Designation: A 353/A 353M – 04

Standard Specification for

Pressure Vessel Plates, Alloy Steel, 9 Percent Nickel,
Double-Normalized and Tempered1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A 353/A 353M; 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* A 578/A578M Specification for Straight-Beam Ultrasonic

1.1 This specification2 covers 9 % nickel steel plates, Examination of Plain and Clad Steel Plates for Special
double-normalized and tempered, intended particularly for Applications
welded pressure vessels for cryogenic service. 3. General Requirements and Ordering Information
1.2 Plates produced under this specification are subject to
impact testing at −320°F [−195°C] or at such other tempera- 3.1 Material supplied to this material specification shall
tures as are agreed upon. conform to Specification A 20/A 20M. These requirements
1.3 The maximum thickness of plates is limited only by the outline the testing and retesting methods and procedures,
capacity of the material to meet the specific mechanical permissible variations in dimensions, and mass, quality and
property requirements; however, current mill practice normally repair of defects, marking, loading, etc.
limits this material to 2 in. [50 mm] max. 3.2 Specification A 20/A 20M also establishes the rules for
1.4 This material is susceptible to magnetization. Use of the ordering information that should be complied with when
magnets in handling after heat treatment should be avoided if purchasing material to this specification.
residual magnetism would be detrimental to subsequent fabri- 3.3 In addition to the basic requirements of this specifica-
cation or service. tion, certain supplementary requirements are available when
1.5 The values stated in either inch-pound units or SI units additional control, testing, or examination is required to meet
are to be regarded separately as standard. Within the text, the end use requirements. These include:
SI units are shown in brackets. The values stated in each 3.3.1 Vacuum treatment,
system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system must 3.3.2 Additional or special tension testing,
be used independently of the other. Combining values from the 3.3.3 Impact testing, and
two systems may result in nonconformance with the specifi- 3.3.4 Nondestructive examination.
cation. 3.4 The purchaser is referred to the listed supplementary
requirements in this specification and to the detailed require-
2. Referenced Documents ments in Specification A 20/A 20M.
2.1 ASTM Standards: 3 3.5 If the requirements of this specification are in conflict
A 20/A20M Specification for General Requirements for with the requirements of Specification A 20/A 20M, the re-
Steel Plates for Pressure Vessels quirements of this specification shall prevail.
A 435/A435M Specification for Straight-Beam Ultrasonic 4. Manufacture
Examination of Steel Plates
A 577/A577M Specification for Ultrasonic Angle-Beam 4.1 Steelmaking Practice—The steel shall be killed and
Examination of Steel Plates shall conform to the fine austenitic grain size requirement of
Specification A 20/A 20M.

1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A01 on Steel, 5. Heat Treatment
Stainless Steel, and Related Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee 5.1 All plates shall be heat treated in accordance with 5.2.
A01.11 on Steel Plates for Boilers and Pressure Vessels.
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2004. Published October 2004. Originally
Shell plates and other parts, including heads and reinforcing
approved in 1952. Last previous edition approved in 1999 as A 353/A 353M – 93 pads that are heated for forming shall be heat treated after
(1999). forming in accordance with 5.2.
2
For ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code applications, see related Specifi- 5.2 Heat Treatment Procedure:
cation SA-353/SA-353M in Section II of that Code.
3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.

