SPECIFICATION FOR PRESSURE VESSEL PLATES,

FIVE PERCENT NICKEL ALLOY STEEL,

01 SPECIALLY HEAT TREATED
SA-645/SA-645M

(Identical with ASTM Specification A 645/A 645M-99a.)

1. Scope air cooling to develop maximum toughness. This opera-

tion is performed subsequent to temperizing.
1.1 This specification covers austenitized, quenched,
temperized, and reversion-annealed 5% nickel alloy 3.1.2 temperizing — heating to an optimum temper-
steel plates intended primarily for welded pressure ature and quenching to develop a microstructure con-
vessels for service at low or cryogenic temperatures. taining some retained austenite and characterized by a
1.2 The maximum thickness of plates which can be lamellar pattern of alternate acicular grains of martensite
supplied under this specification is limited only by and ferrite. This operation is performed subsequent to
the capacity of the material to meet the specified an initial austenitizing and quenching.
requirements.
1.3 This material is susceptible to magnetization.
Use of magnets in handling after heat treatment should 4. General Requirements and Ordering
be avoided if residual magnetism would be detrimental Information
to subsequent fabrication or service. 4.1 Material supplied to this material specification
1.4 The values stated in either inch-pound units or shall conform to Specification A 20/A 20M. These
SI units are to be regarded separately as standard. requirements outline the testing and retesting methods
Within the text, the SI units are shown in brackets. The and procedures, permissible variations in dimensions
values stated in each system are not exact equivalents; and weight, quality and repair of defects, marking,
therefore, each system must be used independently of loading, etc.
the other. Combining values from the two systems may 4.2 Specification A 20/A 20M also establishes the
result in nonconformance with the specification. rules for the ordering information that should be com-
plied with when purchasing material to this specification.

2. Referenced Document 4.3 In addition to the basic requirements of this

specification, certain supplementary requirements are
2.1 ASTM Standard:
available when additional control, testing, or examina-
A 20/A 20M Specification for General Requirements for
tion is required to meet end use requirements. These
Steel Plates for Pressure Vessels
include:
4.3.1 Vacuum treatment.
3. Terminology
4.3.2 Additional or special tension testing.
3.1 Descriptions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
4.3.3 Impact testing.
3.1.1 reversion annealing — heating to an optimum
temperature above the Ac1, followed by quenching or 4.3.4 Nondestructive examination.

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4.4 The purchaser is referred to the listed supplemen- 7. Chemical Requirements

tary requirements in this specification and to the detailed
7.1 The steel shall conform to the requirements as
requirements in Specification A 20/A 20M.
to chemical composition prescribed in Table 1 unless
4.5 If the requirements of this specification are in otherwise modified in accordance with Supplementary
conflict with the requirements of Specification A 20/ Requirement S17, Vacuum Carbon-Deoxidized Steel,
A 20M, the requirements of this specification shall in Specification A 20/A 20M.
prevail.

8. Mechanical Requirements
5. Materials and Manufacture
8.1 Tension Tests — The material as represented by
5.1 Steelmaking Practice — The steel shall be killed tension test specimens shall conform to the requirements
and shall conform to the fine austenitic grain size prescribed in Table 2.
requirements of Specification A 20/A 20M.
8.1.1 For nominal plate thicknesses of 3⁄4 in. [20
mm] and under, the 11⁄2 in. [40 mm] wide rectangular
specimen may be used for the tension test, and the
6. Heat Treatment
elongation may be determined in a 2 in. [50 mm] gage
6.1 All plates shall be heat treated in accordance length that includes the fracture and that shows the
with 6.2. Shell plates and other parts, including heads greatest elongation.
and reinforcing pads, which are heated above 1125°F
8.2 Impact Tests:
[605°C] for forming, shall be heat treated after forming,
8.2.1 Charpy V-notch tests shall be made in accord-
6.2 Procedure and Sequence:
ance with the general requirements of Specification A
6.2.1 Hardening: 20/A 20M.
6.2.1.1 The plates shall be heated to a tempera- 8.2.2 The longitudinal axis of the test specimens
ture of 1575 to 1675°F [855 to 915°C], held at this shall be transverse to the final direction of rolling of
temperature for a minimum of 1 h/in. [2.4 min/mm] the plate.
of thickness, but in no case less than 15 min, and then
8.2.3 Unless otherwise agreed, tests shall be con-
water-quenched to below 300°F [150°C].
ducted at −275°F [−170°C].
6.2.2 Temperizing: 8.2.4 Each specimen shall have a lateral expansion
6.2.2.1 The plates shall be reheated to a tempera- opposite the notch of not less than 0.015 in. [0.38 mm].
ture of 1275 to 1400°F [690 to 760°C], held at this 8.2.5 The values of energy absorption in foot-
temperature for a minimum of 1 h/in. [2.4 min/mm] pounds-force [joules] and the fracture appearance in
of thickness, but in no case less than 15 min, and then percent shear shall be recorded and reported for infor-
water-quenched to below 300°F [150°C]. mation.
6.2.3 Reversion Annealing:
6.2.3.1 The plates shall be reheated to a tempera- 9. Keywords
ture of 1150 to 1225°F [620 to 665°C], held at this
temperature for a minimum of 1 h/in. [2.4 min/mm] 9.1 alloy steel plate; nickel alloy steel; pressure
of thickness, but in no case less than 15 min, and then containing parts; pressure vessel steels; steel plates;
water-quenched or air cooled to below 300°F [150°C]. steel plates for pressure vessel applications.

