Designation: B 546 – 98 An American National Standard

AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS

100 Barr Harbor Dr., West Conshohocken, PA 19428
Reprinted from the Annual Book of ASTM Standards. Copyright ASTM

Standard Specification for

Electric Fusion-Welded Ni-Cr-Co-Mo Alloy (UNS N06617),
Ni-Fe-Cr-Si Alloys (UNS N08330 and UNS N08332), Ni-Cr-
Fe-Al Alloy (UNS N06603), Ni-Cr-Fe Alloy (UNS N06025), and
Ni-Cr-Fe-Si Alloy (UNS N06045) Pipe1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B 546; 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 Cobalt, and High-Temperature Alloys5

1.1 This specification covers electric fusion-welded nickel- 2.2 ASME Standards:
chromium-cobalt-molybdenum alloy UNS N06617, nickel- Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section VIII, Paragraph
iron-chromium-silicon alloys UNS N08330 and UNS N08332, UW-516
Ni-Cr-Fe-Al Alloy (UNS N06603), Ni-Cr-Fe Alloy UNS Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section IX6
N06025, and Ni-Cr-Fe-Si Alloy UNS N06045 pipe intended
3. General Requirement
for heat resisting applications and general corrosive service.
1.2 This specification covers pipe in sizes 3 in. (76.2 mm) 3.1 Material furnished in accordance with this specification
nominal diameter and larger and possessing a minimum wall shall conform to the applicable requirements of the current
thickness of 0.083 in. (2.11 mm). edition of Specification B 775 unless otherwise provided
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded herein.
as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for 4. Classification
information only.
4.1 Two classes of pipe are covered as follows:
2. Referenced Documents 4.1.1 Class 1—All welded joints to be 100 % inspected by
2.1 ASTM Standards: radiography.
B 168 Specification for Nickel-Chromium-Iron Alloys 4.1.2 Class 2—No radiographic examination is required.
(UNS N06600, N06601, and N06690) and Nickel- 5. Ordering Information
Chromium-Cobalt-Molybdenum Alloy (UNS N06617)
Plate, Sheet, and Strip2 5.1 It is the responsibility of the purchaser to specify all
B 536 Specification for Nickel-Iron-Chromium-Silicon Al- requirements that are necessary for the safe and satisfactory
loys (UNS N08330 and N08332) Plate, Sheet, and Strip2 performance of material ordered under this specification.
B 775 Specification for General Requirements for Nickel Examples of such requirements include, but are not limited to,
and Nickel Alloy Welded Pipe2 the following:
E 10 Test Method for Brinell Hardness of Metallic Materi- 5.1.1 Alloy (Table 1),
als3 5.1.2 ASTM designation and year of issue,
E 140 Hardness Conversion Tables for Metals (Relationship 5.1.3 Class (See 4.1),
Between Brinell Hardness, Vickers Hardness, Rockwell 5.1.4 Dimensions (standard pipe size and schedule),
Hardness, Rockwell Superficial Hardness, and Knoop 5.1.5 Length (specific or random),
Hardness)3,4 5.1.6 Quantity (feet or number of pieces),
E 1473 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Nickel, 5.1.7 Certification—State if certification is required,
5.1.8 Whether type of filler metal and deposited composi-
tion is required (see 7.3),
5.1.9 Samples for Product (Check) Analysis—State whether
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B-2 on samples for product (check) analysis should be furnished, and
Nonferrous Metals and Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee 5.1.10 Purchaser Inspection—If purchaser wishes to wit-
B02.07 on Refined Nickel and Cobalt and Their Alloys.
Current edition approved Dec. 10, 1998. Published January 1999. Originally
ness tests or inspection of material at place of manufacture, the
published as B 546 – 71. Last previous edition B 546 – 97.
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 02.04. 5
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.06.
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.01. 6
Available from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 345 E. 47th St.,
4
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.05. New York, NY 10017.

