Designation: A178/A178M − 02 (Reapproved 2012)

Standard Specification for

Electric-Resistance-Welded Carbon Steel and Carbon-
Manganese Steel Boiler and Superheater Tubes1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A178/A178M; 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 (´) 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 2. Referenced Documents

2
1.1 This specification covers minimum-wall-thickness, 2.1 ASTM Standards:3
electric-resistance-welded tubes made of carbon steel and A450/A450M Specification for General Requirements for
carbon-manganese steel intended for use as boiler tubes, boiler Carbon and Low Alloy Steel Tubes
flues, superheater flues, and safe ends. E213 Practice for Ultrasonic Testing of Metal Pipe and
Tubing
NOTE 1—Type C and D tubes are not suitable for safe-ending for forge E273 Practice for Ultrasonic Testing of the Weld Zone of
welding. Welded Pipe and Tubing
1.2 The tubing sizes and thicknesses usually furnished to
this specification are 1⁄2 to 5 in. [12.7 to 127 mm] in outside 3. Ordering Information
diameter and 0.035 to 0.360 in. [0.9 to 9.1 mm], inclusive, in 3.1 Orders for material under this specification should
minimum wall thickness. Tubing having other dimensions may include the following, as required, to describe the desired
be furnished, provided such tubes comply with all other material adequately:
requirements of this specification. 3.1.1 Quantity (feet, metres, or number of lengths),
3.1.2 Name of material (electric-resistance-welded tubes),
1.3 Mechanical property requirements do not apply to
3.1.3 Grade (A, C, or D, Table 1),
tubing smaller than 1⁄8 in. [3.2 mm] in inside diameter or 0.015
3.1.4 Size (outside diameter and minimum wall thickness),
in. [0.4 mm] in thickness.
3.1.5 Length (specific or random),
1.4 Optional supplementary requirements are provided and 3.1.6 Optional requirements (product analysis, Section 7;
when desired, shall be so stated in the order. crush test, Section 10; hydrostatic or nondestructive electric
test, 11.6),
1.5 The values stated in either inch-pound units or SI units 3.1.7 Test report required (Certification Section of Specifi-
are to be regarded separately as standard. Within the text, the cation A450/A450M),
SI units are shown in brackets. The values stated in each 3.1.8 Specification designation,
system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system must 3.1.9 Individual supplementary requirements, if required,
be used independently of the other. Combining values from the and
two systems may result in nonconformance with the specifi- 3.1.10 Special requirements.
cation. The inch-pound units shall apply unless the “M”
designation of this specification is specified in the order. 4. Manufacture
4.1 The steel for Grade D shall be killed.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A01 on Steel, 4.2 Tubes shall be made by electric-resistance welding.
Stainless Steel and Related Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
A01.09 on Carbon Steel Tubular Products.
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2012. Published November 2012. Originally
3
approved in 1935. Last previous edition approved in 2007 as A178/ For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
A178M – 02(2007). DOI: 10.1520/A0178_A0178M-02R12. contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
2
For ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code applications see related Specifi- Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
cation SA-178 in Section II of that Code. the ASTM website.

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard

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 A178/A178M − 02 (2012)
TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements TABLE 2 Tensile Requirements
Composition, % Grade C Grade D

Element Grade A, Grade C, Grade D, Carbon-

Low-Carbon Medium- Man- Tensile strength, min, ksi [MPa] 60 [415] 70 [485]
Steel Carbon Steel ganese Steel Yield strength, min, ksi [MPa] 37 [255] 40 [275]
Carbon 0.06–0.18 0.35 max 0.27 max Elongation in 2 in. or 50 mm, min, % 30 30
Manganese 0.27–0.63 0.80 max 1.00–1.50 For longitudinal strip tests a deduction for 1.50A 1.50A
Phosphorus, max 0.035 0.035 0.030 each 1⁄32-in. [0.8 mm] decrease in wall
Sulfur, max 0.035 0.035 0.015 thickness below 5⁄16 in. [8 mm] from the
Silicon ... ... 0.10 min basic minimum elongation of the
following percentage points shall be
made.
A
See Table 3 for the computed minimum values.