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

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 A 353/A 353M – 04
5.2.1 First Normalizing Treatment—Heat the plate to a 7. Mechanical Requirements
uniform temperature of 1650 6 25 °F [900 6 15 °C], hold at 7.1 Tension Test Requirements—The material as represented
that temperature for a minimum of 1 h/in. [2.4 min/mm] of by the tension-test specimens shall conform to the require-
thickness, but in no case less than 15 min, and cool in air. ments specified in Table 2.
5.2.2 Second Normalizing Treatment—Reheat the plate to a 7.1.1 Upon agreement between the purchaser and the manu-
uniform temperature of 1450 6 25 °F [790 6 15 °C], hold at facturer, yield strength may be determined by the extension
that temperature for a minimum of 1 h/in. 2.4 min/mm of under load method, using 0.005 in./in. [0.005 mm/mm] total
thickness, but in no case less than 15 min, and cool in air. extension.
5.2.3 Tempering Treatment—Reheat the plate to a uniform 7.1.2 For nominal plate thicknesses of 3⁄4 in. [20 mm] and
temperature within the range from 1050 to 1125 °F [565 to 605 under, the 11⁄2-in. [40-mm] wide rectangular specimen may be
°C], hold within that temperature range for a minimum of 1 used for the tension test and the elongation may be determined
h/in. 2.4 min/mm of thickness, but in no case less than 15 min, in a 2-in. [50-mm] gage length that includes the fracture and
and cool in air or water quench at a rate not less than 300 °F/h shows the greatest elongation.
[165 °C/h]. 7.1.3 One tension test shall be taken from each plate as heat
5.2.4 If hot forming is performed after heating to a tempera- treated.
ture within the range from 1650 to 1750 °F [900 to 955 °C] the 7.2 Impact Test Requirements:
first normalizing treatment (5.2.1) may be omitted. 7.2.1 Charpy V-notch impact tests shall be made in accor-
5.2.5 When the plates are heat treated by the fabricator, it dance with Specification A 20/A 20M.
shall be the fabricator’s responsibility to apply the proper heat 7.2.2 The longitudinal axis of the test specimens shall be
treatment and to conduct tests it deems necessary to ensure that transverse to the final rolling direction of the plate.
the specified properties are attained. 7.2.3 Unless otherwise agreed, tests shall be conducted at
−320°F [−195°C].
6. Chemical Requirements 7.2.4 Each test specimen shall have a lateral expansion
6.1 The steel shall conform to the chemical composition opposite the notch of not less than 0.015 in. [0.381 mm].
requirements shown in Table 1 unless otherwise modified in
accordance with Supplementary Requirement S17, Vacuum 8. Finish
Carbon-Deoxidized Steel, in Specification A 20/A 20M. 8.1 Because retained scale may mask surface imperfections,
as well as mar the plate surface, plates shall be descaled by the
producer after heat treatment. In the case of material to be
TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements
heat-treated by the purchaser, the plates shall be descaled by
Element Composition, %
the producer prior to shipment.
A
Carbon, max 0.13 9. Keywords
Manganese, max
Heat analysis 0.90 9.1 alloy steel; alloy steel plate; pressure containing parts;
Product analysis 0.98 pressure vessel steels; steel plates; steel plates for pressure
Phosphorus, maxA 0.035
Sulfur, maxA 0.035
vessel applications
Silicon:
Heat analysis 0.15–0.40B TABLE 2 Tensile Requirements
Product analysis 0.13–0.45B
Nickel: Tensile strength, ksi [MPa] 100–120 [690–825]
Heat analysis 8.50–9.50 Yield strength (0.2 % offset), min, ksi [MPa]A 75 [515]
Product analysis 8.40–9.60
A Elongation in 2 in. [50 mm], min, %B 20.0
Applies to both heat and product analyses.
B A
The specificed minimum limit does not apply if the total aluminum content is See 7.1.1.
B
0.030 % or more, or provided that acid soluble aluminum is 0.025 % or more. See Specification A 20/A 20M for elongation adjustment.

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 A 353/A 353M – 04
SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENTS

Supplementary requirements shall not apply unless specified in the order.

A list of standardized supplementary requirements for use at the option of the purchaser are included
in Specification A 20/A 20M. Several of those considered suitable for use with this specification are
listed below by title. Other tests may be performed by agreement between the supplier and the
purchaser.

S1. Vacuum Treatment, S11. Ultrasonic Examination in Accordance with Specifica-

S2. Product Analysis, tion A 577/A 577M,
S3. Simulated Post-Weld Heat Treatment of Mechanical S12. Ultrasonic Examination in Accordance with Specifica-
Test Coupons, tion A 578/A 578M, and
S4.1 Additional Tension Test,
S17. Vacuum Carbon-Deoxidized Steel.
S6. Drop Weight Test,
S8. Ultrasonic Examination in Accordance with Specifi-
cation A 435/A 435M,

ADDITIONAL SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENTS

Also listed below are additional optional Supplementary Requirements S55 and S56 which are
suitable for this specification.

S55. Longitudinal Charpy Impact Energy Absorption S56. Transverse Charpy Impact Energy Absorption
Requirement Requirement
S55.1 The longitudinal Charpy V-notch impact properties S56.1 The transverse Charpy V-notch impact properties
shall not be less than 25 ft·lbf [34 J] at the specified tempera- shall not be less than 20 ft·lbf [27 J] at the specified tempera-
ture. ture.
S55.2 Each impact-test value shall constitute the average S56.2 Each impact-test value shall constitute the average
value of three specimens, with not more than one value below value of three specimens, with not more than one value below
the specified minimum value of 25 ft·lbf [34 J], but in no case the specified minimum value of 20 ft·lbf [27 J] but in no case
below 20 ft·lbf [27 J] for full size specimens. below 15 ft·lbf [20 J] for full-size specimens.

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

Committee A01 has identified the location of selected changes to this standard since the last issue (A 353/A
353M–93 (1999)) that may impact the use of this standard.

(1) Table 1 was revised by the addition of Footnote B. (3) S14 was deleted.
(2) Section 9 was added. (4) Sections 5.1, 5.2.1, 5.2.2, 5.2.3, and 5.2.5 were revised.

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