1.
Aspects of Standards
Why are they important?
And, examples in Metallurgical Testing
John M. Tartaglia, Ph.D.
Senior Metallurgical Engineer & Engineering Manager
Element Wixom
March 6, 2012 Aspects of Standards

2.
Webinar Schedule
• Begin lecture at 1 pm
• Lecture for about 50 minutes
• Questions & Answers
– During webinar and directly after webinar
• Ask questions using the GoToWebinar question box
• These questions will be answered in the remaining 10
minutes
– After the webinar is posted, send me an email at
• John.tartaglia@element.com
Aspects of Standards 2

3.
Presentation Requests & Materials
• Supplied materials
1. PowerPoint slides
• You may download a copy of this webinar from our website within 48 hours
• You may separately download a pdf copy of this presentation from the
website, without my voice
Element Materials Technology marketing information and scopes are
available on our website: www.element.com
• Topical Coverage
– I picked topics based on my/our experience with these standards
– I’ll try to keep your interest
– I won’t cover all the notes; some of them are for reference only. This
may be a good reason to download the pdf copy of the presentation.
– I will cover and omit topics partly based on time expenditure
– This presentation contains some of the presenter’s personal opinions.
• Some parties may consider these assertions to be controversial.
• The opinions do not represent ASTM, ASM, JIS, ISO or Element policy.
Aspects of Standards 3

4.
Questions that will be (at least) partially
answered in this webinar
• How are ASTM standards developed?
• How often are ASTM & SAE test methods and other standards
revised?
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of various types of
specifications?
• What are some guidelines for citing open specifications and test
methods in industrial part prints and contractual documents
• What are some implications of using domestic standards for
products produced in foreign locations?
• What are some key differences between the metallurgical
standards published by various organizations, e.g., SAE, ASTM,
JIS, DIN, EN, ISO, etc.?
Aspects of Standards 4

5.
Aspects of Standards Topics
• Definition of standards
• ASTM society description
• ASTM collections and nomenclature
• Types of ASTM committees & standards
• Other standards organizations
• ASTM standards numbering
• ASTM standard revision timing
• ASTM versus SAE test methods and specifications
• Why bother and a “sad story”
• Test method standards, including ASTM vs. other types
– Hardness and Mechanical Test Standards
– Quantitative Metallography Standards
Aspects of Standards 5

6.
What is ASTM?
• Originally known as the American Society for Testing and
Materials (ASTM).
• Begun in 1898 when engineers and scientists gathered to address
frequent rail breaks in the burgeoning railroad industry.
• Now known as ASTM International, which is one of the largest
voluntary standards development organizations in the world.
• ASTM standards make products and services safer, better and more
cost-effective.
Information on this and subsequent ASTM slides was obtained from
www.astm.org and the ASTM “Blue book”
Aspects of Standards 6

7.
ASTM vs. ASM
• Note that ASTM and ASM are very different
• ASTM is a standards-making organization
• ASM International:
– Is the former American Society for Metals,
– Is The Materials Information Society,
– Only supplies information about materials,
– Issues no standards, but
– Publishes handbooks that are an excellent source for cross-
referencing various metals and alloy specifications
Aspects of Standards 7

8.
7 Categories of ASTM Committees
and Standards
 Ferrous Metals
 Nonferrous Metals
 Ceramics, Glass, Concrete, Insulators
 Plastics, Paint, Rubbers, Wood, Packages
 Miscellaneous Subjects (mostly testing)
 Fasteners, Electronics, Hazards,
Amusement Rides
 Corrosion, Wear, Erosion
Aspects of Standards 8

9.
ASTM standards facts
• 12,000 standards
• Delivered by PDF file download, CD, or
• 77 book volumes of standards
– Two digit section number precedes a period
– Two digit volume number follows the period
– Example:
• Section 3: Metals Test Methods and Analytical Procedures
• Volume 03.01: Metals—Mechanical Testing; Elevated and Low-
Temperature Tests; Metallography
– With the advent of computerized standard delivery, the ASTM
book volumes are becoming less significant and less used.
• However, they are still extremely valuable for several specialized
reasons like subject matter searches and alloy groupings because the
ASTM website does not quite give you this key wording “perfection”.
Aspects of Standards 9

