ASTM A179/ ASME SA179M Standard

ASTM A179 is a standard specification for seamless cold-drawn low-carbon steel heat-exchanger and condenser tubes. These tubes are mainly designed for heat transfer applications where the temperature of the fluid being transported is below the temperature of the surroundings.

The steel used in this specification has a low carbon content, which makes it easier to form and weld. The tubes are typically ordered in lengths ranging from 3 to 20 meters, and they can be supplied with various end finishes such as plain ends or beveled ends.

ASTM A179 tubes are widely used in a variety of industries, including oil and gas, chemical processing, power generation, and heating and ventilation. They are commonly used in heat exchangers, condensers, and other types of equipment where efficient heat transfer is essential.

The tubes are subjected to various tests to ensure that they meet the specified requirements, including tensile and hardness tests, flattening tests, and hydrostatic or nondestructive electric tests.

In summary, ASTM A179 is a specification for seamless cold-drawn low-carbon steel tubes, designed for use in heat transfer applications where low temperatures are involved. They are widely used in various industries and undergo rigorous testing to ensure their quality and reliability.

1. Scope of aSTM A179

1.1 This specification2 covers minimum-wall-thickness, seamless cold-drawn low-carbon steel tubes for tubular heat exchangers, condensers, and similar heat transfer apparatus.
1.2 This specification covers tubes 1/8 to 3 in. [3.2 to 76.2 mm], inclusive, in outside diameter.
Note 1—Tubing smaller in outside diameter and having a thinner wall than indicated in this specification is available. Mechanical property requirements do not apply to tubing smaller than 1/8 in. [3.2 mm] in outside diameter or with a wall thickness under 0.015 in. [0.4 mm].
1.3 The values stated in either inch-pound units or SI units are to be regarded separately as standard. Within the text, the SI units are shown in brackets. The values stated in each system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system must be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in nonconformance with the specification. The inch-pound units shall apply unless the “M” designation of this specification is specified in the order.

2. Referenced Documents (purchase separately) 

ASTM Standards
A450/A450M Specification for General Requirements for Carbon and Low Alloy Steel Tubes

3. Ordering Information
3.1 Orders for material under this specification should include the following, as required, to describe the desired material adequately:
3.1.1 Quantity (feet, metres, or number of lengths),
3.1.2 Name of material (seamless tubes),
3.1.3 Manufacture (cold-drawn),
3.1.4 Size (outside diameter and minimum wall thickness),
3.1.5 Length (specific or random),
3.1.6 Optional requirements (product analysis, Section 9, flange test, 11.3),
3.1.7 Test report required (Certification Section of Specifi- cation A450/A450M),
3.1.8 Specification number, and
3.1.9 Special requirements.
 
4. General Requirements
4.1 Material furnished under this specification shall con- form to the applicable requirements of the current edition of Specification A450/A450M, unless otherwise provided herein.
 
5. Manufacture
5.1 Tubes shall be made by the seamless process and shall be cold drawn.
 
6. Heat Treatment
6.1 Tubes shall be heat treated after the final cold draw pass at a temperature of 1200°F [650°C] or higher.
 
7. Surface Condition
7.1 Finished tubes shall be free of scale. A slight amount of oxidation will not be considered as scale.
 
8. Chemical Composition
8.1 The steel shall conform to the following requirements as to chemical composition:

8.2 Supplying an alloy grade that specifically requires the addition of any element other than those listed in 8.1 is not permitted.

9. Product Analysis
9.1 When requested on the purchase order, a product analy- sis shall be made by the supplier from 1 tube per 250 pieces or when tubes are identified by heat, one tube per heat shall be analyzed. The chemical composition thus determined shall conform to the requirements specified.

9.2 If the original test for product analysis fails, retests of two additional billets or tubes shall be made. Both retests, for the elements in question, shall meet the requirements of the specification; otherwise all remaining material in the heat or lot (Note 2) shall be rejected or, at the option of the producer, each billet or tube may be individually tested for acceptance. Billets or tubes which do not meet the requirements of the specifica- tion shall be rejected.
NOTE 2—A lot consists of 250 tubes.

10.Mechanical Propertie

11. Mechanical Tests Required
11.1 Flattening Test—One flattening test shall be made on specimens from each of two tubes from each lot (Note 2) or fraction thereof.
11.2 Flaring Test—One flaring test shall be made on speci- mens from each of two tubes from each lot (Note 2) or fraction thereof.
11.3 Flange Test—When specified as a substitute for the flaring test, for tubes having a wall thickness (actual mean wall) less than 10 % of the outside diameter, one test shall be made on specimens from each of two tubes from each lot (Note2) or fraction thereof. For tubes other than specified above, the flange test shall not be required.
11.4 Hardness Test—Rockwell hardness tests shall be made on specimens from two tubes from each lot. The term lot applies to all tubes, prior to cutting, of the same nominal diameter and wall thickness which are produced from the same heat of steel. 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 which are heat treated in the same furnace charge. When the final heat treatment is in a continuous furnace, a lot shall include all tubes of the same size and heat, heat treated in the same furnace at the same temperature, time at heat, and furnace speed.
11.5 Hydrostatic Test—Each tube shall be subjected to the hydrostatic test, or, instead of this test, a nondestructive electric test may be used when specified by the purchaser.

