and Refractory Metals
• Effective Date: 15-Jun-2008
• Refers: ASTM E2626-08e1 - Standard Guide for Spectrometric Analysis of Reactive and Refractory Metals (Withdrawn 2017)
• Effective Date: 15-Jun-2008
• Refers: ASTM E29-06b - Standard Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2006
• Refers: ASTM E29-06a - Standard Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications
• Effective Date: 15-Sep-2006
• Refers: ASTM E29-06 - Standard Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications
• Effective Date: 01-May-2006
• Refers: ASTM E29-04 - Standard Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2004
• Refers: ASTM E29-02e1 - Standard Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications
• Effective Date: 10-May-2002
• Refers: ASTM E29-93a(1999) - Standard Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications
• Effective Date: 10-May-1999
• Referred By: ASTM B654/B654M-10(2018) - Standard Specification for Niobium-Hafnium Alloy Foil, Sheet, Strip, and Plate
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2018
• Referred By: ASTM B655/B655M-10(2018) - Standard Specification for Niobium-Hafnium Alloy Bar and Wire
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2018

Overview

ASTM B652/B652M-10(2018) - Standard Specification for Niobium-Hafnium Alloy Ingots establishes the technical requirements for hafnium-alloyed niobium ingots. These ingots, made by vacuum- or plasma-arc melting or electron-beam furnace melting, are intended for further processing into various mill shapes used in high-performance industries. The standard outlines both chemical and quality requirements, details methods for testing soundness and composition, and provides guidance on ordering, marking, and packaging the ingots. The specification ensures product reliability and standardization for manufacturers and users of niobium-hafnium alloy materials.

Key Topics

• Material Composition: Covers Grade R04295, a niobium-base alloy containing approximately 10% hafnium and 1% titanium.
• Manufacturing Methods: Permits vacuum-arc, plasma-arc, or electron-beam melting, or a combination thereof, to produce uniform, consolidated alloy ingots.
• Chemical Requirements: Specifies strict chemical composition limits for elements such as carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, titanium, zirconium, tungsten, and tantalum. Compliance must be verified at minimum three positions along the ingot's length.
• Testing and Quality Assurance:
  • Non-Destructive Evaluation: Recommends dye penetrant and ultrasonic testing for ingot soundness.
  • Surface and Dimensional Requirements: Ingot surfaces must meet the agreed acceptability standards; conditioned surfaces must be uniform, free from abrupt changes or harmful imperfections.
• Traceability and Certification:
  • Each ingot must be properly marked for identification.
  • Certification of compliance and test results are required from the producer or supplier.
• Units and International Scope: Allows use of either SI or inch-pound units, with systems used independently to avoid non-conformance.

Applications

Niobium-hafnium alloy ingots produced to ASTM B652/B652M are essential in applications demanding exceptional reliability, corrosion resistance, and high-temperature performance. Typical industries and uses include:

• Aerospace and Defense: Fabrication of components for jet engines, rockets, and space propulsion systems, where the alloys’ refractory nature and strength-to-weight ratio are critical.
• Electronics and Thin Film Deposition: Sputtering targets and crucibles for high-purity applications benefit from the alloy’s high melting point and chemical stability.
• Nuclear Industry: Structural and containment parts that require excellent resistance to radiation and high operating temperatures.
• Research and Development: Raw material for advanced material science projects, including the development of new alloys and superalloys.

Selecting materials that meet the ASTM B652/B652M standard provides assurance of quality and consistency in critical engineering environments.

Related Standards

For comprehensive quality control and compatibility with niobium-hafnium alloy manufacturing, consider the following related ASTM standards:

• ASTM E29: Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications.
• ASTM E2626: Guide for Spectrometric Analysis of Reactive and Refractory Metals (withdrawn in 2017, but referenced for chemical analysis guidance).
• ASTM specifications for other reactive and refractory metals: Useful for multi-metal systems or comparative product evaluations.

These documents, along with ASTM B652/B652M-10(2018), support effective specification, procurement, and application of high-purity niobium-hafnium alloy ingots in advanced engineering sectors. By adhering to internationally recognized standards, manufacturers and purchasers ensure safety, quality, and reliability in their supply chains.

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: B652/B652M −10 (Reapproved 2018)
Standard Specification for
Niobium-Hafnium Alloy Ingots
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B652/B652M; 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 3.1.1 ingot, n—a quantity of metal cast into a shape suitable
for subsequent processing to various mill products.
1.1 This specification covers hafnium alloyed niobium in-
gots prepared by vacuum- or plasma- arc melting or electron-
4. Ordering Information
beam furnace melting, or a combination of these methods, to
4.1 Orders for material under this specification shall include
produce consolidated metal for processing to various mill
the following information as applicable:
shapes.
4.1.1 General alloy description (see 1.2) and ASTM desig-
1.2 The material covered by this specification is Grade
nation and year of issue,
R04295, niobium-base alloy containing approximately 10 %
4.1.2 Quantity in weight or pieces,
hafnium and 1 % titanium.
4.1.3 Size: diameter and length,
4.1.4 Chemistry (Section 6),
1.3 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units
4.1.5 Quality and finish (see 8.2, 8.4, and 8.6),
are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in
4.1.6 Certifications and Reports (Section 14),
each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each
4.1.7 Packaging (Section 16), and
system shall be used independently of the other. Combining
4.1.8 Disposition of rejected material (Section 12).
values from the two systems may result in non-conformance
with the standard.
5. Materials and Manufacture
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
5.1 The ingot metal for this material may be vacuum- or
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
plasma-arc melted, electron-beam melted, or a combination of
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
these methods.
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
6. Chemical Composition
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
6.1 The material shall conform to the requirements as to
chemical composition prescribed in Table 1. Analysis for
2. Referenced Documents
elements, not listed in Table 1 and not normally expected in
2.1 ASTM Standards:
niobium hafnium alloy, shall not be required unless specified at
E29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to
time of purchase. Guide E2626 may be used as a guide for
Determine Conformance with Specifications
chemical analysis techniques.
E2626 Guide for Spectrometric Analysis of Reactive and
7. Permissible Variations in Quantity
Refractory Metals (Withdrawn 2017)
7.1 For orders requiring up to 100 lb [45 kg] of ingots, the
3. Terminology
manufacturer may overship up to a maximum of 20 %. For
orders up to 1000 lb [450 kg], the manufacturer may overship
3.1 Lot Definitions:
up to a maximum of 10 %. The permissible overshipment shall
be negotiated for orders larger than 1000 lb [450 kg].
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B10 on
8. Workmanship, Finish, and Appearance
Reactive and Refractory Metals and Alloys and is the direct responsibility of
Subcommittee B10.03 on Niobium and Tantalum.
8.1 Themanufacturershallusecaretohaveeachlotofingot
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2018. Published October 2018. Originally
material as uniform in quality as possible.
approved in 1979. Last previous edition approved in 2010 as B652/B652M – 10.
DOI: 10.1520/B0652_B0652M-10R18.
8.2 When specified, the ingots shall be conditioned on the
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
surfacetostandardsagreeduponbetweenthepurchaserandthe
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on manufacturer.
the ASTM website.
8.3 In the conditioned ingot, no abrupt changes in diameter
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
www.astm.org. orlocaldepressionsthatwillimpairsubsequentfabricationwill
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B652/B652M − 10 (2018)
TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements (Ingot)
is not contaminated by the sampling procedure. If there is any
Niobium-Hafnium Alloy Grade R04295 question relating to the sampling techniques or to the analysis
Co
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