Designation: A688/A688M − 15 www.TubingChina.

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Standard Specification for

Seamless and Welded Austenitic Stainless Steel Feedwater
Heater Tubes1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A688/A688M; 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.

1. Scope* Unified Numbering System (UNS)

2
1.1 This specification covers seamless and welded auste- 2.2 Other Standard:
nitic stainless steel feedwater heater tubes including those bent, SAE J1086 Practice for Numbering Metals and Alloys
if specified, into the form of U-tubes for application in tubular (UNS)4
feed-water heaters. 3. Terminology
1.2 The tubing sizes covered shall be 5⁄8 to 1 in. [15.9 to 3.1 Definitions Of Terms—For definitions of terms used in
25.4 mm] inclusive outside diameter, and average or minimum this specification, refer to Terminology A941.
wall thicknesses of 0.028 in. [0.7 mm] and heavier.
1.3 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units 4. Ordering Information
are to be regarded separately as standard. Within the text, the 4.1 It is the responsibility of the purchaser to specify all
SI units are shown in brackets. The values stated in each requirements that are necessary for material under this speci-
system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system fication. Such requirements may include, but are not limited to,
shall be used independently of the other. Combining values the following:
from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the 4.1.1 Quantity (length or number of pieces),
standard. 4.1.2 Material description (seamless or welded),
4.1.3 Dimensions—Outside diameter, wall thickness (mini-
2. Referenced Documents mum or average wall), and length,
2.1 ASTM Standards:3 4.1.4 Grade (chemical composition) (Table 1),
A262 Practices for Detecting Susceptibility to Intergranular 4.1.5 U-bend requirements, if order specifies bending,
Attack in Austenitic Stainless Steels U-bend schedules or drawings shall accompany the order,
A480/A480M Specification for General Requirements for 4.1.6 Optional requirements—Purchaser shall specify if an-
Flat-Rolled Stainless and Heat-Resisting Steel Plate, nealing of the U-bends is required or whether tubes are to be
Sheet, and Strip hydrotested or air tested (see 11.8)
A941 Terminology Relating to Steel, Stainless Steel, Related 4.1.7 Supplementary requirements—Purchaser shall
Alloys, and Ferroalloys specify on the purchase order if material is to be eddy current
A1016/A1016M Specification for General Requirements for tested in accordance with Supplementary Requirements S1 or
Ferritic Alloy Steel, Austenitic Alloy Steel, and Stainless S2, and if special test reports are required under Supplementary
Steel Tubes Requirement S3, and,
E112 Test Methods for Determining Average Grain Size 4.1.8 Any additional special requirements.
E527 Practice for Numbering Metals and Alloys in the 5. General Requirements
5.1 Material furnished to this specification shall conform to
the applicable requirements of the latest published edition of
Specification A1016/A1016M unless otherwise provided
herein.
6. Materials and Manufacture
6.1 The tube shall be manufactured by either the seamless or
welded and cold worked process.

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

 TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements
Grade............... TP 304 TP 304L TP 304LN TP 316 TP 316L TP 316LN TP XM-29 TP 304N TP 316N ... 800 800H ... ... ... ...
UNS S30400 S30403 S30453 S31600 S31603 S31653 S24000 S30451 S31651 N08367 N08800 N08810 N08811 N08926 S31254 S32654
DesignationA
Element
....
Composition, %

Carbon, max 0.08 0.035 0.035 0.08 0.035 0.035 0.060 0.08 0.08 0.030 0.10 0.05– 0.06– 0.020 0.020 0.020
0.10 0.10
B
Manganese, max 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 11.50– 2.00 2.00 2.00 1.50 1.50 1.50 2.00 1.00 2.0–4.0
14.50
Phosphorus, max 0.040 0.040 0.040 0.040 0.040 0.040 0.060 0.040 0.040 0.040 0.045 0.045 0.045 0.03 0.030 0.030
Sulfur, max 0.030 0.030 0.030 0.030 0.030 0.030 0.030 0.030 0.030 0.030 0.015 0.015 0.015 0.01 0.010 0.005
Silicon, max 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 1.00 0.75 0.75 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 0.5 0.80 0.50
Nickel 8.00– 8.00– 8.00– 10.00– 10.00– 10.00– 2.25– 8.00– 10.00– 23.50– 30.0– 30.0– 30.0– 24.00– 17.5– 21.0–
11.00 13.00 13.00 14.00 15.00 15.00 3.75 11.0 14.00 25.50 35.0 35.0 35.0 26.00 18.5 23.0
Chromium 18.00– 18.00– 18.00– 16.00– 16.00– 16.00– 17.00– 18.0– 16.0– 20.00– 19.00– 19.00– 19.00– 19.00– 19.5– 24.0–