10.
Volume 03.01 – Metals
(most common in metals labs)
 Volume 03.01 includes tests and practices that
outline the standard procedures needed to
perform mechanical testing
 Some standards define terms and explain
procedures related to fatigue testing and loading
 Also featured are metallography tests and
practices
Aspects of Standards 10

11.
ASTM “standard” is a
generic description
• standard, n—as used in ASTM International, a
document that has been developed and
established within the consensus principles of
the Society and that meets the approval
requirements of ASTM procedures and
regulations.
– The term “standard” is also used as a generic adjective in the
title of documents, such as test methods or specifications. The
various types of standard documents are prescribed by the
ASTM committees.
Aspects of Standards 11

12.
Primary types of
ASTM standards
 specification, n—an explicit set of
requirements to be satisfied by a
material, product, system, or service.
 test method, n—a definitive procedure
that produces a test result.
Aspects of Standards 12

13.
Other types of ASTM standards
 guide, n—a compendium of information or series of
options that does not recommend a specific course of
action.
 practice, n—a definitive set of instructions for performing
one or more specific operations that does not produce a
test result. This is not really true; many practices do
produce a test result.
 terminology standard, n—a document comprising
definitions of terms; explanations of symbols,
abbreviations, or acronyms.
Aspects of Standards 13

14.
Other standards-making
organizations
• In this webinar, I mostly discuss ASTM and SAE
because they are the organizations that are
arguably most predominant in North America
and Detroit, respectively, where Element Wixom
mostly operates.
• However, there are many organizations that
issue standards.
• To the left of this slide is an example, from a
survey, of all the organizations that issue
aerospace standards:
14

15.
JIS Background
• The Japanese Standards Association is an organization that
formed in December 6, 1945.
• The objective of the association is "to educate the public
regarding the standardization and unification of industrial
standards, and thereby to contribute to the improvement of
technology and the enhancement of production efficiency".
• The primary activity of JSA is to publish and distribute JIS
(Japanese Industrial Standards)
• JSA also publishes books on industrial standardization, quality
management (control), administrative management, science and
technology, JIS Handbooks, and other books.
http://www.jsa.or.jp/default_english.asp
Aspects of Standards 15

16.
ISO Background
http://www.iso.org/iso/home.htm
• ISO standards are developed similarly to ASTM and according to the following
principles:
• Consensus
The views of all interests are taken into account: manufacturers, vendors and users,
consumer groups, testing laboratories, governments, engineering professions and
research organizations.
• Industry wide
Global solutions to satisfy industries and customers worldwide.
• Voluntary
International standardization is market driven and therefore based on voluntary
involvement of all interests in the market-place.
• Example: Element laboratories have A2LA Accreditation
International Standard ANS/ISO/IEC 17025 “General requirements for the
competence of testing and calibration laboratories”
Aspects of Standards 16

17.
DIN and EN Background
http://www.din.de/cmd?level=tpl-home&languageid=en http://www.cen.eu/cen/Pages/default.aspx
• The creation of German standards is the task of DIN, a self-governing institution of trade
and industry.
• DIN represents Germany and fulfils an equivalent function in the European and
International (ISO) standards organization.
• An EN standard is a European standard, with the status of a DIN or BS (British) standard.
• CEN develops EN standards, in the same way as ASTM and ISO:
– Standards are developed through a consensus process;
– Participants in standards development represent all concerned interests: industry, authorities and
civil society, contributing mainly through their national standards bodies;
– Draft standards are made public for consultation at large;
– The final and formal vote is binding on all members;
– The European Standards (ENs) must be transposed into national standards and conflicting
standards withdrawn.
Aspects of Standards 17

