ASTM B43-98(2004)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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Designation: B43 – 98 (Reapproved 2004)
Standard Specification for
Seamless Red Brass Pipe, Standard Sizes
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B43; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of original
adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript
epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope* B154 Test Method for Mercurous Nitrate Test for Copper
2 Alloys
1.1 This specification covers seamless red brass (Copper
B601 Classification for Temper Designations for Copper
Alloy UNS No. C23000) pipe in all nominal pipe sizes, both
and Copper Alloys—Wrought and Cast
regular and extra-strong. In the annealed temper (O61), the
E8 Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials
pipe is suitable for use in plumbing, boiler feed lines, and for
E29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to
similar purposes. In the drawn general purpose temper (H58),
Determine Conformance with Specifications
the pipe is suitable for architectural applications, such as guard
E53 Test Method for Determination of Copper in Unalloyed
railings and stair hand railings.
Copper by Gravimetry
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
E62 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Copper and
as the standard. The values given in parentheses are provided
Copper Alloys (Photometric Methods)
for information purposes only.
E112 Test Methods for Determining Average Grain Size
1.3 The following hazard caveat pertains only to the test
E243 Practice for Electromagnetic (Eddy-Current) Exami-
method portion, Section 9, of this specification. This standard
nation of Copper and Copper-Alloy Tubes
does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any,
E255 Practice for Sampling Copper and Copper Alloys for
associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this
the Determination of Chemical Composition
standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices
E478 TestMethodsforChemicalAnalysisofCopperAlloys
and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior
E527 Practice for Numbering Metals and Alloys in the
to use.
Unified Numbering System (UNS)
1.4 Warning—Mercury is a definite health hazard in use
and disposal. (See 9.1.)
3. Terminology
2. Referenced Documents 3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 tube, seamless—a tube produced with a continuous
2.1 The following documents of the issue in effect on date
periphery in all stages of the operations.
of material purchase form a part of this specification to the
3.1.1.1 pipe—a seamless tube conforming to the particular
extent referenced herein:
4 dimensions commercially known as nominal or standard pipe
2.2 ASTM Standards:
sizes.
B153 Test Method for Expansion (Pin Test) of Copper and
3.1.2 lengths—straight pieces of the product.
Copper-Alloy Pipe and Tubing
3.1.2.1 standard—uniform lengths recommended in a Sim-
plified Practice Recommendation or established as a Commer-
ThisspecificationisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeB05onCopper
cial Standard.
and CopperAlloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B05.04 on Pipe
3.2 Definition of Term Specific to This Standard:
and Tube.
3.2.1 capable of—as used in this specification, the test need
Current edition approved May 1, 2004. Published May 2004. Originally
´1
approved in 1922. Last previous edition approved in 1998 as B43 – 98 . DOI:
not be performed by the producer of the material. However,
10.1520/B0043-98R04.
should subsequent testing by the purchaser establish that the
For ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code applications see related Specifi-
material does not meet these requirements the material shall be
cation SB-43 in Section II of that Code.
The system for copper and copper alloys (see Practice E527) is a simple subject to rejection.
expansion of the former standard designation system accomplished by the addition
of a prefix “C” and a suffix “00.” The suffix can be used to accommodate
4. Ordering Information
composition variations of the base alloy.
4 4.1 Orders for material under this specification shall include
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM the following information:
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
4.1.1 Temper (see 6.1),
the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
B43 – 98 (2004)
4.1.2 Pipe size, regular or extra-strong (see 11.2), 8. Expansion Test
4.1.3 Length (see 11.3),
8.1 Specimens in the O61 (annealed) temper shall withstand
4.1.4 Total length of each size, and
an expansion of 25 % of the outside diameter when expanded
4.1.5 If material is required to meet ASME Boiler and
inaccordancewithTestMethodB153.Theexpandedpipeshall
Pressure Vessel Code (see 6.1, 6.2,or 6.3),
show no cracking or rupture visible to the unaided eye. Pipe
4.1.6 Certification, if required (see 20.1),
ordered in the drawn (H) condition is not subject to this test.
4.1.7 Mill test report, if required (see 21.1),
NOTE 1—The term “unaided eye,” as used herein, permits the use of
4.1.8 Hydrostatic test, if required, and
corrective spectacles necessary to obtain normal vision.
