Designation: A 876 – 92

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

Flat-Rolled, Grain-Oriented, Silicon-Iron, Electrical Steel,
Fully Processed Types 1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A 876; 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 Methods for Steel Products for Domestic Shipment 3

1.1 This specification (Note 1) covers the detailed require- A 717 Test Method for Surface Insulation Resistivity of
ments to which the specified grades of flat-rolled, grain- Single-Strip Specimens 2
oriented, fully processed electrical steels shall conform. These A 718 Test Method for Surface Insulation Resistivity of
steels are used primarily in transformer cores operating at Multi-Strip Specimens 2
moderate to high inductions at commercial power frequencies A 719 Test Method for Lamination Factor of Magnetic
(50 and 60 Hz). Materials 2
A 721 Test Method for Ductility of Oriented Electrical
1.2 These grain-oriented electrical steels are low-carbon,
Steel 2
silicon-iron alloys with a silicon content of approximately
3.15 % in which low core loss and high permeability in the 3. Terminology
direction of rolling have been achieved by appropriate metal- 3.1 The terms and symbols used in this specification are
lurgical processing. defined in Terminology A 340.
1.3 The electrical-steel grades described in this specification 4. Classification
include conventional grain-oriented electrical steel tested at 15
kG, conventional grain-oriented electrical steel tested at 17 kG, 4.1 The ASTM core-loss type designations, formulated in
and high-permeability grain-oriented electrical steel tested at accordance with Practice A 664, for grain-oriented electrical
17 kG. steels covered by this specification are listed in Table 1.
5. Condition
NOTE 1—A complete metric companion to Specification A 876 has
been developed A 876M; therefore, no SI equivalents are shown in this 5.1 These grain-oriented electrical steels may be purchased
specification. in any of the following conditions (which are combinations of
material form and surface type or treatment) as desired for the
2. Referenced Documents expected end use.
2.1 ASTM Standards: 5.1.1 Condition NF—An annealed coil form having an
A 34 Practice for Procurement Testing, and Sampling of inorganic surface coating, Type C-2 (Note 2). This material is
Magnetic Materials 2 not flattened and so exhibits appreciable coil curvature. The
A 340 Terminology of Symbols and Definitions Relating to principal application is in spirally wound or formed cores
Magnetic Testing 2 where the strip curvature is not detrimental to fabricating
A 343 Test Method for Alternating-Current Magnetic Prop- procedures or device performance.
erties of Materials at Power Frequencies Using Wattmeter- 5.1.2 Condition F2—Thermally flattened sheet or coiled
Ammeter-Voltmeter Method and 25-cm Epstein Test strip having an inorganic surface coating, Type C-2. The
Frame 2 principal application is in flat sheared laminations for stacked
A 345 Specification for Flat-Rolled Electrical Steels for cores in small sizes where the surface insulation resistance of
Magnetic Applications 2 the inherent C-2 coating is adequate.
A 664 Practice for Identification of Standard Electrical- and 5.1.3 Condition F5—Thermally flattened sheet or coiled
Laminations-Steel Grades in ASTM Specifications 2 strip having an inorganic surface coating, Type C-2, plus an
A 700 Practices for Packaging, Marking, and Loading inorganic coating, Type C-5, applied over the inherent C-2
coating to provide extra surface insulation resistance. The
principal application is in flat sheared laminations for cores of
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A-6 on power transformers.
Magnetic Properties and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee A06.02 on 5.1.4 Condition PQ—Thermally flattened sheet or coiled
Materials Specifications.
This specification replaces A 665, A 725, and A 843.
strip (sometimes called “punching quality”) with the inherent
Current edition approved Feb. 15, 1992. Published June 1992. Originally
published as A 876 – 87. Last previous edition A 876 – 87e 1.
2 3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.04. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.05.

