Designation: A576 90b (Reapproved 2012)

Standard Specification for

Steel Bars, Carbon, Hot-Wrought, Special Quality1

This standard is issued under the fixed designation A576; 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.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.

1. Scope
1.1 This specification covers hot-wrought special quality
carbon steel bars. Special quality bar applications include
forging, heat treating, cold drawing, machining, and many
structural uses. A guide for the selection of steel bars is
contained in Practice A400.
1.2 The bars shall be furnished in the grades specified in
Table 1. Sections and sizes of bar steel available are covered in
Specification A29/A29M. Hot-wrought special quality carbon
steel bars are produced in cut lengths and coils; the manufacturer should be consulted regarding sections and sizes available
in coils, produced to a chemical composition.
1.3 Merchant quality hot-wrought carbon steel bars are
covered in Specification A575.
1.4 Some end uses may require superior surface quality, or
special chemical restrictions, metallurgical characteristics, heat
treatment, or surface finishes which the purchaser may obtain
by designating one or more of the available Supplementary
Requirements.
1.5 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
as standard.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:2
A29/A29M Specification for Steel Bars, Carbon and Alloy,
Hot-Wrought, General Requirements for
A400 Practice for Steel Bars, Selection Guide, Composition,
and Mechanical Properties
A575 Specification for Steel Bars, Carbon, Merchant Quality, M-Grades
E45 Test Methods for Determining the Inclusion Content of
Steel
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A01 on Steel,
Stainless Steel and Related Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
A01.15 on Bars.
Current edition approved March 1, 2012. Published April 2012. Originally
approved in 1967. Last previous edition approved in 2006 as A576 90b (2006).
DOI: 10.1520/A0576-90BR12.
2
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 standards Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.

E527 Practice for Numbering Metals and Alloys in the

Unified Numbering System (UNS)
2.2 SAE Standard:
SAE J 1086 Recommended Practice for Numbering Metals
and Alloys (UNS)3
3. Ordering Information
3.1 Orders under this specification should include the following, as required, to describe adequately the desired material:
3.1.1 Quantity (weight or number of bars),
3.1.2 Name of material (hot-wrought carbon steel bars),
3.1.3 Dimensions,
3.1.4 ASTM specification number and date of issue,
3.1.5 Deoxidation practice (see 4.2.1),
3.1.6 Grade designation or chemical composition limits (see
5.1 and Table 1),
3.1.7 Coarse or fine grain steel (4.2.2),
3.1.8 Test reports, if required (Section 7),
3.1.9 Additions to the specification and Supplementary
Requirements, if required, and
3.1.10 End use.
NOTE 1A typical ordering description is as follows: 10 000 lb, carbon
steel bars, hot rolled 1 000 in. diameter by 10 ft, ASTM A576 dated ___,
killed steel, Grade 1018, test reports required, coarse grain Supplementary
Requirement S10, welded industrial fan hubs and shafts.

4. Materials and Manufacture

4.1 Melting PracticeThe steel shall be made by one or
more of the following primary processes: open-hearth, basicoxygen, or electric-furnace. The primary melting may incorporate separate degassing or refining and may be followed by
secondary melting using electroslag remelting or vacuum arc
remelting. Where secondary melting is employed, the heat
shall be defined as all of the ingots remelted from a single
primary heat.
4.2 Deoxidation:
4.2.1 Unless otherwise specified, the steel shall be rimmed,
capped, semi-killed, or killed at the manufacturers option.
3
Available from Society of Automotive Engineers, 400 Commonwealth Drive,
Warrendale, PA 15096.

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A576 90b (2012)

TABLE 1 Grade Designations and Chemical Requirements of Hot-Wrought Carbon Steel Bars

NOTE 1Grade designations and compositions correspond to the respective AISI designations and compositions.
UNS DesignationA

Grade

Heat Chemical Ranges and Limits, %

Carbon

Manganese

Phosphorus, max

Sulfur, maxB

0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040

0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050
0.050

0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040
0.040

0.080.13
0.080.13
0.160.23
0.080.13
0.080.13
0.240.33
0.080.13
0.080.13
0.130.20
0.080.13
0.080.13
0.240.33
0.040.07
0.080.13
0.080.13