5. Heat Treatment
5.1 After welding, all tubes shall be heat treated at a
Tensile strength, min, ksi [MPa] 47 [325]
temperature of 1650°F [900°C] or higher and followed by Yield Strength, min, ksi [MPa] 26 [180]
cooling in air or in the cooling chamber of a controlled- Elongation in 2 in. or 50 mm, min, % 35
atmosphere furnace. Cold-drawn tubes shall be heat treated 9.2 Table 3 gives the computed minimum elongation values
after the final cold-draw pass at a temperature of 1200°F for each 1⁄32-in. [0.8 mm] decrease in wall thickness. Where the
[650°C] or higher. wall thickness lies between two values shown above, the
minimum elongation value shall be determined by the follow-
6. Chemical Composition ing equation:
6.1 The steel shall conform to the requirements as to E 5 48t115.00 @ E 5 1.87t115.00#
chemical composition prescribed in Table 1.
where:
6.2 When a grade is ordered under this specification, sup-
plying an alloy grade that specifically requires the addition of E = elongation in 2 in. or 50 mm, %, and,
any element other than those listed in Table 1 is not permitted. t = actual thickness of specimen, in. [mm].

7. Product Analysis 10. Crush Test

7.1 When requested on the purchase order, a product analy- 10.1 When required by the purchaser, crushing tests shall be
sis shall be made by the manufacturer or supplier from one tube made on sections of tube 21⁄2 in. [63 mm] in length which shall
per 100 pieces for sizes over 3 in. [76.2 mm] and one tube per stand crushing longitudinally without cracking, splitting, or
250 pieces for sizes 3 in. [76.2 mm] and under; or when tubes opening at the weld, as follows:
are identified by heat, one tube per heat shall be analyzed. The Wall Thickness of Height of Crushed Section, in. [mm]
Tubes, in. [mm] Grade A Tubes Grade C and D Tubes
chemical composition thus determined shall conform to the
requirements specified. 0.135 [3.43] and under ⁄ [19] or until outside
34 Crush tests not required
folds are in contact
7.2 If the original test for product analysis fails, retests of Over 0.135 [3.43] 11⁄4 [32] ...
two additional lengths of flat-rolled stock or tubes shall be 10.2 For tubing less than 1 in. [25.4 mm] in outside
made. Both retests, for the elements in question, shall meet the diameter, the length of the specimen shall be 21⁄2 times the
requirements of the specification; otherwise all remaining outside diameter of the tube. Slight surface checks shall not be
material in the heat or lot (Note 2) shall be rejected or, at the cause for rejection.
option of the producer, each length of flat-rolled stock or tube
may be individually tested for acceptance. Lengths of flat- 11. Mechanical Tests Required
rolled stock or tubes which do not meet the requirements of the
11.1 Flattening Test:
specifications shall be rejected.
NOTE 2—A lot consists of 250 tubes for sizes 3 in. [76.2 mm] and under
and of 100 tubes for sizes over 3 in. [76.2 mm], prior to cutting to length. TABLE 3 Minimum Elongation Values
Wall Thickness Elongation in 2 in. or 50
8. General Requirements in. mm mm, min, %A

8.1 Material furnished under this specification shall con- ⁄

5 16 (0.312) 8 30
⁄
9 32 (0.281) 7.2 29
form to the applicable requirements of the current edition of 1⁄4 (0.250) 6.4 27
Specification A450/A450M unless otherwise provided herein. 7⁄32 (0.219) 5.6 26
3⁄16 (0.188) 4.8 24
5⁄32 (0.156) 4 22
9. Tensile Requirements 1⁄8 (0.125) 3.2 21
9.1 Grade C and D tubes shall conform to the requirements 3⁄32 (0.094) 2.4 20
1⁄16 (0.062) 1.6 18
as to tensile properties prescribed in Table 2.
A
Calculated elongation requirements shall be rounded to the nearest whole
NOTE 3—Explanatory Note—For purposes of design the following number.
tensile properties may be assumed for Grade A tubes:

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 A178/A178M − 02 (2012)
11.1.1 For Grade A, one flattening test shall be made on include all tubes of the same size and heat, heat treated in the
specimens from each of two tubes from each lot (Note 2) or same furnace, at the same temperature, time at heat, and
fraction thereof, and from each 2000 ft [600 m] or fraction furnace speed.
thereof of safe-end material. 11.5 Reverse Flattening Test—One reverse flattening test
11.1.2 For Grades C and D, one flattening test shall be made shall be made on each 1500 ft [450 m] of finished tubing.
on specimens from each of two tubes from each lot (Note 2) or
11.6 Hydrostatic or Nondestructive Electric Test—Each
fraction thereof.
tube shall be subjected to either the hydrostatic or the nonde-
11.2 Flange Test: structive electric test. The purchaser may specify which test is
11.2.1 For Grade A, one flange test shall be made on to be used.
specimens from each of two tubes from each lot (Note 2) or
12. Forming Operations
fraction thereof, and from each 2000 ft [600 m] or fraction
thereof of safe-end material. 12.1 When inserted in the boiler, tubes shall withstand
11.2.2 For Grades C and D, one flange test shall be made on expanding and beading without showing cracks or flaws, or
specimens from each of two tubes from each lot (Note 2) or opening at the weld. When properly manipulated, superheater
fraction thereof. The width of the flange shall not be less than tubes shall withstand all forging, welding, and bending opera-
75 % of that specified in Specification A450/A450M. tions necessary for application without developing defects.

11.3 Crush Test—For Grade A, when required by the 13. Product Marking
purchaser, one crush test shall be made on specimens from 13.1 In addition to the marking prescribed in Specification
each of two tubes from each lot (Note 2) or fraction thereof, A450/A450M, the letters “ERW” shall be legibly stenciled on
and from each 2000 ft [600 m] or fraction thereof of safe-end each tube, or marked on a tag attached to the bundle or box in
material. which the tubes are shipped.
11.4 Tension Test—For Grades C and D, one tension test 13.2 The manufacturer’s name or symbol may be placed
shall be made on specimens from each of two tubes from each permanently on each tube by rolling or light stamping before
lot. The term lot for tension test requirements applies to all normalizing. If a single stamp is placed on the tube by hand,
tubes prior to cutting, of the same nominal diameter and wall this mark should not be less than 8 in. [200 mm] from one end
thickness, which are produced from the same heat of steel. of the tube.
When final heat treatment is in a batch-type furnace, a lot shall
include only those tubes of the same size and the same heat 14. Keywords
which are heat treated in the same furnace charge. When the 14.1 boiler tube; resistance welded steel tube; steel tube,
final heat treatment is in a continuous furnace, a lot shall carbon; welded steel tube

SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENTS

The following supplementary requirements may become a part of the specification when specified
in the inquiry or invitation to bid, and production order or contract. These requirements shall not be
considered, unless specified in the order and the necessary tests shall be made at the mill.

S1. Additional Testing of Welded Tubing for ASME Re- S1.3 The test methods described in the supplement may not
quirements be capable of inspecting the end portions of tubes. This
S1.1 The weld seam of each tube shall be subjected to an condition is referred to as end effect. This portion, as deter-
ultrasonic inspection employing Practices E273 or E213 with mined by the manufacturer, shall be removed and discarded.
the rejection criteria referenced in Specification A450/A450M. S1.4 In addition to the marking prescribed in Specification
S1.2 If Practice E273 is employed, a 100 % volumetric A450/A450M, “S1” shall be added after the grade designation.
inspection of the entire length of each tube shall also be
performed using one of the nondestructive electric tests per-
mitted by Specification A450/A450M.

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 A178/A178M − 02 (2012)
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