Standard Specification for Steel Castings, Alloy, Specially Heat Treated, for Pressure-Containing Parts, Suitable for High-Temperature Service

ABSTRACT
This guide specifies standard specification for alloy steel castings, which have been subjected to special heat treatment, for valves, flanges, fittings, and other pressure-containing parts intended primarily for high-temperature service. All castings shall receive a heat treatment proper to their design and chemical composition. Heat treatment shall be performed before machining except in instances when reheat treating is necessary. The steel shall conform to the required chemical composition for carbon, manganese, phosphorus, sulfur, silicon, chromium, molybdenum, and vanadium. Steel used for the castings shall conform to the required tensile properties such as tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation. When methods involving high temperature are used in the removal of discontinuities, casting shall be preheated to at least the minimum temperatures.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers alloy steel castings that have been subjected to special heat treatment for valves, flanges, fittings, and other pressure-containing parts (Note 1) intended primarily for high-temperature service.  
1.2 The high-temperature properties of the materials covered in this specification are dependent upon special heat treatment that is required. Although the high-temperature properties are not specified, they are implied by control of chemistry, heat treatment, and room-temperature properties.  
1.3 Two grades of ferritic alloy steel are covered (Note 2). Selection will depend on the design and service conditions, mechanical properties, and high-temperature characteristics.
Note 1: Carbon steel castings for pressure-containing parts are covered by Specification A216/A216M. Alloy steel castings are covered by Specification A217/A217M.
Note 2: The grades covered by this specification represent materials that are generally suitable for assembly with other castings or wrought steel parts by fusion welding. It is not intended to imply that these grades possess equal degrees of weldability; therefore, it is the responsibility of the purchaser to establish for himself a suitable welding technique. Since these grades possess varying degrees of suitability for resistance to oxidation and for high-temperature service, it is also the responsibility of the purchaser to determine which grade shall be furnished, due consideration being given to the requirements of the applicable construction codes.  
1.4 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in nonconformance with the standard.  
1.5 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.

General Information

Status
Published
Publication Date
31-Aug-2018
Drafting Committee
A01.18 - Castings

Relations

Effective Date
01-Sep-2018
Effective Date
01-Mar-2024
Effective Date
01-Mar-2019
Effective Date
01-Sep-2018
Effective Date
01-Sep-2018
Effective Date
01-Jul-2018
Effective Date
01-Jul-2018
Effective Date
15-May-2018
Effective Date
01-May-2018
Effective Date
01-Nov-2017
Effective Date
01-May-2017
Effective Date
01-May-2017
Effective Date
01-Dec-2016
Effective Date
01-Mar-2016
Effective Date
01-Mar-2016

Overview

ASTM A389/A389M-13(2018) is a globally recognized standard specification developed by ASTM International. This standard covers requirements for alloy steel castings that are specially heat treated for use in pressure-containing parts, such as valves, flanges, and fittings intended primarily for high-temperature service. By assuring stringent control of chemistry, mechanical properties, and heat treatment processes, ASTM A389/A389M ensures that the steel castings are suitable for demanding applications in environments exposed to high temperatures and pressures.

Key Topics

  • Scope of the Standard

    • Applies to alloy steel castings used in critical pressure-containing components, especially those exposed to elevated temperatures.
    • Supports both SI and inch-pound unit measurements (to be used independently).
    • Covers two grades of ferritic alloy steel, chosen according to design, mechanical, and high-temperature requirements.
  • Material and Chemical Composition

    • Specifies strict chemical requirements for crucial elements such as carbon, manganese, phosphorus, sulfur, silicon, chromium, molybdenum, and vanadium.
    • Ensures consistent alloy quality for reliable high-temperature strength and corrosion resistance.
  • Heat Treatment Requirements

    • Mandates thorough heat treatment procedures (normalizing and tempering) tailored to each grade and application.
    • Heat treatment must precede machining, except when subsequent reheat treatments are required for repairs.
  • Mechanical and Physical Properties

    • Requires castings to meet precise tensile strength, yield strength, elongation, and other mechanical property criteria.
    • Surface quality must meet defined acceptance standards to ensure structural integrity.
  • Quality Assurance and Repairs

    • All castings are visually inspected for defects such as adhering sand, scale, cracks, and hot tears.
    • When surface discontinuities are present, defined standards (such as MSS SP-55) are used for assessment.
    • Weld repairs must follow qualified procedures; major repairs may require reheat treatment.