C, D , E, F, G

G10080
G10100
G10120
G10150
G10160
G10170
G10180
G10190
G10200
G10210
G10220
G10230
G10250
G10260
G10290
G10300
G10350
G10370
G10380
G10390
G10400
G10420
G10430
G10440
G10450
G10460
G10490
G10500
G10530
G10550
G10600
G10700
G10780
G10800
G10840
G10900
G10950
G15130
G15180
G15220
G15240
G15250
G15260
G15270
G15360
G15410
G15470
G15480
G15510
G15520
G15610
G15660
G15720

1008
1010
1012
1015
1016
1017
1018
1019
1020
1021
1022
1023
1025
1026
1029
1030
1035
1037
1038
1039
1040
1042
1043
1044
1045
1046
1049
1050
1053
1055
1060
1070
1078
1080
1084
1090
1095
1513
1518
1522
1524
1525
1526
1527
1536
1541
1547
1548
1551
1552
1561
1566
1572

G11090
G11100
G11160
G11170
G11180
G11190
G11320
G11370
G11390
G11400
G11410
G11440
G11450
G11460
G11510

1109
1110
1116
1117
1118
1119
1132
1137
1139
1140
1141
1144
1145
1146
1151

Nonresulfurized Carbon Steels

Low Manganese 1.00 % max or less
0.10 max
0.300.50
0.080.13
0.300.60
0.100.15
0.300.60
0.130.18
0.300.60
0.130.18
0.600.90
0.150.20
0.300.60
0.150.20
0.600.90
0.150.20
0.701.00
0.180.23
0.300.60
0.180.23
0.600.90
0.180.23
0.701.00
0.200.25
0.300.60
0.220.28
0.300.60
0.220.28
0.600.90
0.250.31
0.600.90
0.280.34
0.600.90
0.320.38
0.600.90
0.320.38
0.701.00
0.350.42
0.600.90
0.370.44
0.701.00
0.370.44
0.600.90
0.400.47
0.600.90
0.400.47
0.701.00
0.430.50
0.300.60
0.430.50
0.600.90
0.430.50
0.701.00
0.460.53
0.600.90
0.480.55
0.600.90
0.480.55
0.701.00
0.500.60
0.600.90
0.550.65
0.600.90
0.650.75
0.600.90
0.720.85
0.300.60
0.750.88
0.600.90
0.800.93
0.600.90
0.850.98
0.600.90
0.901.03
0.300.50
0.100.16
1.101.40
0.150.21
1.101.40
0.180.24
1.101.40
0.190.25
1.351.65
0.230.29
0.801.10
0.220.29
1.101.40
0.220.29
1.201.50
0.300.37
1.201.50
0.360.44
1.351.65
0.430.51
1.351.65
0.440.52
1.101.40
0.450.56
0.851.15
0.470.55
1.201.50
0.550.65
0.751.05
0.600.71
0.851.15
0.650.76
1.001.30
Resulfurized Carbon SteelsC, E , G
0.080.13
0.600.90
0.080.13
0.300.60
0.140.20
1.101.40
0.140.20
1.001.30
0.140.20
1.301.60
0.140.20
1.001.30
0.270.34
1.351.65
0.320.39
1.351.65
0.350.43
1.351.65
0.370.44
0.701.00
0.370.45
1.351.65
0.400.48
1.351.65
0.420.49
0.701.00
0.420.49
0.701.00
0.480.55
0.701.00

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A576 90b (2012)

Rephosphorized and Resulfurized Carbon SteelE,G,H
Designation

Grade

G12110
G12120
G12130
G12150
...

1211
1212
1213
1215
12L14

Carbon
0.13
0.13
0.13
0.09
0.15

max
max
max
max
max

Manganese

Phosphorus

Sulfur

Lead

0.600.90
0.701.00
0.701.00
0.751.05
0.851.15

0.070.12
0.070.12
0.070.12
0.040.09
0.040.09

0.100.15
0.160.23
0.240.33
0.260.35
0.260.35

...
...
...
...
0.150.35

New designations established in accordance with Practice E527 and SAE J 1086.
Maximum unless otherwise indicated.
C
When silicon is required, the following ranges and limits are commonly specified: 0.10 %, max, 0.10 to 0.20 %, 0.15 to 0.35 %, or 0.20 to 0.40 %.
D
Copper can be specified when required as 0.20 % minimum.
E
When lead is required as an added element to a standard steel, a range of 0.15 to 0.35 % incl is specified. Such a steel is identified by inserting the letter L between
the second and third numerals of the grade designation, for example, 10 L 45. A cast or heat analysis is not determinable when lead is added to the ladle stream.
F
When boron treatment is specified for killed steels, the steels can be expected to contain 0.0005 to 0.003 % boron.
G
The elements bismuth, calcium, selenium, or tellurium may be added as agreed between purchaser and supplier.
H
It is not common practice to produce these steels to specified limits for silicon because of its adverse effect on machinability.
B