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 B 546
TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements
Composition Limits, %
Element
N08330 N08332 N06603 N06617 N06025 N06045
Carbon 0.08 max 0.05–0.10 0.20-0.40 0.05–0.15 0.15–0.25 0.05–0.12
Manganese 2.00 max 2.00 max 0.15 max 1.0 max 0.15 max 1.0 max
Phosphorus 0.03 max 0.03 max 0.20 max ... 0.02 max 0.02 max
Sulfur 0.03 max 0.03 max 0.10 max 0.015 max 0.010 max 0.010 max
Silicon 0.75 to 1.50 0.75 to 1.50 0.50 max 1.0 max 0.5 max 2.5–3.0
Chromium 17.0 to 20.0 17.0 to 20.0 0.24-0.26 20.0–24.0 24.0–26.0 26.0–29.0
Nickel 34.0 to 37.0 34.0 to 37.0 Bal remainder Bal 45.0 min
Copper 1.00 max 1.00 max 0.50 max 0.5 max 0.1 max 0.3 max
Lead 0.005 max 0.005 max ... ... ... ...
Tin 0.025 max 0.025 max ... ... ... ...
Iron remainderA remainder 8.0–11.0 3.0 max 8.0–11.0 21.0–25.0
Aluminum ... ... 2.4-3.0 0.8–1.5 1.8–2.4 ...
Cobalt ... ... ... 10.0–15.0 ... ...
Molybdenum ... ... ... 8.0–10.0 ... ...
Zirconium ... ... 0.01–0.10 ... 0.01–0.10 ...
Yttrium ... ... 0.01–0.15 ... 0.05–0.12 ...
Cerium ... ... ... ... ... 0.3–0.09
Titanium ... ... 0.010-0.025 ... ... ...
A
Element shall be determined arithmetically by difference.

purchase order must so state indicating which tests or inspec- 6.2.4 Weld defects shall be repaired by removal to sound
tions are to be witnessed. metal and rewelding. Subsequent heat treatment and inspection
shall be as required on the original welds.
6. Materials and Manufacture 6.3 Heat Treatment—All pipe shall be furnished in the
6.1 Materials—The UNS N08330 and UNS N08332 alloy annealed condition.
plate material shall conform to the requirements of Specifica- 6.4 Surface Finish—The pipe shall be free from scale.
tion B 536. The UNS N06617, UNS N06603, UNS N06025, When bright annealing is used, descaling is not necessary.
and UNS N06045 alloy plate material shall conform to the
requirements of Specification B 168. 7. Chemical Composition
6.2 Welding: 7.1 The material shall conform to the composition limits
6.2.1 The joints shall be double-welded, full-penetration specified in Table 1. One test is required for each lot as defined
welds made by qualified operators in accordance with proce- in Specification B 775.
dures in the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section 7.2 If a product analysis is performed, it shall meet the
IX. chemistry limits prescribed in Table 1, subject to the analysis
6.2.2 The weld shall be made either manually or automati- tolerances specified in Table 1 of Specification B 775.
cally by an electric process involving the deposition of filler 7.3 The chromium and nickel content of the deposited weld
metal. metal shall conform to the minimum chromium and nickel
6.2.3 The joint shall be reinforced at the center of the weld contents required for the base metal. Note that the composition
on each side of the formed plate by a weld bead at least 1⁄16 in. of the deposited weld metal may not be the same as the base
(1.6 mm) but not more than 1⁄8 in. (3.2 mm). This reinforce- metal. The user should establish suitability for his particular
ment (weld bead) may be removed at the manufacturer’s option application. When specified in the purchase order (see section
or by agreement between the manufacturer and the purchaser. 5.1.8), the manufacturer shall report the type of filler metal
The contour of the reinforcement (weld bead) shall be smooth, used along with a chemical analysis of the deposited weld
with no valley or groove along the edge or in the center of the metal.
weld, and the deposited metal shall be fused smoothly and
uniformly into the formed-plate surface. The finish of the 8. Mechanical and Other Requirements
welded joint shall be reasonably smooth and free of irregulari- 8.1 Tensile Properties:
ties, grooves, or depressions. 8.1.1 Transverse tension tests taken across the weld joints

TABLE 2 Mechanical Properties

Yield Strength, Elongation in 2 in.
Tensile Strength,
Alloy Condition 0.2 %, offset, or 50 mm, HardnessA
min, psi (MPa)
min, psi (MPa) or 4D, min, %
UNS N08330 Annealed 70 000 (483) 30 000 (207) 30 70 to 90 HRB
UNS N08332 Annealed 67 000 (462) 27 000 (186) 30 65 to 88 HRB
UNS N06603 Annealed 94 000 (650) 43 000 (300) 25 ...
UNS N06617 Annealed 95 000 (655) 35 000 (240) 30 ...
UNS N06025 Annealed 98 000 (680) 39 000 (270) 30 ...
UNS N06045 Annealed 90 000 (620) 35 000 (240) 30 ...
A
Hardness values are informative only and not to be construed as the basis for acceptance.