18.
ASTM standards
• Numbering
• Revision and issuance
• Test methods
• Specifications
• The sad stories…..
Aspects of Standards 18

19.
Standards Numbering
• Volume 03.01 contains standards produced by the
following committee(s):
– E04 on Metallography
– E08 on Fatigue and Fracture
– E28 on Mechanical Testing
– E30 and E58 on Forensic Sciences and Engineering, respectively
• I’m a member of these three committees for Element
Wixom and I vote on new and revised standards that are
issued by several subcommittees of these committees.
• The standards themselves are preceded by their letter
category and a chronological number (which varies from
one to four digits).
Aspects of Standards 19

20.
Standards Numbering Example
E1234M-99a(2004)ε1
 The “E” signifies that it is a “Miscellaneous Subjects” standard, and
that it was probably published by an “E” committee and
subcommittee.
 The “1234” signifies that it is the 1234th standard developed in the E
category.
 The “M” means the standard version with metric units. Sometimes
this is in a separate document like this example
– Usually it is in the same document with the English units and called
E1234(E1234M)a(2004)e1.
4. The “99” signifies that it was originally adopted or last revised in 1999.
5. Standards can be revised every day, but in reality, it takes a rather
long process with one or more votes.
– The “a” signifies that it was revised once in 1999 after it was adopted or a
revision was published during that year.
20

21.
Standards Numbering Continued
E1234M-99a(2004)ε1 (with rules)
1. The “2004” signifies that it was reapproved with no
changes during 2004.
– All ASTM standards must be reapproved or withdrawn
(after a vote) within seven years.
– ASTM will automatically withdraw the standard when/if the
(sub)committee does not act to submit the standard for
reapproval, revision or withdrawal vote within the seven
years.
 The e1 or e1 signifies that it was revised editorially.
– These editorial revisions do not require a vote and are
usually used to correct clerical mistakes.
Aspects of Standards 21

22.
ASTM Standard Footnotes & Chronology
• The footnotes at the bottom of the left hand column of each standard
give more pedigree information.
• Chronology:
– The current edition was approved on July 1, 2007.
– The current edition was published in September 2007.
– The standard was originally published as E3-21T, which was in 1921.
This is the oldest surviving E standard!
– The last previous edition was E3-01, or the 2001 version.
• The 2007 reapproval makes it a separate version!
• Both a committee and a subcommittee are involved in issuance:
– Jurisdiction of ASTM (Main) Committee E04 on Metallography
– Direct responsibility of Subcommittee E04.01 on Specimen Preparation.
Aspects of Standards 22

23.
Are your ASTM standards updated in
a timely manner?
• ASTM standards change at any time
– Some changes occur multiple times throughout the year.
• With standards in book form, you probably don’t have the
latest standard.
• If you update once a quarter, you are more timely, but you
are still behind.
• ASTM email notification service is available
– when a standard of interest is updated and downloadable
as a pdf.
• Often entities, and even ASTM, references obsolete or
withdrawn standards!
Aspects of Standards 23

24.
Incorporating ASTM standard revisions
• At Element Wixom, I read the standard and see what has
changed. (For the major ASTM test methods, I know this because
I’ve voted on the standard revisions during development.)
• The subcommittee authors sometimes make this easy with a
“Notification of Changes” section since the last revision.
• I then notify the laboratory staff who will be affected, and it’s their
responsibility to incorporate the revisions into their daily test or
certification practice.
• A2LA and other accreditation bodies like Nadcap require a full
citation on a report for the relevant standard. This must include
the year and revision designation. I am surprised at how often
that’s missing on many laboratory reports!
Aspects of Standards 24

25.
Other documents reference ASTM standards
• Besides ASTM, many companies and standardizing bodies
issue test methods.
• Almost all of these organizations refer to ASTM standards,
but not all of them do so correctly!
• The major examples of incorrect (or at least inadvisable)
reference are as follows:
– Including a year for the reference (which is exactly opposite to the
requirement for a report)
– Abstracting data from the cited ASTM standard, e.g., an alloy
composition
– Both of these references are potentially out-of-date as soon as they
are published.
Aspects of Standards 25