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 A 876
TABLE 1 Core-Loss Type Designations 7. Materials and Manufacture
7.1 Normally, these steels contain from 3.0 to 3.3 % silicon
Conventional Grain-Oriented Electrical Steel Tested at 15 kG
ASTM Aim Maximum Specific Core and the balance iron with residual elements at a minimum.
Core-Loss Thickness, Loss B, W/lb, at 15 kG When requested, the manufacturer shall provide a statement of
A
Type in. chemical composition typical of the material being supplied.
60 Hz 50 Hz
18G041 0.0070 0.41 0.31 7.2 These electrical steels may be made by the open-hearth,
23G045 0.0090 0.45 0.34 basic-oxygen, or electric-furnace process.
27G051 0.0106 0.51 0.39
30G058 0.0118 0.58 0.44
7.3 When changes in the manufacture of successive ship-
35G066 0.0138 0.66 0.50 ments of the material are believed to increase the likelihood of
Conventional Grain-Oriented Electrical Steel Tested at 17 kG adverse effects upon the magnetic performance or fabrication
ASTM Aim Maximum Specific Core for the specified end use, the manufacturer shall notify the
Core-Loss Thickness, Loss B, W/lb, at 17 kG
Type A in.
purchaser as soon as possible before shipment is made so that
60 Hz 50 Hz he can be afforded an opportunity to evaluate the effects.
23H070 0.0090 0.70 0.53
27H074 0.0106 0.74 0.56 8. Magnetic Properties
30H083 0.0118 0.83 0.63
35H094 0.0138 0.94 0.71 8.1 Core Loss:
High-Permeability Grain-Oriented Electrical Steel Tested at 17 kG 8.1.1 Maximum permissible specific core losses at 15 or 17
ASTM Aim Maximum Specific Core kG, 50 and 60 Hz, are guaranteed and are listed in Table 1 for
Core-Loss Thickness, Loss B, W/lb, at 17 kG the ASTM core-loss types. The sampling, specimen prepara-
Type A in.
60 Hz 50 Hz tion, and testing practices which are described herein must be
23P060 0.0090 0.60 0.46 followed when conformity to these guarantees is being
27P066 0.0106 0.66 0.50
30P070 0.0118 0.70 0.53
checked.
A
See Practice A 664.
8.1.2 Material that conforms to both the core-loss and
B
Based on parallel-grain Epstein specimens, stress-relief annealed after shear- thickness limits of this specification shall be identified by this
ing in accordance with 14.2. specification number and the appropriate core-loss designation.
8.2 Permeability:
C-2 coating removed and an inorganic coating, Type C-5, 8.2.1 The permeability at all inductions shall be as high as
applied for insulative purposes. The principal application is in practicable. The quality control of these grades is normally
flat stamped laminations for small stacked cores with only based on a measurement of relative peak permeability, µp, at a
moderate surface insulation requirements. peak a-c magnetizing force, Hp, of 10 Oe. For the conventional
grain-oriented grades, the value of relative µp at 10 Oe is
NOTE 2—Additional description of surface coating Types C-2 and C-5
is presented in Specification A 345.
commonly above 1800. For the high-permeability grades, it is
commonly above 1880.
5.2 The high permeability types are normally purchased in 8.2.2 Relative peak permeability is a dimensionless quantity
Condition F5. The principal application is in flat sheared which is the same in all unit systems.
laminations for cores of power transformers.
9. Surface Insulation Characteristics
6. Ordering Information
9.1 The surfaces produced in each of the material conditions
6.1 Orders for material under this specification shall include of 5.1 normally have different levels of insulation quality. For
such of the following information as is required to adequately specimens as sheared from the coating material, the typical
describe the material: insulative characteristics as measured by Test Methods A 717
6.1.1 ASTM specification number, and A 718 are approximately as shown in Table 2.
6.1.2 ASTM core-loss type designation (Table 1), 9.2 When insulative characteristics substantially different
6.1.3 Material condition (form and surface type) designa- than those listed in Table 2 are necessary, the specific require-
tion (5.1), ments and the procedures for evaluating them shall be negoti-
6.1.4 Ductility class (when required), ated between the purchaser and the manufacturer.
6.1.5 Sheet or strip width,
6.1.6 Length (only when cut lengths are specified), TABLE 2 Typical Insulative Characteristics, As Sheared
6.1.7 Total weight of each ordered item,
6.1.8 Limitations of lift weight, Condi- Surface Surface Stack Resistance or Interlaminar
6.1.9 Limitations on coil size requirements, tion Type A Insulation Resistivity C
Effectiveness B
6.1.10 End Use (whenever practicable, the purchaser
should specify whether the ordered material will be made into NF C-2 0.7 A and less 4 V·cm 2/lamination and higher
F2 C-2 0.7 A and less 4 V·cm 2/lamination and higher
flat sheared laminations, flat stamped laminations, wound F5 C-5 over C-2 0.3 A and less 100 V·cm 2/lamination and higher
cores, bonded wound cores, formed lamination cores, welded PQ C-5 only 0.85 A and less 2 V·cm 2/lamination and higher
lamination cores, etc. This will help the supplier to provide the A
See Specification A 345.
B
most suitable material for the user’s fabricating practices), and Values obtained by Test Method A 717 at a test pressure of 300 psi at room
temperature.
6.1.11 Exception to the specification or special require- C
Values obtained by Test Method A 718 on deburred specimens at a test
ments. pressure of 300 psi at room temperature.