4.1.9 Pneumatic test, if required.
8.2 As an alternative to the expansion test for pipe over 4 in.
4.1.10 Mercurous Nitrate Test, if required (Section 9).
(102 mm) in diameter in the O61 (annealed) condition, a
5. Chemical Composition section 4 in. in length shall be cut from the end of one of the
lengths for a flattening test. This 4-in. specimen shall be
5.1 The material shall conform to the following chemical
flattenedsothatagagesetatthreetimesthewallthicknesswill
requirements:
passoverthepipefreelythroughouttheflattenedpart.Thepipe
so tested shall develop no cracks or flaws visible to the unaided
Copper, % 84.0 to 86.0
eye (see Note 1) as a result of this test. In making the flattening
Lead, max, % 0.05
Iron, max, % 0.05
test the elements shall be slowly flattened by one stroke of the
Zinc remainder
press.
9. Mercurous Nitrate Test
5.2 These specification limits do not preclude the presence
of other elements. Limits for unnamed elements are to be
9.1 Warning—Mercury is a definite health hazard and
established by agreement between manufacturer or supplier
therefore equipment for the detection and removal of mercury
and purchaser.
vapor produced in volatilization is recommended. The use of
5.2.1 For copper alloys in which zinc is specified as the
rubber gloves in testing is advisable.
remainder, either copper or zinc shall be permitted to be taken
9.2 When the test is required to be performed, the test
as the difference between the sum of all the elements analyzed
specimens, cut 6 in. (152 mm) in length, shall, after proper
and 100 %.
cleaning, withstand an immersion for 30 min without cracking
5.2.1.1 When all the elements in the table in 5.1 are
in the standard mercurous nitrate solution prescribed in Test
analyzed, their sum shall be 99.8 % minimum.
Method B154. Immediately after removal from the solution,
the specimen shall be wiped free of excess mercury and
6. Temper
examined for cracks.
6.1 All pipe shall normally be furnished in the O61 (an- 9.3 Product of the O61 (annealed) temper shall pass the
nealed) (see Classificiation B601) condition. mercurous nitrate test when tested in accordance with Test
6.2 In the O61 (annealed) temper, the degree of annealing Method B154.
shall be sufficient to produce complete recrystallization with an 9.3.1 The test need not be performed except when indicated
average grain size not in excess of 0.050 mm. The surface of in the contract or purchase order at the time of placing of the
the test specimen for grain size determination shall approxi- order.
mate a radial longitudinal section and shall be prepared and
10. Nondestructive Testing
examined in accordance with Test Methods E112.
6.3 The pipe is permitted to be furnished in the H58 (drawn
10.1 The material shall be tested in the final size but is
general purpose) temper, if agreed upon between the manufac- permittedtobetestedpriortothefinalannealorheattreatment,
turer and the purchaser. (See Table 1.) when these thermal treatments are required, unless otherwise
agreed upon by the manufacturer or supplier and purchaser.
7. Mechanical Properties
10.2 Eddy-Current Test—Eachpieceofmaterialfrom ⁄8 in.
up to and including 2 ⁄2 in. nominal outside diameter or within
7.1 Material in the O61 (annealed) temper specified to meet
the capabilities of the eddy-current tester, shall be subjected to
therequirementsofthe ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code
an eddy-current test. Testing shall follow the procedures of
only shall have tensile properties as prescribed in Table 1.
Practice E243 except for determination of “end effect.” The
7.2 All H58 (drawn general purpose) material shall have the
material shall be passed through an eddy-current testing unit
tensile properties as prescribed in Table 1.
adjusted to provide information on the suitability of the
material for the intended application.
TABLE 1 Tensile Requirements
10.2.1 Notch-depth standards rounded to the nearest 0.001
Tensile
Temper Designation
A
in. (0.025 mm) shall be 10 % of the nominal wall thickness.
Yield Strength Elongation in
Strength, min.
min. ksi (MPa) 2-in. min. %
The notch depth tolerances shall be 60.0005 in. (0.013 mm).
Standard Former
ksi (MPa)
Alternatively, when a manufacturer uses speed insensitive
O61 Annealed 40.0 (276) 12.0 (83) 35
equipment that allows the selection of a maximum imbalance
H58 Drawn general 44.0 (303) 18.0 (124) . . .
purpose
signal, a maximum imbalance signal of 0.3 % is permitted to
A
At 0.5 % extension under load. be used.
