Designation: A 802/A 802M – 95 (Reapproved 2001)

Standard Practice for

Steel Castings, Surface Acceptance Standards, Visual
Examination1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A 802/A 802M; 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.

This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.

1. Scope 2.1.1.2 rat tails, n—long, narrow, linear depressions or

1.1 This practice covers the acceptance criteria for the small steps occurring on a casting surface. Rat tails form as a
surface inspection of steel castings by visual examination. Four result of sand expansion and minor buckling of the mold
levels of acceptance standards are provided. surface during filling of the mold with liquid metal.
1.2 Acceptance levels utilize Steel Castings Research and 2.1.1.3 scab, n—a raised, rough area on a casting that
Trade Association (SCRATA)2 graded reference comparators usually consists of a crust of metal covering a layer of sand.
for the visual determination of surface texture, surface rough- Sometimes, a scab consists of a raised, rough area of essen-
ness, and surface discontinuities described as follows: tially solid metal on the surface of a casting.
Acceptance levels 2.1.2 external chills:
A—Surface Texture 2.1.2.1 external chills, n—usually metal blocks, or graphite
B—Nonmetallic Inclusions and carbon blocks, that are incorporated into the mold to
C—Gas Porosity locally increase the rate of heat removal during solidification.
D—Solidification Discontinuities Brackets have the same purpose but represent an integral part
E—Sand Expansion Discontinuities of the casting. Brackets are produced by providing suitable
F—Metal Inserts cavities in the mold or core. External chills may produce flat
G—Thermally Cut Surfaces spots and edges (raised areas or depressions) on the casting
H—Mechanically Prepared Surfaces surface. Brackets merely change the casting appearance due to
J—Welded Surfaces their presence. Brackets may be removed or allowed to remain
1.3 Descriptions of terms related to casting discontinuities on the casting.
are in Section 2. 2.1.2.2 parting line and core print fins, n—thin projections
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the of excess metal at the parting plane between mold halves or
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the core and mold. Causes are improper closing of the mold,
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- insufficient weighting or clamping of the mold for pouring, or
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- uneven pattern surfaces at the matching locations. Core print
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. fins are usually caused by improper dimensions of core prints
of the pattern or core box, by rough placement of cores in a soft
2. Terminology mold, or by inadequately secured cores.
2.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard: 2.1.3 fusion discontinuities:
2.1.1 expansion discontinuities: 2.1.3.1 wrinkles, n—elongated, smooth depressions of the
2.1.1.1 veins, n—raised, narrow, linear ridges that form casting surface, frequently appearing in closely spaced groups.
upon cracking of the sand mold or core due to expansion of Wrinkles result from irregularities of the liquid metal flow in
sand and the resulting mold or core stresses during filling of the the mold cavity, frequently associated with low temperature,
mold with liquid steel. and are distinguished from the more severe phenomenon of
laps, folds, or cold shuts where the casting surface is actually
folded over.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A01 on Steel, 2.1.3.2 laps, folds, and cold shuts, n—interchangeable
Stainless Steel, and Related Alloysand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee terms to describe the appearance of the casting surface that is
A01.18 on Castings.
Current edition approved Sept. 10, 1995. Published November 1995. Originally actually folded over. They develop due to low temperature,
published as A 802 – 82. Last previous edition A 802/A 802M – 89. unfavorable flow conditions caused by oxide films, or combi-
2
Available from The Castings Development Centre, 7 East Bank Road, nations thereof.
Sheffield, UK S2 3PT.

