Technical Literature: ASTM A553 [ASME SA-553]

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SPECIFICATION FOR PRESSURE VESSEL PLATES,

ALLOY STEEL, QUENCHED AND TEMPERED 8 AND 9%
NICKEL

SA-553/SA-553M

(Identical with ASTM Specification A553/A553M-06.)

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SA-553/SA-553M 2013 SECTION II, PART A

SPECIFICATION FOR PRESSURE VESSEL PLATES,

ALLOY STEEL, QUENCHED AND TEMPERED
8 AND 9% NICKEL

SA-553 /SA-553M

(Identical with ASTM Specification A 553 /A 553M-06.)

1. Scope A 435 /A 435M Specification for Straight-Beam Ultrasonic

1.1 This specification covers 8 and 9% nickel alloy Examination of Steel Plates
steel plates for use in the water quenched and tempered A 577 /A 577M Specification for Ultrasonic Angle-Beam
condition intended for the fabrication of welded pressure Examination of Steel Plates
vessels. A 578 /A 578M Specification for Straight-Beam Ultrasonic
1.2 Material under this specification is available in two Examination of Plain and Clad Steel Plates for Special
types having different chemical composition as follows: Applications

Nominal Nickel
Type Content, %
3. General Requirements and Ordering
I 9 Information
II 8
3.1 Material supplied to this material specification shall
1.3 Plates produced under this specification are subject conform to Specification A 20 /A 20M. These requirements
to impact testing at −320°F [−195°C] for Type I, and outline the testing and retesting methods and procedures,
−275°F [−170°C] for Type II or at such other temperatures permissible variations in dimensions, and mass, quality
as are agreed upon. and repair of defects, marking, loading, etc.
1.4 The maximum thickness of plates is limited only 3.2 Specification A 20 /A 20M also establishes the rules
by the capacity of the material to meet the specified for the ordering information which should be complied
mechanical property requirements; however, current mill with when purchasing material to this specification.
practice normally limits this material to 2 in. [50 mm] max.
1.5 This material is susceptible to magnetization. Use 3.3 In addition to the basic requirements of this specifi-
of magnets in handling after heat treatment should be cation, certain supplementary requirements are available
avoided if residual magnetism would be detrimental to when additional control, testing, or examination is required
subsequent fabrication or service. to meet end use requirements. These include:
1.6 The values stated in either inch-pound units or SI 3.3.1 Vacuum treatment,
units are to be regarded separately as standard. Within the 3.3.2 Additional or special tension testing,
text, the SI units are shown in brackets. The values stated
3.3.3 Impact testing, and
in each system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each
system must be used independently of the other. Combining 3.3.4 Nondestructive examination.
values from the two systems may result in nonconformance
3.4 The purchaser is referred to the listed supplemen-
with the specification.
tary requirements in this specification and to the detailed
requirements in Specification A 20 /A 20M.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards: 3.5 If the requirements of this specification are in con-
A 20 /A 20M Specification for General Requirements for flict with the requirements of Specification A 20 /A 20M,
Steel Plates for Pressure Vessels the requirements of this specification shall prevail.

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 2013 SECTION II, PART A SA-553/SA-553M