Applications

The ASTM A389/A389M standard is crucial to industries where high-temperature and high-pressure conditions demand robust and reliable performance from steel castings. Practical applications include:

  • Power Generation
    • Steam valves, piping components, and boiler fittings exposed to extreme heat and pressure conditions.
  • Petrochemical and Refining
    • Pressure vessels, reactor flanges, and fittings operating in corrosive and high-temperature environments.
  • Oil & Gas
    • Components in drilling equipment, pipeline systems, and refining infrastructure requiring guaranteed strength and weldability.
  • Industrial Equipment
    • Custom cast parts for process plants, high-temperature pumps, and heavy industrial machinery.

Using ASTM A389/A389M-certified steel castings helps ensure compliance with construction codes and safety regulations for pressure-retaining systems, minimizing risk of failure in service.

Related Standards

For organizations and engineers seeking further guidance, ASTM A389/A389M references several important related standards:

  • ASTM A216/A216M – Carbon steel castings for pressure-containing parts, suitable for fusion welding and high-temperature service.
  • ASTM A217/A217M – Steel castings, martensitic stainless and alloy, specifically designed for high-temperature, pressure-containing applications.
  • ASTM A703/A703M – General requirements for steel castings intended for pressure-containing parts, providing supplementary guidelines.
  • ASTM A985/A985M – Steel investment castings, general requirements for pressure-containing parts.
  • ASTM A488/A488M – Practice for welding, qualification of procedures and personnel for steel castings.
  • MSS SP-55 – Visual quality standards for steel castings used in valves, flanges, and fittings.

Adherence to these and other referenced standards ensures best practices in design, manufacture, and testing of alloy steel castings for the most demanding pressure- and temperature-service applications.

Buy Documents

Technical specification

ASTM A389/A389M-13(2018) - Standard Specification for Steel Castings, Alloy, Specially Heat Treated, for Pressure-Containing Parts, Suitable for High-Temperature Service

English language (3 pages)
sale 15% off
sale 15% off

Get Certified

Connect with accredited certification bodies for this standard

Element Materials Technology

Materials testing and product certification.

UKAS United Kingdom Verified

Inštitut za kovinske materiale in tehnologije

Institute of Metals and Technology. Materials testing, metallurgical analysis, NDT.

SA Slovenia Verified

Sponsored listings

Frequently Asked Questions

ASTM A389/A389M-13(2018) is a technical specification published by ASTM International. Its full title is "Standard Specification for Steel Castings, Alloy, Specially Heat Treated, for Pressure-Containing Parts, Suitable for High-Temperature Service". This standard covers: ABSTRACT This guide specifies standard specification for alloy steel castings, which have been subjected to special heat treatment, for valves, flanges, fittings, and other pressure-containing parts intended primarily for high-temperature service. All castings shall receive a heat treatment proper to their design and chemical composition. Heat treatment shall be performed before machining except in instances when reheat treating is necessary. The steel shall conform to the required chemical composition for carbon, manganese, phosphorus, sulfur, silicon, chromium, molybdenum, and vanadium. Steel used for the castings shall conform to the required tensile properties such as tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation. When methods involving high temperature are used in the removal of discontinuities, casting shall be preheated to at least the minimum temperatures. SCOPE 1.1 This specification covers alloy steel castings that have been subjected to special heat treatment for valves, flanges, fittings, and other pressure-containing parts (Note 1) intended primarily for high-temperature service. 1.2 The high-temperature properties of the materials covered in this specification are dependent upon special heat treatment that is required. Although the high-temperature properties are not specified, they are implied by control of chemistry, heat treatment, and room-temperature properties. 1.3 Two grades of ferritic alloy steel are covered (Note 2). Selection will depend on the design and service conditions, mechanical properties, and high-temperature characteristics. Note 1: Carbon steel castings for pressure-containing parts are covered by Specification A216/A216M. Alloy steel castings are covered by Specification A217/A217M. Note 2: The grades covered by this specification represent materials that are generally suitable for assembly with other castings or wrought steel parts by fusion welding. It is not intended to imply that these grades possess equal degrees of weldability; therefore, it is the responsibility of the purchaser to establish for himself a suitable welding technique. Since these grades possess varying degrees of suitability for resistance to oxidation and for high-temperature service, it is also the responsibility of the purchaser to determine which grade shall be furnished, due consideration being given to the requirements of the applicable construction codes. 1.4 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in nonconformance with the standard. 1.5 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.