2
20.00 20.00 20.00 18.00 18.00 18.00 19.00 20.0 18.0 22.00 23.0 23.0 23.0 21.00 20.5 25.0
Molybdenum ... ... ... 2.00– 2.00– 2.00– ... ... 2.00– 6.00– ... ... ... 6.0– 6.0– 7.0–
3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 7.00 7.0 6.5 8.0
NitrogenC ... ... 0.10– ... ... 0.10– 0.20– 0.10– 0.10– 0.18– ... ... ... 0.15– 0.18– 0.45–
0.16 0.16 0.40 0.16 0.16 0.25 0.25 0.22 0.55
Copper ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 0.75 max 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.5–1.5 0.50–1.00 0.30–0.60
Titanium ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 0.15– 0.15– 0.25– ... ... ...
A688/A688M − 15

0.60 0.60 0.60D

Aluminum ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 0.15– 0.15– 0.25– ... ... ...
0.60 0.60 0.60D
Others ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Fe Fe Fe ... ... ...
39.5 39.5 39.5
Min.E Min.E Min.E
A
New designation established in accordance with Practice E527 and SAE J1086.
B
Maximum, unless otherwise noted.
C
The method of analysis for nitrogen shall be a matter of agreement between the purchaser and manufacturer.
D
(Al + Ti) = 0.85 – 1.20.
E
Fe shall be determined arithmethically by difference of 100 minus the sum of the other specified elements.
 A688/A688M − 15
6.2 Seamless Tubing: 8.6.1 The heat treatment shall be applied to the U-bend area
6.2.1 Seamless tubing shall be supplied from a cold finish- plus approximately 6 in. [150 mm] of each leg beyond the
ing process. Hot finishing as the final sizing process is not tangent point of the U-bend.
allowed. 8.6.2 If the heat treatment specified in 8.6 is accomplished
6.3 Welded Tubing: by resistance-heating methods wherein electrodes are clamped
6.3.1 The tube shall be made from flat-rolled steel by an to the tubes, the clamped areas shall be visually examined for
automatic welding process with no addition of filler metal. arc burns. Burn indications shall be cause for rejection unless
6.3.2 Subsequent to welding and prior to final heat they can be removed by local polishing without encroaching
treatment, the tubes shall be cold worked either in both the upon minimum wall thickness.
weld and base metal, or in the weld metal only. The method of 8.6.3 Temperature control shall be accomplished through
cold work may be specified by the purchaser. When cold the use of optical or emission pyrometers, or both. No
drawn, the purchaser may specify the minimum amount of temperature-indicating crayons, lacquers, or pellets shall be
reduction in cross-sectional area or wall thickness, or both. used.
8.6.4 The inside of the tube shall be purged with a protective
6.4 Many surface contaminants may have detrimental ef- or an inert gas atmosphere during heating and cooling to below
fects on high temperature properties or corrosion resistance of 700 °F [370 °C] to prevent scaling of the inside surface. The
tubing. Contamination by copper, lead, mercury, zinc, atmosphere should be noncarburizing.
chlorides, or sulfur may be detrimental to stainless steels. The
manufacturer shall employ techniques that minimize surface 9. Surface Condition
contamination by these elements. 9.1 The straight tubes, after final annealing, shall be pickled
7. Cleaning Before Annealing using a solution of nitric and hydrofluoric acids followed by
7.1 All lubricants of coatings used in the manufacture of flushing and rinsing in water. If bright annealing is performed,
straight-length tube or in the bending shall be removed from all this requirement does not apply.
surfaces prior to any annealing treatments. U-bends on which 9.2 A light oxide scale on the outside surface of U-bend area
a lubricant had been applied to the inside surface during shall be permitted for tubes which have been electric-resistance