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 A 876
10. Physical and Mechanical Properties TABLE 4 Thickness Tolerances

10.1 Lamination Factor—The lamination or space factor

ASTM Core-loss Type Thickness Limits, in.
shall be as high as practicable consistent with the surface type
18G041 0.0060–0.0080
and material thickness desired. Typical lamination factor val- 23G045, 23H070, 23P060 0.0075–0.0100
ues for the various material thicknesses and surface types, as 27G051, 27H074, 27P066 0.0085–0.0120
determined by quality control tests made in accordance with 30G058, 30H083, 30P070 0.0105–0.0130
35G066, 35H094 0.0125–0.0150
Test Method A 719, are shown in Table 3.
10.2 Ductility—The ductility shall be as high as practicable.
When the application requires forming around a sharp radius TABLE 5 Width Tolerances A
during fabrication, and an evaluation of the ductility is re-
quired, the ductility rating shall be determined in accordance Specified Width, in. Width Tolerances, in.
Over Under
with Test Method A 721. Ductility in the following classes is
to 4, incl. 0.005 0.005
typical for grain-oriented material in any thickness and surface over 4 to 9, incl 0.007 0.007
type, when tested at room temperature with a bend transverse over 9 to 15, incl 0.010 0.010
to the rolling direction with “as-sheared” specimens: over 15 0.016 0.016
A
Ductility Class Permissible Number of Fractures at Bend A The purchaser should make it clear on his purchase order whenever a specific
1 none maximum or minimum acceptable width rigidly applies so that the manufacturer or
2 1 or 2, total length not over ½ in. supplier can take the sum of the over and under tolerances into account on either
3 3 to 8 the “under” or“ over” side as required.
A
Based on 24 to 36-in. width of material. For widths less than 24 in. the number
of permissible fractures should be reduced in proportion to the ratio of the width to TABLE 6 Length Tolerances
24 in.

11. Dimensions and Permissible Variations Specified Length, in. Length Tolerances, in

11.1 Thickness—The aim thicknesses of the ASTM core- Over Under

loss types are listed as follows: over 60 to 96, incl ½ 0
over 96 ¾ 0
ASTM Core-Loss Type Aim Thickness, inA
18G041 0.0070
23G045, 23H070, 23P060 0.0090 touching one corner and extending to the other side, shall not
27G051, 27H074, 27P066 0.0106
30G058, 30H083, 30P070 0.0118
exceed 0.0625 in./6 in. of width or fraction thereof.
35G066, 35H094 0.0138
A
12. Workmanship, Finish and Appearance
These shall be the overall thicknesses (as measured by contracting microme-
ter caliper) and not equivalent solid or base-metal thicknesses. 12.1 Flatness:
11.1.1 Thickness Variations—The thickness measured at 12.1.1 Sharp, short waves, and buckles are extremely det-
any location not less than " in. from an edge shall not deviate rimental to the effective use of grain-oriented electrical steels
more than 60.001 in. from the average thickness of the test lot in flat laminations and shall be avoided in the delivered
or coil. The outer limits of acceptable thickness of the ASTM product.
core-loss type shall be as shown in Table 4. 12.1.2 The purchaser shall inform the producer of any
11.2 Width Tolerances—The width of material supplied, requirements for a degree of flatness more critical than that
either as coils or cut lengths, shall be as close as possible to the provided by the usual commercial practices. Procedures for
ordered width, but in no case shall the maximum deviations judging or evaluating the degree of flatness in such cases shall
from the specified width exceed the values given in Table 5. be subject to negotiation between the purchaser and the
11.3 Length Tolerances—The length dimension of cut producer.
lengths shall be as close as practicable to the ordered length. 12.2 Surface Defects—The surface of the material shall be
The maximum deviations from ordered length shall be as reasonably clean and essentially free from manufacturing
shown in Table 6. defects such as holes, mill marks, slivers, etc., which would
11.4 Camber (Full-Width Coils)—The deviation of a side interfere with its effective use in the intended application. The
edge from a straight line over a 96-in. length or fraction thereof surface shall be free of loose dust and be compatible with
shall not exceed 0.125 in. immersion in the usual liquid transformer coolants. Applied
11.5 Out of Square (Cut Lengths)—The deviation of an end surface coatings shall be reasonably thin, continuous in cover-
edge from a straight line placed at a right angle to the side, age, and tightly adherent.
TABLE 3 Typical Lamination Factors

Condition Surface Type A Lamination Factor, % B

0.0070 in. Thick 0.0090 in. Thick 0.0106 in. Thick 0.0118 in. Thick 0.0138 in. Thick
NF C-2 $95.0 $95.5 $96.0 $96.0 $96.0
F2 C-2 $95.5 $96.0 $96.0 $96.0 $96.5
F5 C-5 over C-2 $93.5 $94.0 $94.5 $95.0 $95.5
PQ C-5 only ... $95.5 $96.0 $96.0 $96.5
A
See Specification A 345.
B
Values obtained by Test Method A 719 at a test pressure of 50 psi.