4. Manufacture 7. Mechanical Requirements

4.1 Steelmaking Practice — The steel shall be killed 7.1 Tension Test Requirements — The material as repre-
and shall conform to the fine austenitic grain size require- sented by tension-test specimens shall conform to the
ment of Specification A 20 /A 20M. requirements specified in Table 2.
7.1.1 Upon agreement between the purchaser and
5. Heat Treatment the manufacturer, yield strength may be determined by the
5.1 All plates shall be heat treated in accordance with extension under load method, using 0.005 in./in. [mm/mm]
5.2. Shell plates and other parts, including heads and rein- total extension.
forcing pads, which are heated for forming, shall be heat
treated after forming in accordance with 5.2. 7.1.2 For nominal plate thicknesses of 3⁄4 in. [20 mm]
and under, the 11⁄2 in. [40 mm] wide rectangular specimen
5.2 Heat Treatment Procedure — Heat treat all plates
may be used for the tension test and the elongation may
by heating to a suitable temperature within the range from
be determined in a 2 in. [50 mm] gage length that includes
1475 to 1700°F [800 to 925°C], holding for a sufficient
the fracture and shows the greatest elongation.
time to obtain uniform temperature throughout the plate
thickness and then quenching in water. Subsequently, tem- 7.2 Impact Test Requirements:
per the plates within the range from 1050 to 1175°F [565 7.2.1 Charpy V-notch impact tests shall be made in
to 635°C], holding at this temperature for a minimum of accordance with Specification A 20 /A 20M.
30 min/in. [1.2 min/mm] of thickness but not less than
15 min, and cool in air or water quench at a rate not less 7.2.2 The longitudinal axis of the test specimens
than 300°F/h [165°C/h]. shall be transverse to the final rolling direction of the plate.
5.2.1 Hardening — The plates shall be heated to a 7.2.3 Unless otherwise agreed, tests shall be con-
temperature within the range from 1475 to 1700°F [800 ducted at −320°F [−195°C] for Type I and at −275°F
to 925°C], held at that temperature for a sufficient time to [−170°C] for Type II.
obtain uniform temperature throughout the plate thickness,
and then quenched in a liquid media. 7.2.4 Each test specimen shall have a lateral expan-
sion opposite the notch of not less than 0.015 in.
5.2.2 Tempering — The plates shall be tempered at
[0.381 mm].
a temperature within the range from 1050 to 1175°F [565
to 635°C], being held at that temperature for a minimum
of 30 min/in. [1.2 min/mm] of thickness, but in no case
less than 15 min., and then cooled in air or liquid-quenched 8. Finish
at a rate not less than 300°F/h [165°C/h]. 8.1 Because retained scale may mask surface imperfec-
5.2.2.1 Prior to the tempering treatment, the plates tions, as well as mar the plate surface, plates shall be
may be subjected to an intermediate heat treatment con- descaled by the producer after heat treatment. In the case
sisting of heating to a temperature in the range from 1165 of material to be heat-treated by the purchaser, the plates
to 1290°F [630 to 700°C] for Type I, or 1185 to 1310°F shall be descaled by the producer prior to shipment.
[640 to 710°C] for Type II, holding at that temperature for
a minimum of 1 h/in. [2.4 min/mm] of thickness, but in
no case less than 15 min, and then water-quenching to
9. Marking
below 300°F [150°C] in the case of plate thicknesses of
more than 5⁄8 in. [16 mm] or cooling in air or water-quench- 9.1 In addition to the marking required in Specification
ing to below 300°F [150°C] in the case of plate thicknesses A 20/A 20M, each plate shall be legibly stamped or sten-
of 5⁄8 in. [16 mm] and under. ciled, depending upon the ordered thickness, with the let-
ters QT, except as otherwise specified in 9.1.1.
NOTE 1 — The intermediate heat treatment is for the purpose of enhanc-
ing elongation and notch-toughness and for reducing susceptibility to 9.1.1 When the optional heat treatment in 5.2.2.1 is
strain-aging embrittlement and temper embrittlement. It may be performed performed, the plates shall be marked with the letters QTT
at the option of the material manufacturer or may be specified by the
instead of QT.
purchaser.

6. Chemical Requirements
6.1 The steel shall conform to the chemical require- 10. Keywords
ments shown in Table 1 unless otherwise modified in accor- 10.1 alloy steel; alloy steel plate; pressure containing
dance with Supplementary Requirement S17, Vacuum parts; pressure vessel steels; steel plates; steel plates for
Carbon-Deoxidized Steel, in Specification A 20 /A 20M. pressure vessel applications

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SA-553/SA-553M 2013 SECTION II, PART A

TABLE 1
CHEMICAL REQUIREMENTS
Composition, %
Element Type I Type II
A
Carbon, max 0.13 0.13
Manganese, max: 0.90 0.90
Heat analysis
Product analysis 0.98 0.98
Phosphorus, maxA 0.035 0.035
Sulfur, maxA 0.035 0.035
Silicon: 0.15–0.40 0.15–0.40
Heat analysisB
Product analysisC 0.13–0.45 0.13–0.45
Nickel: 8.50–9.50 7.50–8.50
Heat analysis
Product analysis 8.40–9.60 7.40–8.60
A
Applies to both heat and product analyses.
B
Silicon may be less than 0.15%, provided total aluminimum is
0.030% or over, or provided acid soluble aluminum is 0.025% or
over.
C
Silicon may be less than 0.13%, provided total aluminimum is
0.030% or over, or provided acid soluble aluminum is 0.025% or
over.

TABLE 2
TENSILE REQUIREMENTS
Tensile strength, ksi [MPa] 100 to 120 [690–825]
Yield strength (0.2% offset), min, ksi
[MPa] 85 [585]
Elongation in 2 in. [50 mm], min, %A 20.0
A
See Specification A 20/A 20M for elongation adjustment.

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 2013 SECTION II, PART A SA-553/SA-553M

SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENTS

Supplementary requirements shall not apply unless specified in the order.

A list of standard 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, S9. Magnetic Particle Examination,

S2. Product Analysis,
S11. Ultrasonic Examination in Accordance With
S3. Simulated Post-Weld Heat Treatment of
Specification A 577 /A 577M,
Mechanical Test Coupons,
S6. Drop Weight Test (for Material 0.625 in. S12. Ultrasonic Examination in Accordance With
[16 mm] and over in Thickness), Specification A 578 /A 578M, and
S8. Ultrasonic Examination in Accordance With
Specification A 435 /A 435M, S17. Vacuum Carbon-Deoxidized Steel.

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SA-553/SA-553M 2013 SECTION II, PART A

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

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