bending shall have the cleanness of their inside surface heat treated after bending.
confirmed by blowing close fitting acetone-soaked felt plugs
through 10 % of the tubes of each bend radius. Dry, oil-free, air 10. Chemical Composition
or inert gas shall be used to blow the plugs through the tubes. 10.1 Product Analysis:
If the plugs blown through any tube shows more than a light 10.1.1 When requested in the purchase order, a product
gray discoloration, all tubes that have had a lubricant applied to analysis shall be made by the supplier from one tube or coil of
the inside surface during bending shall be recleaned. After steel per heat. The chemical composition shall conform to the
recleaning 10 % of the tubes of each bend radius whose inside requirements shown in Table 1.
surface had been subjected to bending lubricants shall be 10.1.2 A product analysis tolerance of Specification A480/
retested. A480M shall apply. The product analysis tolerance is not
applicable to the carbon content for material with a specified
8. Heat Treatment
maximum carbon of 0.04 % or less.
8.1 All finished straight tubing or straight tubing ready for 10.1.3 If the original test for product analysis fails, retests of
U-bending shall be furnished in the solution-annealed condi- two additional lengths of flat-rolled stock or tubes shall be
tion. The annealing procedure, except for N08367, S31254, made. Both retests, for the elements in question, shall meet the
S32654, N08810, N08811, and N08926, shall consist of requirements of this specification; otherwise all remaining
heating the material to a minimum temperature of 1900 °F material in the heat or lot shall be rejected, or at the option of
[1040 °C] followed by a rapid cooling to below 700 °F [370 the producer, each length of flat-rolled stock or tube may be
°C]. The cooling rate shall be sufficiently rapid to prevent individually tested for acceptance. Lengths of flat-rolled stock
harmful carbide precipitation as determined in Section 13. or tubes that do not meet the requirements of this specification
8.2 UNS N08367 shall be solution annealed at 2025 °F shall be rejected.
[1107 °C] minimum followed by rapid quenching.
11. Mechanical Requirements
8.3 N08926 shall be heat-treated at a minimum temperature
of 2010 °F [1100 °C] followed by quenching in water or 11.1 Tensile Properties:
rapidly cooling by other means. 11.1.1 The material shall conform to the tensile properties
shown in Table 2.
8.4 S31254, S32654, and N08811 shall be solution annealed 11.1.2 One tension test shall be made on a specimen for lots
at 2100 °F [1150 °C] minimum followed by rapid quenching. of not more than 50 tubes. Tension tests shall be made on
8.5 N08810 shall be heat-treated to a minimum temperature specimens from two tubes for lots of more than 50 tubes.
of 2050 °F [1120 °C] minimum followed by rapid quenching. 11.2 Hardness:
8.6 If heat treatment of U-bends is specified, it shall satisfy 11.2.1 Grade TP XM-29 and N08367 tubes shall have a
the annealing procedure described above, and shall be done as hardness number not exceeding 100 HRB or its equivalent.
follows: Tubes of all other grades shall have a hardness number not

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 TABLE 2 Tensile Requirements
304L, 304N, 304LN,
Grade 304, 316 XM-29 ... ... 800 800H ... ... ... ... ...
316L 316N 316LN
S30400, S30403, S24000 S30451, S30453, N08367 N08367 N08800 N08810 N08811 N08926 S31254 S31254 S32654
UNS Designation
S31600 S31603 S31651 S31653 t # 0.187 t > 0.187 t # 0.187 t > 0.187
Tensile strength, min ksi 75 [515] 70 [485] 100 [690] 80 [550] 75 [515] 100 [690] 95 [655] 75 [520] 65 [450] 65 [450] 94 [650] 100 [690] 95 [655] 120 [825]