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

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 A 802/A 802M – 95 (2001)
2.1.3.3 misrun, n—an incompletely formed casting, due to a mixture of low-melting oxides and partially fused sand. The
only partial filling of the mold cavity when the liquid metal crater-like appearance of the casting surface depression is
solidifies prematurely. The resulting casting appearance is typical.
characterized by rounded edges, for a mild degree of misrun. 2.1.8.2 Depressions on the casting surface caused by slag
Irregular, malformed edges of more severe misruns, and not are similar to those caused by ceroxides. They differ by a more
fully formed castings, are characteristic. Frequently, misruns rounded appearance of the depression and do not exhibit the
are associated with such discontinuities as wrinkles or laps and crater-like appearance of ceroxides.
folds, or both. 2.1.8.3 Depressions caused by sand are similar to those of
2.1.4 gas porosity, n—a concave discontinuity in castings ceroxides and slag. Their appearance may, at times, more
due to the evolution of gas, either from the solidifying metal or closely reflect the granular nature of the sand.
the surrounding mold. 2.1.9 shrinkage under risers and gates, and revealed by
2.1.5 inserts: machining, n—a shrinkage void is a discontinuity in castings
2.1.5.1 chaplets, n—metallic (steel) devices used to main- due to the lack of available liquid feed metal during solidifi-
tain the spacing between the core and the mold. Low liquid cation contraction. Riser removal and machining may reveal
metal temperature and unfavorable flow conditions in the mold shrinkage that extends from the interior of the casting to the
may produce insufficient fusion and cause irregular contact near surface area.
areas on the casting surface. 2.1.10 surface texture, n—cast surfaces have a multi-
2.1.5.2 internal chills, n—metallic (steel) devices used to directional lay, without the uniform sequence of ridges and
locally increase the rate of heat removal during solidification. valleys of machined surfaces.
Incomplete fusion due to low liquid steel temperatures and 2.1.11 welding:
prevailing flow conditions may produce irregularities of the 2.1.11.1 weld undercuts, n—narrow elongated depressions
surface similar to those that may be associated with chaplets. that border the weld contour and result from improper welding
conditions or inadequate control of welding operations.
2.1.6 linear discontinuities, n—elongated discontinuities
2.1.11.2 weld spatter, n—weld metal droplets that solidified
are considered linear if their length equals or exceeds three
against and adhere to the component being welded.
times the width.
2.1.6.1 cracks, n—cold and hot, less jagged, sometimes
3. Ordering Information
straight ruptures that occur after solidification of the casting,
due to excessive strain. Sometimes cracks are referred to as 3.1 The inquiry and order should specify the following
cold, hot, or heat treat-cracks to indicate the condition of the information:
castings, or the operation during which the cracks occur. 3.1.1 Acceptance Level—More than one acceptance level
2.1.6.2 hot tears, n—jagged ruptures in castings that occur may be specified for different surfaces of the same casting (see
during the final stages of solidification, while there is still some Section 4),
liquid in the interdendritic spaces, or shortly after solidification 3.1.2 If any types of discontinuities are unacceptable,
is complete. 3.1.3 Extent of casting surfaces to be examined, and
3.1.4 Number of castings to be examined.
2.1.7 metal removal marks, n—flame cutting and air carbon-
arc cutting produce parallel grooves in the cut-off area. Finer
marks are produced with the abrasive cut-off wheel and 4. Acceptance Standards
grinding. 4.1 Levels of acceptance for visual inspection are listed in
2.1.8 nonmetallic inclusions, n—casting surface inclusions Table 1.
such as ceroxides, slag, and sand are partially or completely 4.2 Surface discontinuities not covered in Practice A 802/
removed during the cleaning process of pressure blasting. A 802M shall be a matter of agreement between the purchaser
Surface discontinuities left by these inclusions are referred to and the manufacturer.
by the inclusion type that caused their formation:
2.1.8.1 Ceroxides cause depressions on the surface of the 5. Keywords
casting by displacement of molten metal. Ceroxides consist of 5.1 steel castings; surface acceptance standards; visual

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 A 802/A 802M – 95 (2001)
TABLE 1 Visual Inspection Acceptance Criteria
Surface Feature Level I Level II Level III Level IV
Surface texture A1 A2 A3 A4
Nonmetallic inclusions B1 B2 B4 B5
Gas porosity C2 C1 C3 C4
Fusion discontinuities . . .A D1 D2 D5
Expansion discontinuities . . .A . . .A E3 E5
Inserts . . .A . . .A F1 F3
Metal removal marks:
Thermal G1 G2 G3 G5
Mechanical H1 H3 H4 H5
Welds J1 J2 J3 J5
A
No reference comparator plate is available for this surface feature and level.

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