12. Product Marking
12.1 In addition to the marking prescribed in Specification A450/A450M, the marking shall include the name and order number of the purchaser.

13. Keywords
13.1 cold drawn tube; condenser tubes; heat exchanger tubes; low carbon steel; seamless tube

Application

Chemical components (%) of ASTM A179

C	Si	Mn	P	S	Mo	Cr	V
0.06-0.18	/	0.27-0.63	≤0.035	≤0.035	/	/	/

Mechanical properties of ASTM A179

Tensile Strength (Mpa)	Yield Strength (Mpa)	Elongation (%)	Hardness (HRB)
≥325	≥180	≥35	≤72

Wall thickness tolerance of ASTM A179 Tube

Outside Diameter	Wall thickness Tolerance %
In. (mm)	Over (+)	Under (-)
1 ½ (38.1) and under	20	0
Over 1½ (38.1)	22	0

Wall thickness tolerance of ASTM A179 Tube

Outside Diameter	Wall thickness Tolerance %
In. (mm)	Over (+)	Under (-)
1 ½ (38.1) and under	20	0
Over 1½ (38.1)	22	0

Cut length tolerance of cold-finished seamless tubes

Outside Diameter	Cut Length, in.(mm)
In.(mm)	Over (+)	Under (-)
All Sizes	3⁄16 [5]	0 [0]
Under 2 [50.8]	1⁄8 [3]	0 [0]
2 [50.8] and over	3⁄16 [5]	0 [0]
Under 2 [50.8]	1⁄8 [3]	0 [0]
2 [50.8] and over	3⁄16 [5]	0 [0]

These permissible variations in length apply to tubes before bending. They apply to cut lengths up to and including 24 ft [7.3 m]. For lengths greater than 24 ft [7.3 m], the above over-tolerances shall be increased by 1⁄8 in. [3 mm] for each 10 ft [3 m] or fraction thereof over 24 ft or 1⁄2 in. [13 mm], whichever is the lesser.

This is an effective way of metal corrosion, the use of the main features are the following:

1. ASTM A179 cold drawn seamless pipe manufacturers with thick dense dense zinc layer covered in the cold drawn seamless tube surface, it can avoid cold drawn seamless tube matrix and any contact with the corrosion solution to protect the steel matrix from corrosion. In the general atmosphere, the surface of the zinc layer to form a layer of thin and dense zinc oxide surface, it is difficult to dissolve in water, so the steel matrix plays a protective role. If zinc oxide and other components of the atmosphere produce insoluble zinc salt, the anti-corrosion effect is more desirable.
2. With iron – zinc alloy layer, combined with dense, and with the unique anti-corrosion in the marine atmosphere and atmospheric atmosphere.
3. ASTM A179 cold drawn seamless pipe with a strong wear resistance due to the combination of solid, zinc – iron miscible.
4. Since zinc has good ductility, its alloy layer and steel base attached to a solid, so hot-rolled parts can be cold, rolling, drawing, bending and other molding without damage to the coating.
5. Hot-dip galvanized structural steel pipe, the equivalent of an annealing treatment, can effectively improve the mechanical properties of steel matrix to eliminate the steel forming welding stress, is conducive to the steel structure for turning.
6. The surface of cold drawn seamless pipe after hot galvanized is bright and beautiful.
7. Pure zinc layer is the most hot galvanized layer of galvanized layer, its nature is basically close to pure zinc, with ductility, so it is full of flexibility.

SA-450/SA-450M tolerance

ASTM A450 covers carbon and low alloy steel tube. Steel samples shall be melt processed and shall either be ingot cast or strand cast. Heat and product analyses shall be performed on the steel materials. Steel specimens shall also undergo tensile tests and shall conform to required values of yield strength and elongation. Flattening test, reverse flattening test, flaring test, flange test, hardness test, hydrostatic test, air underwater pressure test, and nondestructive tests shall be performed on the steel materials.

OD In (mm)	+	-	WT In(mm)	+	-
<1(25.4)	0.1	0.1	≤1.1/2(38.1)	0.2	0
11.1/2(25.438.1)	0.15	0.15	>1.1/2(38.1)	0.22	0
>1.1/2<2(38.150.8)	0.2	0.2
2<2.1/2(50.863.5)	0.25	0.25
2.1/2<3(63.576.2)	0.3	0.3
34(76.2101.6)	0.38	0.38
>47.1/2(101.6190.5)	0.38	0.64
>7.1/29(190.5228.6)	0.38	1.14

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