Designation: A 738/A738M 90 (Reapproved 1996)e1

Standard Specication for

Pressure Vessel Plates, Heat-Treated, Carbon-ManganeseSilicon Steel, for Moderate and Lower Temperature Service1
This standard is issued under the xed designation A 738/A738M; 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.

e1 NOTEEditorial corrections were made to this standard in August 1999.

1. Scope 1.1 This specication2 covers heat-treated carbonmanganese-silicon steel plates intended for use in welded pressure vessels at moderate and lower temperature service. 1.2 Material under this specication is available in three strength levels, 75 ksi [515 MPa], 85 ksi [585 MPa], and 80 ksi [550 MPa], minimum ultimate tensile strengths. 1.3 The maximum thickness of Grade A plates is limited only by the capacity of the chemical composition and heat treatment to meet the specied mechanical property requirements. The maximum thickness of Grade B plates is limited to 2.5 in. [65 mm]. The maximum thickness of Grade C is limited to 6 in. 1.4 Grade A is the material that, prior to 1984, was covered by Specication A 738 without a grade designation. 1.5 The values stated in either inch-pound units or SI units are to be regarded separately as standards. Within the text, the SI units are shown in brackets. The values stated in each system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system must be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in nonconformance with the specication. 2. Referenced Documents 2.1 ASTM Standards: A 20/A20M Specication for General Requirements for Steel Plates for Pressure Vessels3 3. General Requirements and Ordering Information 3.1 Material supplied to this specication shall conform to the requirements of Specication A 20/A 20M. These requirements outline the testing and retesting methods and procedures, permissible variations in dimensions and mass, quality, repair of defects, marking, loading, etc.

TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements

Composition, % Element Grade A Carbon, maxA Manganese: Heat analysis 2.5 in. [65 mm] and under Over 2.5 in. [65 mm] Product analysis 2.5 in. [65 mm] and under Over 2.5 in. [65 mm] Phosphorus, maxA Sulfur, maxA Silicon: Heat analysis Product analysis Copper, max: Heat analysis Product analysis Nickel, max: Heat analysis Product analysis Chromium, max: Heat analysis Product analysis Molybdenum, max: Heat analysis 1.5 in. [40 mm] and under Over 1.5 in. [40 mm] Product analysis 1.5 in. [40 mm] and under Over 1.5 in. [40 mm] Vanadium, max: Heat analysis Product analysis Columbium, max: Heat analysis Product analysis Columbium plus Vanadium, max: Heat analysis Product analysis
A B

Grade B 0.20

Grade C 0.20

0.24

1.50 max 1.60 max 1.62 max 1.72 max 0.035 0.035 0.150.50 0.130.55 0.35 0.38 0.50 0.53 0.25 0.29

0.901.50 ... 0.841.62 ... 0.030 0.030 0.150.55 0.130.60 0.35 0.38 0.60 0.63 0.30 0.34

1.50 1.60 max 1.62 max 1.72 max 0.025 0.025 0.150.50 0.130.55 0.35 0.38 0.50 0.53 0.25 0.29

0.08 0.08 0.09 0.09 0.07B 0.08B 0.04B 0.05B

0.20 0.30 0.21 0.33 0.07 0.08 0.04 0.05

0.08 0.08 0.09 0.09 0.05 0.05 ... ...

0.08B 0.10B

0.08 0.10

... ...

1 This specication is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A-1 on Steel, Stainless Steel, and Related Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee A01.11 on Steel Plates for Boilers and Pressure Vessels. Current edition approved Dec. 28, 1990. Published May 1991. Originally published as A 738 76. Last previous edition A 738/A 738M 87a. 2 For ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code applications see related Specication SA-738/SA-738M in Section II of that Code. 3 Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.04.

Applies to both heat and product analyses. Vanadium and columbium may be added only by agreement between the producer and the purchaser.