B43 – 98 (2004)
10.2.2 Material that does not actuate the signaling device of diameter. For tubes with a wall thickness to outside diameter
the eddy-current test shall be considered as conforming to the ratio over 0.05, the roundness tolerance shall be 3 % of the
requirements of this test. Material with discontinuities indi- nominal outside diameter.
cated by the testing unit is permitted to be reexamined or 11.5.1 The measurement for roundness shall be made from
retested, at the option of the manufacturer, to determine the outside diameter. The deviation from roundness is mea-
whetherthediscontinuityiscauseforrejection.Signalsthatare sured as the difference between the major and minor diameters
found to have been caused by minor mechanical damage, soil as determined at any one cross section of the tube. The major
or moisture shall not be cause for rejection of the material andminordiametersarethediametersoftwoconcentriccircles
provided the dimensions of the material are still within just enclosing the outside surface of the tube at the cross
prescribed limits and the material is suitable for its intended section.
application. 11.6 Straightness Tolerance—For pipe of H58 (drawn gen-
10.3 Hydrostatic Test—When specified, the material shall eral purpose) temper of Nominal Pipe Sizes from ⁄4 to 12 in.
stand, without showing evidence of leakage, an internal hydro- inclusive, the maximum curvature (depth of arc) shall not
static pressure sufficient to subject the material to a fiber stress exceed ⁄2 in. (13 mm) in any 10-ft (3048-mm) portion of the
of 6000 psi (41 MPa), determined by the following equation total length. For H58 temper pipe of other sizes, and for the
for thin hollow cylinders under tension. The material need not O61 (annealed) temper, no numerical values are established,
be tested at a hydrostatic pressure of over 1000 psi (6.9 MPa) however, the straightness of the pipe shall be suitable for the
unless so specified. intended application.
P 5 2St/~D 2 0.8t!
12. Workmanship, Finish and Appearance
where: 12.1 The material shall be free of defects of a nature that
P = hydrostatic pressure, psi (or MPa),
interfere with normal commercial applications. It shall be well
t = wall thickness of the material, in. (or mm),
cleaned and free of dirt.
D = outside diameter of the material in. (or mm), and
S = allowable stress of the material, psi (or MPa). 13. Sampling
10.3.1 For material less than ⁄2 in. (12.7 mm) in outside
13.1 Sampling—The lot size, portion size, and selection of
diameter and less than 0.060 in. (1.5 mm) in wall thickness, the
sample pieces shall be as follows:
test is permitted to be made at the option of the manufacturer
13.1.1 Lot Size—The lot size shall be as follows:
by pneumatically testing to the requirements of 10.4.
10.4 Pneumatic Test—When specified, the material shall be
Pipe Size, in. Lot Weight, lb (kg)
subjected to an internal air pressure of 60 psi (415 kPa)
Up to 1 ⁄2 , incl 5 000 (2270) or fraction thereof
Over 1 ⁄2 to 4, incl 10 000 (4550) or fraction thereof
minimumfor5swithoutshowingevidenceofleakage.Thetest
Over 4 40 000 (18 100) or fraction thereof
method used shall permit easy visual detection of any leakage,
such as by having the material under water or by the pressure-
13.1.2 Portion Size—Sample pieces shall be taken for test
differential method.Any evidence of leakage shall be cause for
purposes from each lot according to the following schedule:
rejection.
11. Dimensions and Permissible Variations Number of Pieces Number of Sample Pieces
AA
in Lot to be Taken
11.1 For the purpose of determining conformance with the
1to50 1
dimensional requirements prescribed in this specification, any 51 to 200 2
201 to 1500 3
measured value outside the limiting values for any dimensions
Over 1500 0.2 % of total number of pieces
may be cause for rejection.
in the lot, but not to exceed
11.2 Standard Dimensions, Wall Thickness, and Diameter 10 sample pieces
Tolerances—The standard dimensions, wall thickness, and
A
diameter tolerances shall be in accordance with Table 2.
Each sample piece shall be taken from a separate tube.
11.3 Length and Length Tolerances—Thestandardlengthof 13.1.3 Sampling for Visual and Dimensional Examination—
red brass pipe is 12 ft (3.66 m) with a tolerance of 6 ⁄2 in. (13
Minimum sampling for visual and dimensional examination
mm). shall be as follows:
11.4 Squareness of Cut—The departure from squareness of
the end of any pipe shall not exceed the following:
Lot size (Pieces/lot) Sample size
2 to 8 Entire lot
9to90 8
Outside Diameter, Tolerance
91 to 150 12
in. (mm)
151 to 280 19
Up to ⁄8 (15.9), incl 0.010 in. (0.25 mm)
281 to 500 21
Over ⁄8 (15.9) 0.016 in.
...