4.2.2 If killed steel is specified, the purchaser may designate

that the steel be made to coarse or fine austenitic grain size (see
S10 or S11).
NOTE 2Assured coarse grain size is not always possible since certain
elements or combination of elements or certain quantities of elements such
as manganese, sulfur, and lead tend to produce grain refinement.

4.3 QualityThe bars shall be special quality.

4.4 Hot FormingThe bars shall be hot wrought, as
wrought.
5. Chemical Composition
5.1 The heat analysis shall conform to the requirements for
chemical composition specified in Table 1 for the grade
specified, or to such other limits as may be specified using the
ranges and limits in Table 2.
6. Workmanship, Finish, and Appearance

accordance with this specification together with a report of the

heat analysis test results for the specified elements and for
copper, chromium, nickel, molybdenum, vanadium, and columbium shall be furnished. When the amount of an element
present is less than 0.02 %, the analysis may be reported as
<0.02 %. The report shall include the name of the manufacturer, ASTM designation number and year date and revision
letter, if any, type and grade, heat number, and size.
7.2 When supplementary requirements are specified, the
report shall include a statement of compliance with the
requirement or the results of tests when the requirement
involves measured test values such as S12 on Restricted
Incidental Elements.
8. General Requirements

6.1 DescalingWhen descaled bars are required, S15 on

Pickling or S16 on Blast Cleaning must be specified.

8.1 Material furnished under this specification shall conform to the applicable requirements of the current edition of
Specification A29/A29M, unless otherwise provided herein.

6.2 The bars shall be free of visible pipe and conditioned as

necessary to remove injurious surface imperfections.

9. Keywords

7. Certification and Test Reports

9.1 carbon steel bars; hot-wrought steel bars; steel bars

7.1 When specified by the purchaser, a manufacturers

certification that the material was manufactured and tested in

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A576 90b (2012)

TABLE 2 Heat Chemical Ranges and Limits of Hot-Wrought Carbon Steel Bars
Chemical Ranges and Limits, %
Element
A

Carbon

Manganese

Phosphorus

Sulfur

SiliconB

Copper
LeadC, D

When Maximum of Specified

Element is:
...
to 0.12 incl
over 0.120.25 incl
over 0.250.40 incl
over 0.400.55 incl
over 0.550.80 incl
over 0.80
...
to 0.40 incl
over 0.400.50 incl
over 0.501.65 incl
to 0.040 incl
over 0.0400.08 incl
over 0.080.13 incl
to 0.050 incl
over 0.0500.09 incl
over 0.090.15 incl
over 0.150.23 incl
over 0.230.50 incl
...
to 0.10 incl
over 0.100.15 incl
over 0.150.20 incl
over 0.200.30 incl
over 0.300.60 incl
When copper is required 0.20 min is
generally specified
When lead is required, a range of
0.150.35 is specified

Boron

Range

Lowest Maximum

...
...
0.05
0.06
0.07
0.10
0.13
...
0.15
0.20
0.30
...
0.03
0.05
...
0.03
0.05
0.07
0.09
...
...
0.08
0.10
0.15
0.20

0.06
...
...
...
...
...
...
0.35
...
...
...
0.040
...
...
0.050
...
...
...
...
0.10
...
...
...
...
...

0.0005
min
E

Bismuth
CalciumE
SeleniumE
TelluriumE
A
The carbon ranges shown in the column headed Range apply when the specified maximum limit for manganese does not exceed 1.10 %. When the maximum
manganese limit exceeds 1.10 %, add 0.01 to the carbon ranges shown above.
B
It is not common practice to produce a rephosphorized and resulfurized carbon steel to specified limits for silicon because of its adverse effect on machinability.
C
A heat analysis for lead is not determinable, since lead is added to the ladle stream while each ingot is poured.
D
It is not common practice to produce these steels to specified limits for silicon because of its adverse effect on machinability.
E
Element specification range as agreed to between purchaser and supplier.

SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENTS
One or more of the following supplementary requirements shall apply when specified by the
purchaser.

S1. Cold-Working Quality

S1.1 This classification encompasses bars subject to severe
cold plastic deformation such as, but not limited to, upsetting,
heading, forging, forward or backward extrusion.
S1.2 If the type of steel or chemical composition does not
have adequate cold working characteristics, appropriate thermal treatments should be specified.

S1.3 When S1 is specified, the bars shall be produced by

manufacturing practices and subjected to mill tests and inspection and freedom from injurious surface imperfections to the
extent that the bars shall be suitable for the manufacture of
identified parts. The quality requirements of individual application vary.

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A576 90b (2012)

S2. Axle-Shaft Quality

S10. Grain Size (Coarse)

S2.1 Bars shall be suitable for use in the manufacture of

power-driven axle shafts of the automotive or truck type.

S10.1 The steel shall conform to the coarse austenitic grain

size requirement of Specification A29/A29M.

S3. Scrapless Nut Quality

S11. Grain Size (Fine)

S3.1 Bars shall be suitable for the production of scrapless

nuts from round bars involving cold plastic deformation,
namely piercing, upsetting, and forming, with consequent
expansion in diameter.

S11.1 The steel shall conform to the fine austenitic grain

size requirement of Specification A29/A29M.
S11.1.1 When aluminum is used as a grain refining element,
the fine grain size requirement shall be deemed to be fulfilled
if, on heat analysis, the aluminum content is not less than
0.015 % acid soluble aluminum, or alternately, 0.020 % total
aluminum. The aluminum content shall be reported. The grain
size test specified in S11.1 shall be the referee test.
S11.1.2 When specified on the order, one grain size test per
heat shall be made. The test result shall be reported.

S4. Special Surface Quality

S4.1 Special surface steels are produced with exacting
control and appropriate inspection and surface preparation to
minimize the frequency and degree of seams and other surface
imperfections.
S5. Annealing
S5.1 The steel shall be furnished annealed.
S6. Spheroidize Annealing
S6.1 The steel shall be spheroidize annealed.

S12. Restricted Incidental Elements

S12.1 The steel shall not exceed the limits for copper,
nickel, chromium, molybdenum, or other elements as shown
on the purchase order.

S7. Special Internal Soundness Requirement

S13. Stress Relieving

S7.1 The steel shall be produced with special internal

soundness, that is, relative freedom from segregation and
porosity, as evaluated by means of a macroetch test performed
on representative billet samples. The test shall consist of deep
etching a cross section in a hot-acid solution and with a visual
examination to evaluate soundness. An alternative method
consisting of fracturing a billet section and examining the
fracture surface to evaluate soundness may be used with
purchaser approval.

S13.1 The steel shall be stress relieved by heating to a

temperature specified by the purchaser or to a temperature
selected by the manufacturer.

S8. Nonmetallic Inclusion Requirement (Note S1)

S8.1 A microscopical examination of longitudinal sections
to determine the nature and frequency of nonmetallic inclusions shall be made as prescribed in Test Methods E45. The
acceptance limits shall be specified by the purchaser.
NOTE S1Much of the sulfur in resulfurized steels is present as sulfide
inclusions. For this reason, those steels are not generally produced to
inclusion rating and S9 may not be specified.

S9. Special Hardenability Requirement

S9.1 Special heat treating (hardenability) is a term used
when the purchaser specifies as a requirement, the ability of a
steel to heat treat to specified mechanical property values
which the purchaser must meet after his heat treatment. Care
should be taken so that the desired mechanical property values
are compatible with the chemical composition, size, and cross
section of the steel.

S14. Special Straightness

S14.1 The bars shall be produced with special straightness
(refer to Specification A29/A29M for tolerances).
S15. Pickling
S15.1 The surface of the bars shall be descaled by pickling.
S16. Blast Cleaning
S16.1 The surface of the bars shall be descaled by blast
cleaning.
S17. Coating
S17.1 The bars shall be oiled, limed, or phosphate-coated as
specified by the purchaser. The purchaser shall also specify the
method of cleaning (S15 or S16); otherwise the bars shall be
descaled by pickling or blasting at the manufacturers option.
S18. Restricted Heat Chemical Ranges
S18.1 Restricted heat chemical ranges on one or more
elements may be specified by the purchaser if the manufacturer
agrees to melt to the requested restriction.

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A576 90b (2012)

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