4
[MPa]
Yield strength, min 30 [205] 25 [175] 55 [380] 35 [240] 30 [205] 45 [310] 45 [310] 30 [205] 25 [170] 25 [170] 43 [295] 45 [310] 45 [310] 65 [450]
ksi [MPa]
Elongation in 2 in. or 50 35 35 35 35 35 30 30 30 30 30 35 35 35 40
mm, min, %
A688/A688M − 15
 A688/A688M − 15
exceeding 90 HRB or its equivalent. This hardness requirement length, of the same nominal size and wall thickness, produced
is not to apply to the bend area of U-bend tubes which are not from the same heat of steel and annealed in a continuous
heat treated after bending. furnace.
11.2.2 Brinell or Rockwell hardness tests shall be made on 11.9.2 For tension and hardness, the term “lot” applies to all
specimens from two tubes from each lot. tubes, prior to cutting to length, of the same nominal diameter
11.3 Reverse Bend Test (Welded Product): and wall thickness, produced from the same heat of steel and
11.3.1 One reverse bend test shall be made on a specimen annealed in a continuous furnace at the same temperature, time
from each 1500 ft [460 m] of finished tubing. at temperature, and furnace speed.
11.3.2 A section 4 in. [100 mm] minimum in length shall be 12. Nondestructive Test (Electric Test)
split longitudinally 90° on each side of the weld. The sample
shall then be opened and bent around a mandrel with a 12.1 Each straight tube shall be tested after the finish heat
maximum thickness of four times the wall thickness, with the treatment by passing it through a nondestructive tester capable
mandrel parallel to the weld and against the original outside of detecting defects on the entire cross section of the tube, in
surface of the tube. The weld shall be at the point of maximum accordance with Specification A1016/A1016M.
bend. There shall be no evidence of cracks, or of overlaps 13. Corrosion Resisting Properties
resulting from the reduction in thickness of the weld area by
cold working. When the geometry or size of the tubing make it 13.1 One full section sample 1 in. [25.4 mm] long from the
difficult to test the sample as a single piece, the sample may be center of a sample tube of the smallest radius bend which is
sectioned into smaller pieces provided a minimum of 4 in. of heat treated shall be tested in the heat treated condition in
weld is subjected to reverse bending. accordance with Practices A262.
11.3.3 The reverse bend test is not applicable when speci- 13.2 One full-section sample 1 in. [25.4 mm] long from
fied wall is 10 % or more of the specified outside diameter, or each lot of straight tubes shall be tested in the finished
the wall thickness is 0.134 in. [3.4 mm] or greater, or the condition in accordance with Practices A262.
outside diameter size is less than 0.375 in. [9.5 mm]. Under 13.3 The appearance of any fissures or cracks in the test
these conditions, the reverse flattening test of Specification specimen when evaluated in accordance with Practices A262
A1016/A1016M shall apply. indicating the presence of intergranular attack, shall be cause
11.4 Flattening Test (Seamless and Welded Products)— for rejection of that lot.
Flattening tests shall be made on specimens from each end of 13.4 Lot definitions: For corrosion test requirements, the
one finished tube, not the one used for the flange test, from term “lot” applies to all tubes, prior to cutting to length, of the
each lot. same nominal diameter and wall thickness, produced from the
11.5 Flange Test (Welded Product)—Flange tests shall be same heat of steel and annealed in a continuous furnace at the
made on specimens from each end of one finished tube, not the same temperature, time at temperature, and furnace speed.
one used for the flattening test, from each lot. 13.5 High Carbon Grades—The high carbon grades of
11.6 Flaring Test (Seamless Product)—Flaring tests shall be N08810 and N08811 shall not be subjected to the intergranular
made on specimens from each end of one finished tube, not the corrosion test.
one used for the flattening test, from each lot.
14. Permissible Variations in Dimensions (Fig. 1)
11.7 Grain Size:
11.7.1 The grain size of grades N08810 and N08811, as 14.1 Permissible variations from the specified outside diam-
determined in accordance with Test Methods E112, shall be eter shall be in accordance with Specification A1016/A1016M.
No. 5 or coarser. Those tolerances do not apply to the bent portion of the
U-tubes. At the bent portion of a U-tube for R = 2 × D or
11.8 Pressure Test: greater, neither the major nor minor diameter of the tube shall
11.8.1 Each straight tube or each U-tube after completion of deviate from the nominal diameter prior to bending by more
the bending and post-bending heat treatment, shall be pressure than 10 %. If less than 2 × D is specified, tolerances could be
tested in accordance with one of the following paragraphs as greater.
specified by the purchaser.
11.8.1.1 Hydrostatic Test—Each tube shall be given an 14.2 Permissible Variations from the Specified Wall Thick-
internal hydrostatic test in accordance with Specification ness:
A1016/A1016M, except that the test pressure and hold time, 14.2.1 Permissible variations from the specified minimum
when other than that stated in Specification A1016/A1016M, wall thickness shall not exceed +20 % − 0.
shall be agreed upon between purchaser and manufacturer. 14.2.2 Permissible variations from the specified average
11.8.1.2 Pneumatic Test—Each tube shall be examined by a wall thickness are 610 % of the nominal wall thickness.
pneumatic test (either air underwater or pneumatic leak test) in 14.2.3 The wall thickness of the tube in the U-bent section
accordance with Specification A1016/A1016M. shall not be less than value determined by the equation:
4RT
11.9 Lot Definitions: tf 5
4 R1D
11.9.1 For flattening, flange, and flaring requirements, the
term “lot” applies to 125 tube groupings, prior to cutting to where:

