Designation: A 353/A 353M – 93 (Reapproved 1999)

Standard Specification for

Pressure Vessel Plates, Alloy Steel, 9 Percent Nickel,
Double-Normalized and Tempered1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A 353/A 353M; 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 3. General Requirements and Ordering Information

1.1 This specification2 covers 9 % nickel steel plates, 3.1 Material supplied to this material specification shall
double-normalized and tempered, intended particularly for conform to Specification A 20/A 20M. These requirements
welded pressure vessels for cryogenic service. outline the testing and retesting methods and procedures,
1.2 Plates produced under this specification are subject to permissible variations in dimensions, and mass, quality and
impact testing at −320°F [−195°C] or at such other tempera- repair of defects, marking, loading, etc.
tures as are agreed upon. 3.2 Specification A 20/A 20M also establishes the rules for
1.3 The maximum thickness of plates is limited only by the the ordering information that should be complied with when
capacity of the material to meet the specific mechanical purchasing material to this specification.
property requirements; however, current mill practice normally 3.3 In addition to the basic requirements of this specifica-
limits this material to 2 in. [50 mm] max. tion, certain supplementary requirements are available when
1.4 This material is susceptible to magnetization. Use of additional control, testing, or examination is required to meet
magnets in handling after heat treatment should be avoided if end use requirements. These include:
residual magnetism would be detrimental to subsequent fabri- 3.3.1 Vacuum treatment,
cation or service. 3.3.2 Additional or special tension testing,
1.5 The values stated in either inch-pound units or SI units 3.3.3 Impact testing, and
are to be regarded separately as standard. Within the text, the 3.3.4 Nondestructive examination.
SI units are shown in brackets. The values stated in each 3.4 The purchaser is referred to the listed supplementary
system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system must requirements in this specification and to the detailed require-
be used independently of the other. Combining values from the ments in Specification A 20/A 20M.
two systems may result in nonconformance with the specifi- 3.5 If the requirements of this specification are in conflict
cation. with the requirements of Specification A 20/A 20M, the re-
quirements of this specification shall prevail.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards: 4. Manufacture
A 20/A20M Specification for General Requirements for 4.1 Steelmaking Practice—The steel shall be killed and
Steel Plates for Pressure Vessels3 shall conform to the fine austenitic grain size requirement of
A 435/A435M Specification for Straight-Beam Ultrasonic Specification A 20/A 20M.
Examination of Steel Plates3
A 577/A577M Specification for Ultrasonic Angle-Beam 5. Heat Treatment
Examination of Steel Plates3 5.1 All plates shall be heat treated in accordance with 5.2.
A 578/A578M Specification for Straight-Beam Ultrasonic Shell plates and other parts, including heads and reinforcing
Examination of Plain and Clad Steel Plates for Special pads, which are heated for forming, shall be heat treated after
Applications3 forming in accordance with 5.2.
5.2 Heat Treatment Procedure:
5.2.1 First Normalizing Treatment—Heat the plate to a
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A-1 on Steel, uniform temperature of 1650 6 25°F [900 6 15°C], hold at
Stainless Steel, and Related Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
A01.11 on Steel Plates for Boilers and Pressure Vessels. this temperature for a minimum of 1 h/in. [2.4 min/mm] of
Current edition approved June 15, 1993. Published August 1993. Originally thickness, but in no case less than 15 min, and cool in air.
published as A 353 – 52 T. Last previous edition A 353/A 353M – 90.
2
For ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code applications, see related Specifi-
cation SA-353/SA-353M in Section II of that Code.
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.04.

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

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 A 353/A 353M – 93 (1999)
5.2.2 Second Normalizing Treatment—Reheat the plate to a 7. Mechanical Requirements
uniform temperature of 1450 6 25°F [790 6 15°C], hold at 7.1 Tension Test Requirements—The material as represented
this temperature for a minimum of 1 h/in. 2.4 min/mm of by the tension-test specimens shall conform to the require-
thickness, but in no case less than 15 min, and cool in air. ments specified in Table 2.
5.2.3 Tempering Treatment—Reheat the plate to a uniform 7.1.1 Upon agreement between the purchaser and the manu-
temperature within the range from 1050 to 1125°F [565 to facturer, yield strength may be determined by the extension
605°C], hold at this temperature for a minimum of 1 h/in. 2.4 under load method, using 0.005 in./in. [0.005 mm/mm] total
min/mm of thickness, but in no case less than 15 min, and cool extension.
in air or water quench at a rate not less than 300°F/h [165°C/h]. 7.1.2 For nominal plate thicknesses of 3⁄4 in. [20 mm] and
5.2.4 If hot forming is performed after heating to a tempera- under, the 11⁄2 -in. [40-mm] wide rectangular specimen may be
ture within the range from 1650 to 1750°F [900 to 955°C] the used for the tension test and the elongation may be determined
first normalizing treatment (5.2.1) may be omitted. in a 2-in. [50-mm] gage length that includes the fracture and
shows the greatest elongation.
5.2.5 When the plates are heat treated by the fabricator, it
7.1.3 One tension test shall be taken from each plate as heat
shall be his responsibility to apply the proper heat treatment
treated.
and to conduct tests he deems necessary to assure that the
7.2 Impact Test Requirements:
specified properties are attained.
7.2.1 Charpy V-notch impact tests shall be made in accor-
dance with Specification A 20/A 20M.
6. Chemical Requirements
7.2.2 The longitudinal axis of the test specimens shall be
6.1 The steel shall conform to the chemical composition transverse to the final rolling direction of the plate.
requirements shown in Table 1 unless otherwise modified in 7.2.3 Unless otherwise agreed, tests shall be conducted at
accordance with Supplementary Requirement S17, Vacuum −320°F [−195°C].
Carbon-Deoxidized Steel, in Specification A 20/A 20M. 7.2.4 Each test specimen shall have a lateral expansion
opposite the notch of not less than 0.015 in. [0.381 mm].
8. Finish
TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements
8.1 Because retained scale may mask surface imperfections,
Element Composition, % as well as mar the plate surface, plates shall be descaled by the
Carbon, maxA 0.13 producer after heat treatment. In the case of material to be
Manganese, max heat-treated by the purchaser, the plates shall be descaled by
Heat analysis 0.90
Product analysis 0.98
the producer prior to shipment.
Phosphorus, maxA 0.035
Sulfur, maxA 0.035 TABLE 2 Tensile Requirements
Silicon:
Heat analysis 0.15–0.40 Tensile strength, ksi [MPa] 100–120 [690–825]
Product analysis 0.13–0.45 Yield strength (0.2 % offset), min, ksi [MPa]A 75 [515]
Nickel:
Heat analysis 8.50–9.50 Elongation in 2 in. [50 mm], min, %B 20.0
Product analysis 8.40–9.60 A
See 7.1.1.
A B
Applies to both heat and product analyses. See Specification A 20/A 20M for elongation adjustment.

SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENTS

Supplementary requirements shall not apply unless specified in the order.

A list of standardized 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, S11. Ultrasonic Examination in Accordance with Specifica-

S2. Product Analysis, tion A 577/A 577M,
S3. Simulated Post-Weld Heat Treatment of Mechanical S12. Ultrasonic Examination in Accordance with Specifica-
Test Coupons, tion A 578/A 578M,
S4.1 Additional Tension Test,
S14. Bend Test, and
S6. Drop Weight Test,
S8. Ultrasonic Examination in Accordance with Specifi- S17. Vacuum Carbon-Deoxidized Steel.
cation A 435/A 435M,

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 A 353/A 353M – 93 (1999)

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

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