26.
An example of a print exhibiting a
problematic specification reference
Print DATE: 06/20/97
Material: LEADED RED BRASS PER ASTM B584-87 ALLOY UNS NO. C83600
• Print requires (19)87 Version of ASTM B584
• The earliest edition of the standard that we could find was (19)98a
• The sample was out-of-specification for 98a
– This is the current (2008) version of the ASTM standard.
• However, the question remains:
– Was the alloy out-of-specification in the 1987 version of the ASTM standard?
Aspects of Standards 26

27.
SAE vs. ASTM test methods
Test Method SAE ASTM
E10-10
Hardness J417 Dec 1983 E18-08b
E140-07
Decarburization J419 Dec 1983 E1077-01(2005)
Inclusions J422 Dec 1983 E45-11
Case Depth J423 Feb 1998 None!
• ASTM is updated much more frequently so procedures are different.
• SAE test methods, except for case depth, are hardly used anymore.
Aspects of Standards 27

28.
SAE vs. ASTM alloy specifications
Alloy
SAE ASTM
Specification
A684(A684M)-10a
J403 for strip with separate
Plain Carbon standards for wrought
November 2001
Steels products of different form
(wrought only) (sheet, plate, tube, bar, etc.)
or castings
Ductile Iron J434 Feb 2004 A536-84 (2009)
• ASTM usually requires more and different things.
• SAE has more ambiguities.
Aspects of Standards 28

29.
Differences in plain carbon steel
specifications
SAE J403 November 2001 ASTM A684 (A684M)-10a
• Requires • Requires
– C range – C range
– Mn range – Mn range
– P maximum – P maximum
– S maximum – S maximum
– Report other elements – Si range (although exceptions)
• Special callouts for – Report other elements
– B and/or Si ranges • Special callouts for
– Copper minimum – B and/or Si ranges
– Lead (Pb) range – Lead (Pb) range
• No discussion of residuals • Residuals are limited
– Ni, Cr, Mo – Ni, Cr, Mo, and Cu
– Could lead to a tool, alloy or • Strip thickness is specified
stainless steel being classified
as a plain carbon steel
Aspects of Standards 29

30.
Example: A true, but sanitized and relevant story
• Major OEM buys a safety-critical fastener system from fastener manufacturer in
accordance with a print specifying 1050 steel per SAE J403.
• Fastener manufacturer buys a component for the system from heat treater
– Heat Treater buys “1050” steel from Service Center #1.
– Service Center #1 buys “1050” steel from another service center (call it #2).
– Service Center #2 supplies “3150” steel, and doesn’t report (to Heat Treater and
Service Center #1) that the steel contains 0.8%Cr and 1.25%Ni.
• Don’t worry if you’ve never heard of 3150; it was only obsoleted in 1952.
– Service center #1 reports only C, Mn, P, S, and Si to Heat Treater
• Heat treater hardens and tempers 3150, certifies it as 1050, and reports Service
Center #1’s composition to fastener manufacturer.
• Fasteners embrittle in the field and this caused a large recall.
• Major OEM very upset
– OEM metallurgists say everyone should know that 1050 steel wasn’t supplied
– OEM quality engineers and Tartaglia say 3150 steel is no different than 1050 steel
based on SAE J403
Aspects of Standards 30

31.
Ways That Failures Can Be Caused by
Incorrect, Ambiguous, or Insufficient
Specifications or Test Methods
• Due to cost, availability, volume, or dimensional
considerations
– Prototypes often survive Production Part Approval Process
(PPAP),* but production material fails because it is specified
differently before production launch
*PPAP definition Per AIAG (Automotive Industry Action Group)
– Prototype testing is only conducted on one end of the specification
limit, but production parts may still fail even if they meet design
specification
• Specification is incomplete and inaccurate
• Conformance testing is not specified or ambiguously
specified
Aspects of Standards 31