3.2 Specication A 20/A 20M also establishes the rules for compliance to the ordering information when purchasing material to this specication.

Copyright ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

A 738/A738M
TABLE 2 Tensile Requirements
Grade A ksi [MPa] Grade B ksi [MPa] Grade C ksi [MPa]

specication. These include some of the standardized supplementary requirements listed in Specication A 20/A 20M as well as additional ones unique to this specication. 4. Manufacture
[550690]

Tensile strength tA 5 2.5 in. & 7595 85102 80100 under [515655] [585705] [t 5 65 mm & under] t 5 Over 2.5 to 7595 ... 7595 4 in. incl [515655] ... [t 5 Over 65 mm to 100 mm incl] t 5 Over 4 to 6 7595 ... 7090 in. incl [515655] ... [t 5 Over 100 to 150 mm incl] Yield strength, min t 5 2.5 in. & 45 60 60 under [310] [415] [t 5 65 mm & under] t 5 Over 2.5 to 45 ... 55 4 in. incl [310] ... [t 5 Over 65 to 100 mm incl] t 5 Over 4 to 6 45 ... 46 in. incl [310] ... [t 5 Over 100 to 150 mm incl] Elongation in 2 in. [50 mm], min, %B t 5 4 in. & 20 20 22 under 20 22 [t 5 100 mm & 20 under] t 5 Over 4 in. 20 ... 20 20 ... 20 [t 5 Over 100 mm]
A B

4.1 Steelmaking PracticeThe steel shall be killed and shall conform to the ne austenitic grain size requirement of Specication A 20/A 20M. 5. Heat Treatment 5.1 Grade A plates 2.5 in. [65 mm] and under in thickness shall be supplied in either the normalized or quenched and tempered condition. 5.2 Grade A plates over 2.5 in. [65 mm] in thickness and Grade B and Grade C plates in all thicknesses shall be quenched-and-tempered. 5.3 When plates are tempered, the minimum tempering temperature shall be 1100F [595C]. 6. Chemical Requirements 6.1 The steel shall conform to the chemical requirements shown in Table 1 unless otherwise modied in accordance with Supplementary Requirement S 17, Vacuum CarbonDeoxidized Steel in Specication A 20/A 20M. 7. Mechanical Requirements 7.1 Tension Test RequirementsThe material as represented by the tension test specimens shall conform to the requirements of Table 2. 7.1.1 For nominal plate thicknesses of 34in. [20 mm] and under, the 1.5-in. [40-mm] wide rectangular specimen may be used for the tension test and the elongation may be determined in a 2-in. [50-mm] gage length that includes the fracture and shows the greatest elongation.

[515655]

[485620]

[415]

[380]

[315]

t 5 plate nominal thickness. See Specication A 20/A 20M for elongation adjustment.

3.3 Certain supplementary requirements considered suitable for use with this specication are listed at the end of the

A 738/A738M
SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENTS Supplementary requirements shall not apply unless specied in the purchase order. A list of standardized supplementary requirements for use at the option of the purchaser is included in Specication A 20/A 20M. Several of those considered suitable for use with this specication are listed by title. Other tests may be performed by agreement between this specication are listed by title: S2. Product Analysis. S3. Simulated Post-Weld Heat Treatment of Mechanical Test Coupons. S4. Additional Tension Test. S5. Charpy V-Notch Impact Test. S6. Drop Weight Test. S17. Vacuum Carbon-Deoxidized Steel. S20. Maximum Carbon Equivalent for Weldability

APPENDIX
(Nonmandatory Information) X1. CHARPY V-NOTCH IMPACT TEST

X1.1 The energy values below are shown only for information as to the guarantees that are generally available. Mandatory conformance to any of the values listed is a matter of agreement between the purchaser and the manufacturer.

X1.1.1 Longitudinal 20 ftlbf [27 J] at 50F [45C]. X1.1.2 Transverse 20 ftlbf [27 J] at 20F [30C].

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