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 SA-645/SA-645M 2001 SECTION II

SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENTS

A list of standardized supplementary requirements for use at the option of the

purchaser is included in Specification A 20/A 20M. Supplementary requirements
shall not apply unless specified in the order. Those which are considered suitable
for use with this specification are listed below by title. Others enumerated in Specifi-
cation A 20/A 20M may be used with this specification subject to agreement by
the supplier.

S1. Vacuum Treatment

S2. Product Analysis
S6. Drop-Weight Tests
S8. Ultrasonic Examination in accordance with
Specification A 435/A 435M
S11. Ultrasonic Examination in accordance with
Specification A 577/A 577M
S12. Ultrasonic Examination in accordance with
Specification A 578/A 578M
S14. Bend Test
S17. Vacuum Carbon-Deoxidized Steel

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TABLE 1
CHEMICAL REQUIREMENTS
Composition, %

Element Heat Analysis Product Analysis

Carbon, max 0.13 0.15
Manganese 0.30–0.60 0.25–0.66
Phosphorus, max 0.025 0.035
Sulfur, max 0.025 0.035
Silicon 0.20–0.40 0.18–0.45
Nickel 4.75–5.25 4.65–5.35
Molybdenum 0.20–0.35 0.17–0.38
Aluminum, total 0.02–0.12 0.01–0.16
Nitrogen, max 0.020 0.025

TABLE 2
TENSILE REQUIREMENTS
ksi [MPa]
A
Yield strength, min 65 [450]
Tensile strength 95–115 [655 to 795]
Elongation in 2 in. [50 mm], min, % B 20.0
A
At 0.2% offset. Upon agreement between the purchaser and the manufacturer, yield strength may be
determined by the total extension-under-load method, using a total extension of 0.005 in./in. [0.005 mm/mm].
B
See Specification A 20/A 20M for elongation adjustment.

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 SA-645/SA-645M 2001 SECTION II

ADDITIONAL SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENTS

Also listed below are additional supplementary requirements which are considered
suitable for use with this specification.

S64. Longitudinal Charpy Impact Energy

Absorption Requirement
S64.1 When required, the purchaser may specify
longitudinal Charpy V-notch impact testing to energy-
absorption acceptance criteria.
S64.2 Tests shall be conducted in accordance with
the general requirements of Specification A 20/A 20M.
S64.3 The longitudinal Charpy V-notch impact prop-
erties shall not be less than those shown in Table S1.
S64.4 The impact values obtained on subsize speci-
mens shall not be less than the values listed in Table S1.

S65. Transverse Charpy Impact Energy

Absorption Requirement
S65.1 When required, the purchaser may specify
transverse Charpy V-notch impact testing to energy-
absorption acceptance criteria.
S65.2 Tests shall be conducted in accordance with
the general requirements of Specification A 20/A 20M.
S65.3 The transverse Charpy V-notch impact proper-
ties shall not be less than those shown in Table S2.
S65.4 The impact values obtained on subsize speci-
mens shall not be less than the values listed in Table S2.

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TABLE S1
CHARPY IMPACT REQUIREMENTS FOR LONGITUDINAL SPECIMENS
Charpy V-notch Impact Value Minimum Charpy V-notch Impact
Required for Acceptance Value Without Requiring Retest
(Average of Three (One Specimen Only of a Set),
Size of Specimen, mm Specimens), ft·lbf [J] ft·lbf [J]
10 by 10 25 [34] 20 [27]
10 by 7.5 19 [26] 16 [22]
10 by 6.67 17 [23] 13 [18]
10 by 5.0 13 [18] 10 [14]
10 by 3.33 8 [11] 7 [10]
10 by 2.50 6 [8] 5 [7]

TABLE S2
CHARPY IMPACT REQUIREMENTS FOR TRANSVERSE SPECIMENS
Charpy V-notch Impact Value Minimum Charpy V-notch Impact
Required for Acceptance Value Without Requiring Retest
(Average of Three (One Specimen Only of a Set),
Size of Specimen, mm Specimens), ft·lbf [J] ft·lbf [J]
10 by 10 20 [27] 16 [22]
10 by 7.5 15 [20] 12 [16]
10 by 6.6 13 [18] 10 [14]
10 by 5.0 10 [14] 8 [11]
10 by 3.33 7 [10] 5 [7]
10 by 2.50 5 [7] 4 [5]

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