32.
How can you be sure?
• Test, test, test, TEST
• Ask Element about what kind of tests to
run
• Supply Element with your specifications
and ask us about certification options
Aspects of Standards 32

33.
Aspects of Mechanical Testing
Standards
• Definitions in ASTM E6
• Different ASTM tensile test
methods
• Determining yield strength and
modulus from tensile tests
• Differing elongation methods
(ASTM vs. ISO & JIS)
• Charpy V-notch toughness (ASTM
vs. ISO & JIS)
Aspects of Standards 33

34.
ASTM tensile test methods
• E8 standard English method
– Uses psi or ksi and 4:1 gauge length to diameter/width ratio
– Mechanical/Uniaxial ASTM E28.04 subcommittee
• E8M standard metric units method
– Now combined standard, with E8
– Uses 5:1 gauge length to diameter/width ratio
– Same as ISO and JIS test methods, except for elongation calculations
– Uses MegaPascals=MPa = MN/m2 = N/mm2 (≠ kg/mm2)
• B557/B557M
– For nonferrous wrought and cast aluminum and magnesium only
– Light Metals and Alloys (product) ASTM B07.05 subcommittee responsibility
• A370
– For steel products
– Includes many tests besides tensile
– Steel (product) ASTM A01.13 subcommittee responsibility
• All have virtually same requirements (now) thankfully
Aspects of Standards 34

35.
Methods and terminology for strength
testing in various standards
• JIS Z2241, and DIN EN 10 002-1 results have the same
yield and tensile strength requirements as ASTM,
although the JIS and DIN test methods use different
symbols for the results versus ASTM.
– 0.2%YS, UTS, El, and RA are yield strength, (ultimate)
tensile strength, Elongation, and reduction of area
respectively, in ASTM standards
– Rp is proof strength, Rm is tensile strength, Z is reduction
of area, and A is elongation for EN and JIS standards
• Proof vs. Yield
– Offset method is used for 0.2% offset YS in US & 0.1%
proof stress in UK
– Upper and lower yield strength is terminology reserved for
discontinuous yielding in all the standards
– In JIS and DIN, offset method is used for “proof” and the
word “yield” is reserved for discontinuous yielding
• All standards define 5% EUL (extension under load);
mostly for Cu alloys
Aspects of Standards 35

36.
Elongation measurements
 Elongation at fracture
– Total elongation per current versions of ASTM test methods E8, B557 and
A370
– Measured by extensometer
 Elongation after fracture (manual and plastic)
– Measured physically by pushing fractured samples together (under 2 ksi
pressure, if desired)
– Measure final gauge length with digital calipers
• Will overestimate elongation in brittle materials because you cannot push sample
ends together perfectly
• Will be similar to #1 for ductile materials
3. ASTM elongation calculation is all the same for JIS Z2242.
4. ASTM elongation calculation is mostly the same for DIN EN 10 002 Part
1
– DIN EN has somewhat different gauge length requirements for some
specimens, and thus elongation is calculated somewhat differently than ASTM
and JIS.
Aspects of Standards 36

37.
What’s the results section of the
standard test method require?
• Assumption:
– In this age of computers, you can get sophisticated data
• Potential problem:
– But should you trust it (GIGO=garbage in-garbage out)?
• Example:
– ASTM E8, JIS Z2242, and DIN EN 10 045 Results
– Reports only ultimate tensile strength (UTS), yield strength (YS),
elongation (%El), and reduction of area (%RA) and a few other
items under some conditions in all three types of standards
– What about modulus (E) and digital stress-strain curves?
Aspects of Standards 37

