Significance and Use
4.1 These test methods for the chemical analysis of metals and alloys are primarily intended as referee methods to test such materials for compliance with compositional specifications, particularly those under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committees A01 on Steel, Stainless Steel, and Related Alloys and A04 on Iron Castings. It is assumed that all who use these test methods will be trained analysts capable of performing common laboratory procedures skillfully and safely. It is expected that work will be performed in a properly equipped laboratory under appropriate quality control practices such as those described in Guide E882.
Scope
1.1 These test methods cover the chemical analysis of carbon steels, low-alloy steels, silicon electrical steels, ingot iron, and wrought iron having chemical compositions within the following limits:
Element
Composition Range, %
Aluminum
0.001 to 1.50
Antimony
0.002 to 0.03
Arsenic
0.0005 to 0.10
Bismuth
0.005 to 0.50
Boron
0.0005 to 0.02
Calcium
0.0005 to 0.01
Cerium
0.005 to 0.50
Chromium
0.005 to 3.99
Cobalt
0.01 to 0.30
Columbium (Niobium)
0.002 to 0.20
Copper
0.005 to 1.50
Lanthanum
0.001 to 0.30
Lead
0.001 to 0.50
Manganese
0.01 to 2.50
Molybdenum
0.002 to 1.50
Nickel
0.005 to 5.00
Nitrogen
0.0005 to 0.04
Oxygen
0.0001 to 0.03
Phosphorus
0.001 to 0.25
Selenium
0.001 to 0.50
Silicon
0.001 to 5.00
Sulfur
0.001 to 0.60
Tin
0.002 to 0.10
Titanium
0.002 to 0.60
Tungsten
0.005 to 0.10
Vanadium
0.005 to 0.50
Zirconium
0.005 to 0.15
1.2 The test methods in this standard are contained in the sections indicated as follows:
Sections
Aluminum, Total, by the 8-Quinolinol Gravimetric
Method (0.20 % to 1.5 %)
124–131
Aluminum, Total, by the 8-Quinolinol
Spectrophotometric Method
(0.003 % to 0.20 %)
76–86
Aluminum, Total or Acid-Soluble, by the Atomic
Absorption Spectrometry Method
(0.005 % to 0.20 %)
308–317
Antimony by the Brilliant Green Spectrophotometric
Method (0.0002 % to 0.030 %)
142–151
Bismuth by the Atomic Absorption Spectrometry
Method (0.02 % to 0.25 %)
298–307
Boron by the Distillation-Curcumin
Spectrophotometric Method
(0.0003 % to 0.006 %)
208–219
Calcium by the Direct-Current Plasma Atomic
Emission Spectrometry Method
(0.0005 % to 0.010 %)
289–297
Carbon, Total, by the Combustion Gravimetric Method
(0.05 % to 1.80 %)—Discontinued 1995
Cerium and Lanthanum by the Direct Current Plasma
Atomic Emission Spectrometry Method
(0.003 % to 0.50 % Cerium, 0.001 % to 0.30 %
Lanthanum)
249–257
Chromium by the Atomic Absorption Spectrometry
Method (0.006 % to 1.00 %)
220–229
Chromium by the Peroxydisulfate Oxidation-Titration
Method (0.05 % to 3.99 %)
230–238
Cobalt by the Nitroso-R Salt Spectrophotometric
Method (0.01 % to 0.30 %)
53–62
Copper by the Sulfide Precipitation-Iodometric
Titration Method (Discontinued 1989)
87–94
Copper by the Atomic Absorption Spectrometry
Method (0.004 % to 0.5 %)
279–288
Copper by the Neocuproine Spectrophotometric
Method (0.005 % to 1.50 %)
114–123
Lead by the Ion-Exchange—Atomic Absorption
Spectrometry Method
(0.001 % to 0.50 %)
132–141
Manganese by the Atomic Absorption Spectrometry
Method (0.005 % to 2.0 %)
269–278
Manganese by the Metaperiodate Spectrophotometric
Method (0.01 % to 2.5 %)
9–18
Manganese by the Peroxydisulfate-Arsenite Titrimetric
Method (0.10 % to 2.50 %)
164–171
Molybdenum by the Thiocyanate Spectrophotometric
Method (0.01 % to 1.50 %)
152–163
Nickel by the Atomic Absorption Spectrometry
Method (0.003 % to 0.5 %)
318–327
Nickel by the Dimethylglyoxime Gravimetric
Method (0.1 % to 5.00 %)
180–187
Nickel by the Ion-Exchange-Atomic-Absorption
Spectrometry Method
(0.005 % to 1.00 %)
188–197
Nitrogen by the Distillation-Spectrophotometric
Method (Discontinued 1988)
63–75
Phosphorus by the Alkalimetric Method
(0.02 % to 0.25 %)
172–179
Phosphorus by the Molybdenum Blue
Spectrophotometric Method
(0.003 % to 0.09 %)
19–30
Silicon by the Molybdenum Blue Spectrophotometric
Method (0.01 % to 0.06 %)
103–113
Silicon by the Gravimetric Titration
Method (0.05 % to 3.5 %)
46–52
Sulfur by the Gravimetric Method
(Discontinued 1988)
31–36
Sulfur by the Combustion-Iodate Titration Method
(0.005 % to 0.3 %) (Discontinued 2017)
37–45
Tin by the Sulfide Precipitation-Iodometric Titration
Method (0.01 % to 0.1 %)
95–102
Tin by the Solvent Extraction-Atomic Absorption
Spectrometry Method
(0.002 % to 0.10 %)
198–207
Titanium by the Diantipyrylmethane
Spectrophotometric Method
(0.025 % to 0.30 %)
258–268
Vanadium by the Atomic Absorption Spectrometry
Method (0.006 % to 0.15 %)
239–248
1.3 Test methods for the determination of several elements not included in this standard can be found in Test Methods E1019.
1.4 Some of the composition ranges given in 1.1 are too broad to be covered by a single test method and therefore this standard contains multiple test methods for some elements. The user must select the proper test method by matching the information given in the Scope and Interference sections of each test method with the composition of the alloy to be analyzed.
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. In some cases, exceptions allowed in IEEE/ASTM SI 10 are also used.
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific hazards statements are given in Section 6 and in special “Warning” paragraphs throughout these test methods.
1.7 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