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 B 546
shall meet the requirements shown in Table 2. 11.2 Transverse Guided-Bend Weld Test—Two tests shall be
8.2 Transverse Guided-Bend Weld Tests: made to represent each lot of finished pipe.
8.2.1 Two bend test specimens shall be taken transversely 11.3 Grain Size, Hardness—One test per lot.
from the pipe. One shall be subject to a face guided-bend test 11.4 Pressure (Leak) Test—Each length of pipe shall be
and the second to a root guided-bend test. subjected to the hydrostatic test.
8.2.2 The bend test shall be acceptable if no cracks or other 11.5 Chemical Analysis—One test per lot.
defects exceeding 1⁄8 in. (3.2 mm) in any direction be present in
the weld metal or between the weld and the pipe metal after 12. Specimen Preparation
bending. Cracks which originate along the edges of the
12.1 Transverse-tension and bend-test specimens shall be
specimen during testing and that are less than 1⁄4 in. (6.4 mm)
taken from the end of the finished pipe; the transverse-tension
measured in any direction, shall not be considered.
and bend-test specimens shall be flattened cold before final
8.3 Pressure (Leak) Test—Any pipe that shows leaks during
machining to size.
hydrostatic testing shall be rejected.
12.2 As an alternative to the requirements of 12.1, the test
8.4 Grain Size—Annealed alloy UNS N08332 shall con-
specimens may be taken from a test plate of the same material
form to an average grain size of ASTM No. 5 or coarser.
as the pipe, which is attached to the end of the cylinder and
8.5 Annealing Temperature—Alloy UNS N08330 shall be
welded as a prolongation of the pipe longitudinal seam.
annealed at 1900°F (1040°C) minimum. Alloy UNS N08332
shall be annealed at 2100°F (1150°C) minimum. Alloy UNS 12.3 Tension specimens shall be the full thickness of the
N06617 shall be annealed at 2050°F (1121°C) minimum. Alloy material and shall be machined to the form and dimensions
UNS N06025 shall be annealed at 2100°F (1150°C) minimum. shown for large diameter products in Specification B 775.
Alloy UNS N06603 and UNS N06045 shall be annealed at 12.4 The test specimens shall not be cut from the pipe or test
2120°F (1160°C) minimum. plate until after final anneal.

9. Permissible Variations in Dimensions 13. Test Methods

9.1 Permissible Variations—The dimensions at any point in 13.1 Chemical Composition—In case of disagreement, the
a length of pipe shall not exceed the following: chemical composition shall be determined in accordance with
9.1.1 Straightness, Using a 10-ft. (3.05-m) straightedge Test Methods E 1473.
placed so that both ends are in contact with the pipe; 1⁄8 in. (3.2 13.2 Brinell Hardness—Test Method E 10.
mm). 13.3 Pressure (Leak) Test—Each length of pipe shall be
9.1.2 Thickness—The minimum wall thickness at any point tested based on allowable fiber stress, for material as follows:
in the pipe shall not be more than 0.01 in. (0.25 mm) under the UNS N06617—23 300 psi (or 161 MPa)
nominal thickness. UNS N08330—17 500 psi (or 121 MPa)
UNS N08332—16 600 psi (or 114 MPa)
9.2 Lengths: UNS N06025—24 500 psi (or 169 MPa)
9.2.1 Circumferentially welded joints of the same quality as UNS N06045—22 500 psi (or 155 MPa)
the longitudinal joints shall be permitted by agreement between UNS N06603—24 000 psi (or 165 MPa)
the manufacturer and the purchaser.
13.3.1 Visual examination is to be made when the material
10. Workmanship, Finish, and Appearance is under pressure for hydrostatic testing. The full length of
10.1 Finish—Pipe shall be furnished with oxide removed. material must be examined for leaks.
When final test treatment is performed in a protective atmo- 13.4 Hardness Conversion—Hardness Conversion Tables
sphere, descaling is not necessary. E140.
10.2 Weld Repair of Plate Defects Occurring During Pipe 13.5 Radiographic Examination:
Fabrication—Repair of injurious defects, which occur during 13.5.1 For Class 1 welded-joint quality, all welded joints
the fabrication of the pipe from plate, shall be permitted only shall be 100 % inspected by radiography.
subject to the approval of the purchaser. Defects shall be 13.5.2 Radiographic examination shall be in accordance
thoroughly checked out before welding. Inspection of weld with the requirements of ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel
defects shall be by radiographic or liquid-penetrant technique, Code, Section VIII, latest edition, Paragraph UW-51.
at the option of the producer. If the pipe has already been
annealed, it shall be annealed again except in the case of small 14. Packaging and Package Marking
voids, that in the estimation of the purchaser’s inspector, do not
require reannealing. Each length of repaired pipe shall be 14.1 Pipes which have been weld repaired in accordance
subjected to the hydrostatic test. with 6.2.4 shall be marked WR.

11. Number of Tests Required 15. Keywords

11.1 Transverse Tension Test—One test shall be made to 15.1 fusion-welded pipe; N08330; N08332; N06603;
represent each lot of finished pipe. N06617; N06025; N06045

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 B 546
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if not revised, either reapproved or withdrawn. Your comments are invited either for revision of this standard or for additional standards
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