38.
Elastic modulus and digital stress-strain
determination: ASTM E111
Only small difference 50
between 45
40
extensometer and 35
30
strain gauge here 25
20
Although this full
15
curve looks OK,
300 10
5
250 0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Engineering Strain (%)
200
40
Stress (ksi)
150
35
30
100
25 significant inaccuracy has
20
15
occurred at low strains
Extensometer Strain %
50 10 here, so strain gauge must
Strain Gauge Strain %
5
0
be used!
0 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
0.000 0.200 0.400 0.600 0.800 1.000 1.200 1.400 1.600
Engineering Strain (%)
Engineering Strain %
Aspects of Standards 38

39.
Charpy impact toughness
• ASTM E23 and the other worldwide standards
– Fast and inexpensive
– Constant overall standard geometry (10 mm by 10 mm by 55
mm) and apparatus
– V-notch is the same throughout the world
– All standards report energy in Joules or ft-lbs
• Multiply ft-lbs by 1.355 to obtain Joules (J)
• U-notch can have different depth in US versus Europe
– ASTM E23 and JIS Z2242 = 5 mm depth (although JIS allows
2 mm in special instances)
– EN 10 045 = 5 mm
– DIN 50 115 = 3 mm for DVM (special for some ductile cast
irons)
– Notch depths will give much different energy results
• No testing standard allows or discusses reporting of energy
density (Joules per mm2), but many users scale energies
for subsize samples
– Although some product testing standards allow this
calculation, this energy density calculation is fraught with peril!
Aspects of Standards 39

40.
Inclusion Definitions & Analyses
• Indigenous (endogenous): A nonmetallic material that
precipitates from the melt. An indigenous inclusion is
native.
• Exogenous: A nonmetallic constituent produced by
entrapment of foreign material in the melt.
• Inclusion cleanliness severity ratings are usually applied
to indigenous inclusions only, and mostly in steels. I will
discuss ASTM, German DIN, and Japanese JIS methods
for these.
• Inclusion content determinations and elemental analyses
can be applied to all inclusion types and metal alloys. I
won’t discuss these, but they are covered in ASTM test
methods and practices E1245, E2283, and E2142.
Aspects of Standards 40

41.
Inclusion Cleanliness Severity
Standards
• American ASTM E45
• German DIN 50602
• Japanese G0555
• All three rate by color and morphology only
• No composition determination
• Severity is defined as thickness/width and length,
except for JIS which is in %
Aspects of Standards 41

42.
Sample requirements (ASTM+DIN+JIS)
• Careful mount polishing is required to
avoid
– Corrosion of inclusions
– Pullout of inclusions
– JIS requires hardened samples
• Required sample orientation
– in the radial longitudinal orientation (G) for
round stock
– in the long transverse orientation (E) for flat
stock
• Required sample state
– in the semi-finished state only (e.g., not
after being forged or formed into a product)
– JIS suggests hardening some samples
• Required minimum sample size of
– minimum 160 mm2 (0.25 in2) rated area
Aspects of Standards 42

43.
International Comparison:
(Same types, but different abbreviations)
Type Morphology and Color Hardnes ASTM DIN JIS
s
Elongated, gray, and continuous
Soft &
Sulfide (stringers) elongation (orientation) A SS A1
plastic
in working direction
Elongated, dark, and continuous
Soft &
Silicate elongation (orientation) in working C OS A2
plastic
direction
Elongated and fragmented
(granular) with discontinuous
Alumina Hard B OA B
elongation (orientation) in working
direction
Rounded and individual with no
Globular preferred orientation with respect Hard D OG C
to the working direction
Aspects of Standards 43

44.
To take away
• Standards are part of our lives and societies
– Accept them
– Use them
– Contribute to their improvement
• Standards have precision and provide
– Requirements
– Test methods
– Rules for commerce
• There are fine points that are similar and
different between various worldwide standards
Aspects of Standards 44

45.
Contact for questions
John M. Tartaglia, Ph.D., FASM
Senior Metallurgical Engineer &
Engineering Manager
Element Materials Technology
51229 Century Court
Wixom, MI 48393-2074
Tel: 248-960-4900 Ext. 329
Fax: 248-960-5973
E-mail: john.tartaglia@element.com
Aspects of Standards 45