ABSTRACT This guide specifies standard specification for alloy steel castings, which have been subjected to special heat treatment, for valves, flanges, fittings, and other pressure-containing parts intended primarily for high-temperature service. All castings shall receive a heat treatment proper to their design and chemical composition. Heat treatment shall be performed before machining except in instances when reheat treating is necessary. The steel shall conform to the required chemical composition for carbon, manganese, phosphorus, sulfur, silicon, chromium, molybdenum, and vanadium. Steel used for the castings shall conform to the required tensile properties such as tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation. When methods involving high temperature are used in the removal of discontinuities, casting shall be preheated to at least the minimum temperatures. SCOPE 1.1 This specification covers alloy steel castings that have been subjected to special heat treatment for valves, flanges, fittings, and other pressure-containing parts (Note 1) intended primarily for high-temperature service. 1.2 The high-temperature properties of the materials covered in this specification are dependent upon special heat treatment that is required. Although the high-temperature properties are not specified, they are implied by control of chemistry, heat treatment, and room-temperature properties. 1.3 Two grades of ferritic alloy steel are covered (Note 2). Selection will depend on the design and service conditions, mechanical properties, and high-temperature characteristics. Note 1: Carbon steel castings for pressure-containing parts are covered by Specification A216/A216M. Alloy steel castings are covered by Specification A217/A217M. Note 2: The grades covered by this specification represent materials that are generally suitable for assembly with other castings or wrought steel parts by fusion welding. It is not intended to imply that these grades possess equal degrees of weldability; therefore, it is the responsibility of the purchaser to establish for himself a suitable welding technique. Since these grades possess varying degrees of suitability for resistance to oxidation and for high-temperature service, it is also the responsibility of the purchaser to determine which grade shall be furnished, due consideration being given to the requirements of the applicable construction codes. 1.4 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in nonconformance with the standard. 1.5 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.

ASTM A389/A389M-13(2018) is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 77.140.80 - Iron and steel castings. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.

ASTM A389/A389M-13(2018) has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to ASTM A389/A389M-13, ASTM A488/A488M-24, ASTM A985/A985M-19, ASTM A985/A985M-18a, ASTM A703/A703M-18a, ASTM A488/A488M-18, ASTM A488/A488M-18e1, ASTM A985/A985M-18, ASTM A703/A703M-18, ASTM A703/A703M-17a, ASTM A703/A703M-17, ASTM A488/A488M-17, ASTM A985/A985M-16, ASTM A488/A488M-16, ASTM A216/A216M-16. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.

ASTM A389/A389M-13(2018) is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.

Standards Content (Sample)