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 A 876
13. Sampling promptly as possible after shipment, a certified report of the
13.1 The manufacturer shall assign a serial number to each core-loss value for each test lot as measured in accordance with
test lot for identification. The test lot shall consist of the Sections 13, 14, and 15 to show that the material conforms to
finished yield of one mill-annealed coil provided it is com- this specification. The test methods and applicable test condi-
prised of only one heat and produced from a single hot-rolled tions shall be clearly stated. The report also shall carry the
band processed so as to give essentially identical properties to shipping lot identification, purchase order number, and such
all parts of that coil. Under these conditions, the test lot other information as may be needed to identify the test values
typically may consist of about 10 000 to 20 000 lb of material. with the proper shipment and shipping lot.
When there is material from more than one heat in an annealed 16.2 The core-loss value assigned to the test lot shall be the
coil, the portion from each heat shall become a separate test lot. higher value of the coil end tests made in compliance with
13.2 Test samples shall be obtained from both ends of the Sections 13, 14, and 15. This test value shall apply to all
full-width coils after the final heat treatment. portions of the test lot whether shipped as a wide coil, cut
14. Specimen Preparation lengths, or narrow width coils cut from the wide coil.
14.1 Individual Epstein-test specimens representing each 16.3 When a shipping lot is comprised of two or more test
end of each annealed coil shall be prepared in accordance with lots, the assigned core-loss test value and core-loss type
Practice A 34 and Test Method A 343. All test strips shall be designation shall be based upon the highest core loss of all the
cut with the long dimension parallel to the rolling direction. end tests of the component test lots made in compliance with
14.2 Each Epstein-test specimen shall be stress-relief an- Sections 13, 14, and 15.
nealed prior to testing. The objective of this specimen anneal is
to eliminate the destructive effects of cold working incurred in 17. Rejection and Rehearing
obtaining the test specimens and to ensure that its magnetic 17.1 Material that fails to conform to the requirements of
characteristics are like those inherent in the material from this specification may be rejected by the purchaser. The
which it was taken. The stress-relief anneal shall be made rejection shall be reported to the producer promptly and in
under conditions that ensure that the specimen strips reach a writing. The rejected material shall be set aside, adequately
temperature of about 1450 to 1550°F for approximately 1 h in
protected, and correctly identified.
an atmosphere comprised of a combination (Note 3) of pure
nitrogen and pure hydrogen. The dew point of the atmosphere 17.2 The producer may make claim for a rehearing. In this
within the annealing chamber shall be no higher than 0°F. event, the purchaser shall make samples which are represen-
Provision must be made for obtaining essentially perfect tative of the rejected material available to the producer for
flatness in the magnetic test specimen in the stress-relief evaluation.
anneal.
18. Marking and Packaging
NOTE 3—In order to prevent any chemical change in the test specimen
or the insulative coating, atmosphere combinations comprised of pure dry 18.1 Marking—Each package of coils or lift of cut lengths
nitrogen with additions of 2 to 15 % of pure dry hydrogen are preferred. shall have firmly attached to it, outside its wrappings, a tag
Exothermic atmospheres produced from petroleum gases are not suitable showing the purchaser’s order number, specification number,
for evaluation of the properties of these materials unless the carbon
monoxide and carbon dioxide components are removed so that they are grade designation, coating or surface type designation, thick-
equivalent to pure nitrogen + hydrogen mixtures. ness, width (and length if in sheet form), weight, and test lot
number. In addition, each wide coil shall have the specification
15. Test Methods number, grade designation, coating or surface type designation,
15.1 The required tests for core loss to determine the thickness, width, weight, and test lot number marked on the
core-loss type (and for exciting current and peak permeability, outer surface of the coil itself. In a package of narrow coils,
µp, when determined) shall be made in accordance with Test each narrow coil in the package shall be tagged with the
Method A 343. specification number, grade designation, coating or surface
15.2 The tests for all other magnetic and mechanical prop- type designation, thickness, width, and test lot number.
erties, when desired, shall be made in accordance with appro- 18.2 Packaging—Methods of packaging, loading, and ship-
priate procedures designated in Practice A 34. ping, unless otherwise specified, shall correspond to Practices
15.3 In all testing of these materials, the density shall be A 700.
presumed to be 7.65 g/cm 3 in accordance with Practice A 34.
16. Test Report 19. Keywords
16.1 The manufacturer shall submit to the purchaser, as 19.1 electrical steel; grain-oriented; high permeability

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