ASTM A179 Seamless Heat Exchanger Tube

ASTM A179 Seamless Heat Exchanger Tube description

ASTM A179 is a standard developed by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), officially titled "Standard Specification for Seamless Cold-Drawn Low-Carbon Steel Heat-Exchanger and Condenser Tubes." The following is a summary of its main contents:

1. Scope of Application:

- Applicable to seamless cold-drawn low-carbon steel tubes with minimum wall thicknesses used in the manufacture of heat exchangers, condensers, and similar heat transfer equipment.

- Outer diameters range from 1/8 inch to 3 inches (3.2 to 76.2 mm). However, tubes with outer diameters and wall thicknesses smaller than this range may also be applicable. For tubes with an outer diameter less than 1/8 inch (3.2 mm) or a wall thickness less than 0.015 inch (0.4 mm), the relevant mechanical property requirements may not apply.

2. Chemical Composition:

- The chemical composition of the steel is subject to specific requirements: carbon content between 0.06% and 0.18%, manganese content between 0.27% and 0.63%, maximum phosphorus content of 0.035%, and maximum sulfur content of 0.035%. Alloy steel is not subject to these restrictions due to other requirements regarding the content of special elements.

3. Manufacturing Process:

- The steel pipe must be seamless and cold-drawn. After the final cold drawing, it must undergo heat treatment at 1200 degrees Fahrenheit (650 degrees Celsius) or higher.

4. Surface Condition:

The finished pipe should be free of peeling; a small amount of oxides is not considered peeling.

5. Mechanical Properties and Testing Requirements:

- Regarding hardness requirements, the hardness coefficient of the steel pipe must not exceed 72 HRB.

- Mechanical property tests include flattening tests, flaring tests, bending tests (under specific conditions, replacing the flaring test), hardness tests, and hydrostatic tests. For example, the flattening test requires taking one sample from each of two steel pipes in each batch; the water pressure test requires each steel pipe to be tested, or it can be replaced by a non-destructive electrical test if requested by the purchaser.

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