martensitic in structure and hardenable by precipitation hard-
ening (sometimes called age hardening).
3.1.6 standard stainless steel grade, n—listed chemical
composition associated with a stainless steel grade identified
by a particular UNS number appearing in SAE publication
HS-1086, except as modified by an ASTM subcommittee
having oversight of a wrought stainless steel product where
such a modification is justified by a specific technical effect.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 It is anticipated that the ASTM Subcommittees A01.06,
A01.10, A01.17, A01.22, and A01.28 will use the standard
composition limits listed in this guide for the grades identified
by the corresponding UNS designation in the product specifi-
cation unless there is a specific technical justification for doing
otherwise. The compositions in this guide shall not be consid-
ered as chemical requirements for any particular product until
adopted by the subcommittee overseeing that product.
4.2 Assuming that uniform compositions among the many
product standards for stainless steel are desirable, the compo-
sition limits provided in this standard are to be used as guides
in determining limits for each of the elements included in the
total composition of each grade. The composition limits have
been established with the intent that each product subcommit-
tee will find it necessary to require only a minimum number of
changes to reflect specific technical effects. Section 5lists the
general guidelines followed for determining the limits for each
element; the limits established in this guide are based on these
guidelines.
4.3 Not included in this standard stainless steel grade
harmonization effort is an attempt to unify stainless steel
compositions in ASTM product standards by any means other
than recognizing current industry practices.
5. General Guidelines Used for Determining Composition
Limits
5.1 Carbon—It is recommended that limits be to only two
decimal places for levels of 0.04 % and higher because it is not
necessary to control to such precision at levels above 0.04 %.
(It should be recognized that limits such as 0.045 % maximum
may also be simply stated as 0.04 % maximum.) It is also
recommended that three decimal places be used at levels of
0.030 % and lower, unless, for example, it is clearly recognized
that 0.03 % maximum means that 0.035 % is satisfactory.
5.2 Manganese—Except for the Cr-Ni-Mn grades
(S2XXXX), it is recommended that limits of 2 % maximum
and 1 % maximum be used for the austenitic and other grades
respectively, except for the free machining grades with high
sulfur or selenium, or when necessary to promote nitrogen
solubility.
5.3 Phosphorus—It is recommended that 0.045 % maxi-
mum be applied to austenitic grades, and 0.040 % maximum to
other grades unless the sponsoring producer recommends a
lower limit for specific technical effect. Exception—some of
the Cr-Ni-Mn austenitic grades have always been produced to
0.060 % maximum.
5.4 Sulfur—It is recommended that 0.030 % maximum be
applied to all grades except the free-machining grades unless
lower limits have been required for specific technical effects.
5.5 Silicon—Past practice has been to establish 0.75 %
maximum for tubular related products such as flat rolled and
tubulars, and 1.00 % maximum for long products and forgings.
For grades produced both as long and flat-rolled products, 1 %
maximum was chosen since it will also include products
melted to lower limits. Use of lower or higher limits should be
based on specific technical effect.
5.6 Chromium—A composition spread of 2 % is recom-
mended; existing broader limits were not reduced to less than
a 3 % spread.
5.7 Nickel—It is recommended that the composition spread
not exceed 3 % unless a broader (generally higher) spread is
justified by specific technical effect.
5.8 Molybdenum—It is recommended that the composition
spread not exceed 1 %, unless a broader range is justified by
specific technical effect. Molybdenum limits having only a
maximum limit but no minimum should not be used unless
justified by specific technical effect.
5.9 Nitrogen—It is recommended that nitrogen limits having
only a maximum limit but no minimum should not be used
unless justified by specific technical effect.
5.10 Copper—It is recommended that copper limits having
only a maximum limit but no minimum should not be used
unless justified by specific technical effect.
5.11 Columbium and Tantalum—Except for special applica-
tions requiring positive identification of tantalum, it is recom-
mended that prior listings of these two elements together be
limited to listing only columbium. The words “columbium”
and “niobium” refer to the same element.
6. Harmonized Standard Grade Stainless Steel
Compositions
6.1 The harmonized composition limits are shown in Table
1, grouped by metallurgical classification, that is, austenitic,
austenitic-ferritic, and so forth. Within those groups, grades are
listed by UNS designation, in numerical order.
6.2 Unless adopted by the appropriate product subcommit-
tee in a product standard, the compositions described in this
guide shall not be used for specifying an ASTM product.
7. Keywords
7.1 austenitic stainless steels; austenitic-ferritic or ferritic-
austenitic stainless steels; duplex stainless steels; ferritic stain-
less steels; harmonized stainless steel compositions; marten-
sitic stainless steels; precipitation hardening stainless steels;
standard stainless steel grade compositions
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