Designation: A 991/A 991M – 98 (Reapproved 2004)

Standard Test Method for

Conducting Temperature Uniformity Surveys of Furnaces
Used to Heat Treat Steel Products1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A 991/A 991M; 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.

1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents

1.1 This test method covers the procedures used to conduct 2.1 ASTM Standards: 2
a temperature uniformity survey on a furnace used to heat treat E 207 Test Method for Thermal EMF Test of Single Ther-
steel products. This method is used to determine the capability moelement Materials by Comparison with a Reference
of the furnace to meet the permissible temperature variation Thermoelement of Similar EMF-Temperature Properties
specified in the applicable product specification, or as agreed to E 220 Test Method for Calibration of Thermocouples By
by the purchaser and supplier of heat treat services. Survey Comparison Techniques
documentation requirements, and the procedure used to subse- E 230 Specification and Temperature-Electromotive Force
quently establish the furnace working zone, are defined in this (EMF) Tables for Standardized Thermocouples
test method. E 608/E 608M Specification for Mineral-Insulated, Metal-
1.2 This test method covers heat treat furnaces in any of the Sheathed Base Metal Thermocouples
following categories: 2.2 SAE Standard:
1.2.1 Continuous or semi-continuous conveyance furnaces, AMS 2750 Pyrometry3
1.2.2 Batch furnaces, and
1.2.3 Salt or liquid baths and fluidized beds. 3. Terminology
1.3 This test method only applies when specified in the 3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
product specification or the purchase order. 3.1.1 batch furnace, n—heating device in which material
1.4 Controlling a heat treatment of steel products using may be stationary or oscillating during the processing cycle.
thermocouples attached to the extremities of each load is an 3.1.2 continuous conveyance furnace, n—heating device
alternative to performing a furnace survey. through which material is moved intentionally at a constant
1.5 By mutual agreement between the purchaser and the rate during the processing cycle.
supplier of heat treat services, more stringent and/or additional 3.1.3 extremities, n—as referring to furnace working zone;
requirements may be specified. The acceptance of any such outer boundaries in all three dimensions (length, width, and
additional requirements shall be dependent on negotiations height) of the material being processed.
with the supplier and must be included in the order as agreed 3.1.4 operating range, n—expected range of temperature
upon by the purchaser and supplier. over which a furnace will be controlled to heat treat steel
1.6 The values stated in either inch-pound units or SI units products.
are to be regarded separately as standard. Within the text, the 3.1.5 primary survey, n—initial evaluation of the furnace,
SI units are shown in brackets. The values stated in each or an evaluation triggered by the initiation of a major furnace
system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system is to modification.
be used independently of the other, without combining values 3.1.6 secondary survey, n—evaluation of the furnace trig-
in any way. gered by the expiration of a time requirement.
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the 3.1.7 semi-continuous conveyance furnace, n—heating de-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the vice through which material is moved intentionally with a
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- predetermined start-stop-start pattern during the processing
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- cycle.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.

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This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A01 on Steel, For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Stainless Steel and Related Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM
A01.13 on Mechanical and Chemical Testing and Processing Methods of Steel Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Products and Processes. the ASTM website.
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Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2004. Published October 2004. Originally Available from Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), 400 Commonwealth
approved in 1998. Last previous edition approved in 1998 as A 991/A 991M – 98. Dr., Warrendale, PA 15096-0001.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