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 A688/A688M − 15
TABLE 4 Squareness of Ends Tolerance
Tube OD, in. [mm] Tolerance, in. [mm]
⁄ [15.9], incl
58 0.010 [0.25]
Over 5⁄8 to 1 in. [15.9 to 25.4], incl 0.016 [0.4]

14.5 The leg spacing measured between the points of

tangency of the bend to the legs shall not vary from the value
(2 R − specified tube outside diameter) by more than 1⁄16 in.
[1.5 mm] where R is the center-line bend radius.
14.6 The bent portion of the U-tube shall be substantially
uniform in curvature, and not to exceed 6 1⁄16 in. [1.5 mm] of
the nominal center-line radius.
14.7 Permissible deviation from the plane of bend (Fig. 1)
shall not exceed 1⁄16 in. [1.5 mm] as measured from the points
of tangency.

15. Workmanship, Finish, and Appearance

15.1 Tubing purchased to this specification is intended for
use in heat exchangers, and will be inserted through close-
fitting holes in baffles or support plates, or both, spaced along
the tube length. The tube ends will also be inserted into very
close-fitting holes in a tubesheet and expanded and may be
welded therein. The tubes shall be able to stand expanding and
bending without showing cracks and flaws, and shall be
finished reasonably straight and suitable for the intended
purpose.
15.2 The residual chloride salt contamination of the inside
FIG. 1 Plane Bend for U-Tube and outside surface of the tubing at the time of packing for
shipment from the mill shall not exceed a concentration of 1
mg/ft2 [10.7 mg/m2] of tube surface. One tube in each five
tf = wall thickness after bending, in. [mm], hundred pieces shall be checked immediately prior to packing
T = minimum wall thickness of 14.2.1 or 14.2.2, in. [mm], for shipment for chloride salt contamination by a procedure
R = centerline bend radius, in. [mm], and agreed upon by the manufacturer and purchaser.
D = nominal outside tube diameter, in. [mm].
14.3 Permissible Variations from the Specified Length: 16. Inspection
14.3.1 Straight Lengths—The maximum permissible varia- 16.1 The inspector representing the purchaser shall have
tions for lengths 24 ft [7.3 m] and shorter shall be +1⁄8 in. [3 entry, at all times, to those areas where inspection and testing
mm], −0; for lengths longer than 24 ft [7.3 mm], an additional is being performed on the purchaser’s ordered material. The
over tolerance of +1⁄8 in. [3 mm] for each 10 ft [3 m], or manufacturer shall afford the inspector all reasonable facilities
fraction thereof, shall be permitted up to a maximum of +1⁄2 in. to satisfy him that the material is being furnished in accordance
[13 mm]. with this specification. All required tests and inspections shall
14.3.2 U-Bends—In the case of U-tubes, the length of the be made at the place of manufacture prior to shipment, unless
tube legs as measured from the point of tangency of the bend otherwise specified, and shall be conducted so as not to
and the tube leg to the end of the tube leg, shall not be less than interfere unnecessarily with the operation of the works.
specified, but may exceed the specified values by the amount
given in Table 3. The difference in lengths of the tube legs shall 17. Rejection
not be greater than 1⁄8 in. unless otherwise specified. 17.1 Each length of tubing received from the manufacturer
14.4 The end of any tube may depart from square by not may be inspected by the purchaser, and, if it does not meet the
more than the amount given in Table 4. requirements of the specification based on the inspection and
test method outlined in the specification, the tubing may be
TABLE 3 Tube Leg Length Tolerance rejected and the manufacturer shall be notified. Disposition of
Plus Tolerance,
rejected tubing shall be a matter of agreement between the
Leg Length, ft [m] manufacturer and the purchaser.
in. [mm]
Up to 20 [6], incl 18 ⁄ [3.2] 17.2 Material that fails in any of the forming operations or
Over 20 to 30 [6 to 9], incl ⁄
5 32 [4.0]
Over 30 to 40 [9 to 12.2], incl ⁄
3 16 [4.8] in the process of installation and is found to be defective, shall
be set aside, and the manufacturer shall be notified. Disposition