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.
Designation: A389/A389M −13 (Reapproved 2018)
Standard Specification for
Steel Castings, Alloy, Specially Heat Treated, for Pressure-
Containing Parts, Suitable for High-Temperature Service
This standard is issued under the fixed designationA389/A389M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year
of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.
A superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope* mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1.1 This specification covers alloy steel castings that have
been subjected to special heat treatment for valves, flanges,
2. Referenced Documents
fittings, and other pressure-containing parts (Note 1) intended
2.1 ASTM Standards:
primarily for high-temperature service.
A216/A216M SpecificationforSteelCastings,Carbon,Suit-
1.2 The high-temperature properties of the materials cov-
able for Fusion Welding, for High-Temperature Service
ered in this specification are dependent upon special heat
A217/A217M Specification for Steel Castings, Martensitic
treatment that is required. Although the high-temperature
Stainless and Alloy, for Pressure-Containing Parts, Suit-
properties are not specified, they are implied by control of
able for High-Temperature Service
chemistry, heat treatment, and room-temperature properties.
A488/A488M Practice for Steel Castings, Welding, Qualifi-
1.3 Two grades of ferritic alloy steel are covered (Note 2). cations of Procedures and Personnel
Selection will depend on the design and service conditions, A703/A703M Specification for Steel Castings, General
mechanical properties, and high-temperature characteristics. Requirements, for Pressure-Containing Parts
A985/A985M Specification for Steel Investment Castings
NOTE 1—Carbon steel castings for pressure-containing parts are cov-
General Requirements, for Pressure-Containing Parts
ered by Specification A216/A216M. Alloy steel castings are covered by
Specification A217/A217M. 2.2 Manufacturers Standardization Society of the Valve and
NOTE 2—The grades covered by this specification represent materials
Fittings Industry Standard:
that are generally suitable for assembly with other castings or wrought
SP-55 Quality Standard for Steel Castings for Valves,
steel parts by fusion welding. It is not intended to imply that these grades
Flanges, and Fittings and other Components (Visual
possess equal degrees of weldability; therefore, it is the responsibility of
Method)
the purchaser to establish for himself a suitable welding technique. Since
these grades possess varying degrees of suitability for resistance to
3. General Conditions for Delivery
oxidation and for high-temperature service, it is also the responsibility of
the purchaser to determine which grade shall be furnished, due consider-
3.1 Except for steel investment castings, material furnished
ationbeinggiventotherequirementsoftheapplicableconstructioncodes.
to this specification shall conform to the requirements of
1.4 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units
Specification A703/A703M, including any supplementary re-
are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in
quirements that are indicated in the purchase order. Failure to
each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each
comply with the general requirements of Specification A703/
system shall be used independently of the other. Combining
A703M constitutes nonconformance with the specification. In
values from the two systems may result in nonconformance
case of conflict between the requirements of this specification
with the standard.
and Specification A703/A703M, this specification shall pre-
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor- vail.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
3.2 Steel investment castings furnished to this specification
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
shall conform to the requirements of Specification A985/
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A01 on Steel, contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Stainless Steel and Related Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
A01.18 on Castings. the ASTM website.
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2018. Published September 2018. Originally AvailablefromManufacturersStandardizationSocietyoftheValveandFittings
approved in 1955. Last previous edition approved in 2013 as A389/A389M – 13. Industry (MSS), 127 Park St., NE,Vienna,VA22180-4602, http://www.mss-hq.org.
DOI: 10.1520/A0389_A0389M-13R18.
*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
A389/A389M − 13 (2018)
TABLE 2 Chemical Requirements
A985M, including any supplementary requirements that are
indicated in the purchase order. Failure to comply with the Composition, %
Grade (UNS No.)
general requirements of Specification A985/A985M consti- C23 (J12080) C24 (J12092)
tutes nonconformance with this specification. In case of con- Carbon, max 0.20 0.20
Manganese 0.30–0.80 0.30–0.80
flict between the requirements of this specification and Speci-
Phosphorus, max 0.035 0.035
fication A985/A985M, Specification A985/A985M shall
Sulfur, max 0.035 0.035
prevail. Silicon, max 0.60 0.60
Chromium 1.00–1.50 0.80–1.25
Molybdenum 0.45–0.65 0.90–1.20
4. Ordering Information
Vanadium 0.15–0.25 0.15–0.25
4.1 The inquiry and order should include or indicate the
following:
TABLE 3 Tensile Requirements
4.1.1 A description of the casting by pattern number or
drawing (dimensional tolerances shall be included on the
Grade C23 C24
casting drawing), Tensile strength, min, ksi [MPa] 70 [483] 80 [552]
A
Yield strength, min, ksi [MPa] 40 [276] 50 [345]
4.1.2 Grade of steel,
B
Elongation in 2 in. [50 mm], min, % 18.0 15.0
4.1.3 Options in the specification, and
Red
...

Questions, Comments and Discussion

Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.

Loading comments...