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 A 991/A 991M – 98 (2004)
3.1.8 working zone, n—maximum volume and location in 6.1.3 The furnace atmosphere and operating conditions
the furnace that meet the permissible temperature variation. shall be representative of those used in production.
6.2 Frequency of Uniformity Surveys:
4. Significance and Use 6.2.1 Primary Surveys:
4.1 Furnaces for heat treatment of steel products are used in 6.2.1.1 A primary survey shall have been performed within
many industries, in many ways. Regardless of heat treat twelve months prior to, or run concurrently with, the first
furnace type, or processing cycle, it may be necessary for users production heat treatment to which this test method applies.
to know the temperature uniformity in the furnace and whether 6.2.1.2 A primary survey shall have been conducted when a
the material is processed in a zone within the furnace that is major furnace modification is completed. A major furnace
capable of meeting the applicable permissible temperature modification includes, but is not limited to, the installation of
variation requirements. the following: a different burner type, a new heating element
4.2 The procedures in this test method may be used by those design, a different type of insulation system, and, a different
using, manufacturing, and providing calibration service for, type of temperature controlling device.
heat treat furnaces used to process steel products. 6.2.1.3 Replacement of worn parts with similar parts or
patching of insulation that does not change the furnace
5. Furnace Survey Equipment characteristics does not constitute a major furnace modifica-
5.1 Thermocouples: tion.
5.1.1 Metal sheathed thermocouples shall be in accordance 6.2.1.4 The survey shall be conducted within twelve months
with Specification E 608/E 608M. prior to, or run concurrently with, the first production heat
5.1.2 The use of extension wires is permitted when com- treatment performed after the modification.
pensated connectors, plugs, jacks, and terminal strips are used. 6.2.2 Secondary Surveys:
5.1.3 Thermocouples made from spool wire shall meet the 6.2.2.1 To maintain conformance with this test method, a
requirements of AMS 2750. secondary survey shall be conducted within twelve months
5.1.4 The use of spliced extension wire is prohibited. after the primary survey.
5.1.5 Thermocouples may be reused if the requirements of 6.2.2.2 Secondary surveys shall be conducted at a typical
AMS 2750 (except Paragraph 3.1.1.7.2 of Rev. C) are met. furnace set point temperature within the normal operating
5.2 Calibration: range. All other conditions described in 6.1 shall apply.
5.2.1 All reference, primary, secondary, test and working
equipment, instrumentation and sensors used in conjunction 7. Procedure
with this test method shall meet the requirements of calibration 7.1 Survey measuring equipment shall meet the require-
defined by Test Methods E 207 and E 220. ments of Section 5.
5.2.2 Temperature measuring devices shall be calibrated 7.2 Test conditions and test frequency shall be as defined in
within three months prior to use. 6.1 and 6.2, respectively.
5.2.3 Calibration shall be traceable to the National Institute 7.3 Place thermocouples to monitor time and temperature
of Standards Technology standards, or equivalent national profiles in the furnace to evaluate the uniformity of the
standards. Calibration to such national standards shall be done intended working zone. Place them at the outer extremities, the
at least once every two years. center of the proposed working zone, and in areas of suspected
5.2.4 Calibration shall be within the temperature range to be variability in the proposed working zone. Attach survey test
used in the survey and at intervals not greater than 200°F sensors to, or set them in the load.
[100°C] for primary and secondary standards. 7.4 For proposed working zones less than 12 in. [300 mm]
5.2.5 Correction factors, limits of error, and deviations shall in height, it is acceptable to monitor the center height location,
be in accordance with Specification E 230. it is not necessary to monitor both the top and bottom of the
heating chamber. For proposed working zones greater than, or
6. Requirements equal to, 12 in. [300 mm] in height, both top and bottom
6.1 Uniformity Survey Test Conditions: extremities must be monitored.
6.1.1 The furnace to be surveyed shall be capable of being 7.5 Continuous Conveyance and Semi-Continuous Convey-
tested at set point temperature(s) typical for the normal ance Furnaces:
operating range. 7.5.1 Convey test sensors through the furnace. The rate of
6.1.1.1 If the operating range does not exceed a spread of conveyance shall be representative of normal operating condi-
300°F [150°C], the midpoint temperature shall be selected for tions.
the survey. 7.5.2 The frequency of temperature recordings shall be
6.1.1.2 If the operating range exceeds a spread of 300°F capable of detecting variations from the test temperature range
[150°C], survey at the minimum and maximum set point during the entire conveyance through the furnace.
temperature for the normal operating range, except that the 7.5.3 Several conveyances with the test sensors attached to
maximum temperature need not be higher than 2000°F the steel product, under the same conditions, may be made to
[1100°C]. ensure that any recurrent temperature profiles are determined at
6.1.2 Typical production size and weight furnace loads shall all test locations throughout the furnace.
be utilized during the survey. Use of representative material to 7.5.4 Alternative surveying techniques are described in 7.7.
simulate product during survey is permitted. 7.6 Batch and Batch Liquid Media Furnaces:

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7.6.1 Take readings starting when the control instrument conditions and procedures used in the completion of the survey
rises to within 200°F [100°C] of the set point temperature and on file for a minimum of five years.
continue throughout the hold cycle at the set point temperature. 8.2 Pertinent documentation shall include, but not be lim-
7.6.2 Take readings at a minimum frequency of 1/10 the ited to, the following:
normal hold time. 8.2.1 Specific identification of furnace surveyed,
7.6.3 Take the readings frequently enough to detect varia- 8.2.2 Date of the uniformity survey,
tions from the test temperature range and to determine the 8.2.3 Identification of the heat treat procedure,
extremes of the recurrent temperature profile, if any. 8.2.3.1 Set point temperatures,
7.6.4 Alternative surveying techniques are described in 7.7. 8.2.3.2 Type of atmosphere,
7.7 Alternative Surveying Techniques—When agreed to by 8.2.3.3 Conveyance speed (when applicable),
the purchaser and the supplier of heat treat services, alternative 8.2.4 Size and weight of steel product loaded in furnace at
surveying techniques may be used to characterize the tempera- time of survey,
ture uniformity of the furnace and subsequently define the size 8.2.5 Item identification numbers (lot, heat serial, etc.),
and location of the working zone. Examples of these surveying 8.2.6 Time and temperature data, including original tem-
techniques are listed below. perature charts or original manually recorded data,
7.7.1 Statistical Sampling: 8.2.7 Dimensions and location of the working zone(s),
7.7.1.1 When it is impossible or impractical to perform the 8.2.8 Number and location of the survey thermocouples,
tests outlined in 7.5 and 7.6, it is permissible to substitute an 8.2.9 Largest observed temperature variation from the set
analysis of the resultant mechanical properties of the steel points during the hold cycle,
products heat treated in the subject furnace to validate tem- 8.2.10 The time interval of the test, including the total
perature uniformity. Details of this procedure shall be as agreed elapsed time. Starting time and chart speed shall be marked on
to between purchaser and supplier. the original temperature charts,
7.7.2 Sequential Load Sensors: 8.2.11 All pertinent equipment calibration information,
7.7.2.1 This procedure may be used as an alternative to 8.2.12 Deviations from the test method including, but not
those described in 7.5 and 7.6. It provides validation of limited to, thermocouple failure, malfunction, or disconnec-
temperature uniformity by a series of tests rather than a single tion.
test. In each test, determine the temperature variation pattern at 8.2.13 Name of personnel conducting the survey, and
one or more of the test locations. 8.3 All data may be electronically recorded.
7.7.2.2 The frequency of test shall be six months.
7.7.2.3 The temperature shall be within the normal operat- 9. Interpretation of Results and Establishment of the
ing range, with the narrowest permissible variation for the Working Zone
material applied to the survey. 9.1 The results of the primary survey describe the tempera-
7.7.2.4 Run the furnace with a load similar to that used in a ture uniformity of a furnace under a specific set of operating
normal production cycle. conditions. Results of the application of this test method shall
7.7.2.5 Load or test sensors shall be arranged in, or in be expressed as a variation from a temperature set point.
contact with, the test load. 9.2 Establishment of the furnace working zone is made by
7.7.2.6 Control setting(s) shall be identical to those used in comparing the temperature variation required by the product
normal production. specification, or agreed to by purchaser and supplier of heat
7.7.2.7 Take readings starting when the control instruments treat services, with the variation from the temperature set point
rises to within 200°F [100°C] of the set point temperature and as determined by this uniformity survey.
continued throughout the hold cycle at the set point tempera- 9.3 The working zone may either be the entire heating
ture. volume, or it may only be some portion of the heating volume
7.7.2.8 Record the temperature of all load test and working of the furnace. The working zone may be comprised of one or
sensors frequently enough to detect when the specified oper- more heating zones in the furnace.
ating range is exceeded, and at least five cycles of any recurrent
pattern have been observed. 10. Heat Treatment in the Working Zone
7.7.2.9 If no recurrent temperature profile is detected, take 10.1 When invoked by the product specification, or agreed
readings at intervals of five minutes or less, for at least 30 min to by purchaser and supplier of heat treat services, steel
after thermal equilibrium is reached. products shall be heat treated, as specified, only in the working
zone.
8. Documentation of Survey Results
8.1 Organizations performing surveys in accordance with 11. Keywords
this test method shall keep pertinent documentation of the 11.1 furnace survey; temperature; uniformity; working zone

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