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 A688/A688M − 15
of such material shall be a matter for agreement between the 20. Packaging
manufacturer and the purchaser.
20.1 All tubing shall be packaged and blocked in such a
18. Certification manner as to prevent damage in ordinary handling and trans-
portation. The boxes shall be constructed in such a manner that
18.1 A test report, signed by an authorized employee or
no nails, staples, screws, or similar fasteners are required to
representative of the manufacturer, shall be furnished to the
close and secure the box after the tubes have been placed in the
purchaser to indicate the specification and grade, seamless or
box. The box shall be lined with plastic sheet or vapor barrier
welded, the results of the heat analysis, hardness and tensile
materials so as to prevent chloride contamination of the tube
properties. Product analysis will be reported only when re-
during handling, transportation, and storage.
quested on the purchase order as provided in 4.1.7.
20.2 The U-bent tubes shall be arranged in boxes so that the
19. Product Marking smaller radius bends may be removed without disturbing larger
19.1 All tubes shall be marked with the heat number. radius bends. Tubes for an item number shall be boxed
19.2 Containers and packages shall be marked or tagged to together.
show the purchaser’s order number, the manufacturer’s order
number, specification, seamless or welded, grade, size and wall 21. Keywords
thickness, minimum or average, number of pieces contained in 21.1 austenitic stainless steel; feedwater heater tubes; seam-
the package, and item number (if appropriate). less tube; stainless steel tube; steel tube; welded steel tube

SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENTS

The following supplementary requirement or requirements may become a part of the specification
when specified in the inquiry or invitation to bid, and purchase order or contract. These requirements
shall not be considered, unless specified in the order, in which event the necessary tests shall be made
by the manufacturer prior to the bending or shipment of the tubing.

S1. Nondestructive Eddy-Current Test notches on the outside diameter establishing the rejection level
of the tubing to be tested. Inside diameter notches, both
S1.1 Each tube in the finished condition, except for bending
longitudinal and transverse, shall also be a part of the reference
if that is required, shall be tested by passing it through an
standard. These inside notches may be larger than the outside
electric nondestructive tester capable of detecting defects on
notches, and are intended for use only to assure instrument
the entire cross section of the tube. Suitable instrumentation
phase settings capable of yielding optimum inside surface
shall be used to clearly distinguish the artificial defects. The
outside and inside surfaces of the tubes shall be free of loose sensitivity.
scale, metallic particles, or other material which would tend to S1.4.1 All notches shall be produced by EDM methods. The
restrict signals or create electrical noise. The tubing shall be outside diameter notches shall be of the dimensions shown in
inspected by feeding it longitudinally through an inspection Table S1.1 and Fig. S1.1.
coil or coils with a diameter suitable for the diameter of tubing S1.5 All tubing shall meet this specification. The instrument
to be inspected. The instrument calibration shall be accom- calibration shall be verified at the start of testing, after any shut
plished with a reference standard prepared from an appropriate down of the test equipment, after any test equipment
length of selected tubing of the same size, grade, and physical adjustment, or at least every 1⁄2 h of continuous production
condition as the material to be inspected. The standard shall be testing or both. Tubes generating a signal above the outside
fed through the coil at the same speed at which the inspection diameter calibration standard sensitivity level shall be rejected.
of the tubing is performed.
S1.2 The factors listed in S1.3 shall be selected or adjusted,
or both, in accordance with the instrument manufacturer’s
instructions, for the particular instrument involved as required TABLE S1.1 Notch Depth
to achieve optimum instrument distinction between the refer- Wall, in.
Depth,A in. Length,
OD, in. [mm] [mm] max, Width, max
ence defects and plain portions of the tube. [mm]
in. [mm]
S1.3 The following as well as other factors involved shall ⁄ to 1 [15.9
58 0.028 [0.7] 0.0045 [0.11] 0.375 [9.5] wall
not be used in such a manner that they detract from the overall to 25.4], incl and or 10 % of thickness
heavier wall thick- but not
ability of the instrument to detect defects: test frequency, ness which- greater than
direct-current saturation level, filter networks, phase-analysis ever is 0.062 in.
circuits, coil diameter, and instrument gain. greater [1.6 mm]
A
S1.4 The reference standard shall consist of a defect-free The tolerance of notch depth shall be ± 8 % or ± 0.0005 in. [0.01 mm], whichever
is greater. Refer to Fig. S1.1 for notch location orientation and length of calibration
sample of the same size, alloy, and condition (temper) as that standard.
being tested, and shall contain longitudinal and circumferential

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 A688/A688M − 15
TABLE S2.1 Notch Depth for Select Commercial Grade
Length,
Wall, in. Depth,A in.
OD, in. [mm] max, Width, max
[mm] [mm]
in. [mm]
⁄ to 1 [15.9
58 0.035 [0.9] 0.0045 [0.11] 0.375 [9.5] 3 times
to 25.4], incl and or 10 % of notch depth
heavier wall thick-
ness, which-
ever is
greater
⁄ to 1 [15.9
58 less than 0.0045 [0.11] 0.375 [9.5] wall
to 25.4], incl 0.035 [0.9] or 10 % of thickness
wall thick-
ness, which-
ever is
FIG. S1.1 Eddy-Current Test Standard greater
A
The tolerance of notch depth shall be ± 8 % or ± 0.0005 in. [0.1 mm], whichever
is greater. Refer to Fig. S1.1 for notch location orientation and length of calibration
standard.
S1.6 Tubes may be reconditioned and retested provided
reconditioning does not adversely effect the minimum wall
thickness or other properties of the tube specification require- S3. Report
ments. Upon agreement between purchaser and manufacturer, S3.1 A report shall be furnished by the manufacturer to
the referee method, employing ultrasonic testing, may be include a record of all tests performed to qualify material to
employed for retesting tubes rejected by the eddy-current test. this specification. This record shall include numbers of tests
The calibration standard for this test shall be identical to that performed and qualitative or quantitative results as is appli-
required for the eddy-current test. cable.
S2. Nondestructive Eddy-Current Testing (Select Com- S4. Intergranular Corrosion Tests
mercial Grade)
S4.1 When specified, material shall pass intergranular cor-
S2.1 The manufacturer shall test the tubing using the rosion tests conducted by the manufacturer in accordance with
procedure outlined in Supplementary Requirement S1, except Practices A262, Practice E.
for the notch standards, which shall be as indicated in Table NOTE S4.1—Practice E requires testing on the sensitized condition for
S2.1. low carbon grades, and on the as-shipped condition for other grades.

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

Committee A01 has identified the location of selected changes to this specification since the last issue,
A688/A688M–12, which may impact the use of this specification. (Approved March 1, 2015)

(1) Clarified the forumula for Al plus Ti for N08811 in Table 1.