ASTM A941-23

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it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: A941 − 22a A941 − 23
Standard Terminology Relating to
1
Steel, Stainless Steel, Related Alloys, and Ferroalloys
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A941; 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.
1. Scope*
1.1 This standard is a compilation of definitions of terms related to steel, stainless steel, related alloys, and ferroalloys.
1.2 When a term is used in an ASTM document for which Committee A01 is responsible, it is included herein only when judged,
after review by Subcommittee A01.92, to be a generally usable term.
1.3 Some definitions include a discussion section, which is a mandatory part of the definition and contains additional information
that is relevant to the meaning of the defined term.
1.4 Definitions of terms specific to a particular standard will appear in that standard and will supersede any definitions of identical
terms in this 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.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E112 Test Methods for Determining Average Grain Size
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
Ac ,Ac , Ac ,Ac —See transformation temperature.
cm 1 3 4
Ae , Ae , Ae , Ae —See transformation temperature.
cm 1 3 4
age hardening, n—hardening by aging, usually after rapid cooling or cold working.
age hardening, n—see precipitation hardening.
1
This terminology is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A01 on Steel, Stainless Steel and Related Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee A01.92
on Terminology.
Current edition approved May 1, 2022May 1, 2023. Published May 2022May 2023. Originally approved in 1995. Last previous edition approved in 2022 as
A941 – 22.A941 – 22a. DOI: 10.1520/A0941-22A.10.1520/A0941-23.
2
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 Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on 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
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A941 − 23
aging, n—a change in the properties of certain steels that occurs at ambient or moderately elevated temperatures after hot
working or a heat treatment (quench aging, natural aging, or artificial aging) or after a cold-working operation (strain aging).
DISCUSSION—
The change in properties is often, but not always, due to precipitation hardening, but never involves a change in the chemical composition of the
steel.
alloy steel, n—a steel, other than a stainless steel, that conforms to a specification that requires one or more of the following
elements, by mass percent, to have a minimum content equal to or greater than: 0.30 for aluminum; 0.0008 for boron; 0.30 for
chromium; 0.30 for cobalt; 0.40 for copper; 0.40 for lead; 1.65 for manganese; 0.08 for molybdenum; 0.30 for nickel; 0.06 for
niobium (columbium); 0.60 for silicon; 0.05 for titanium; 0.30 for tungsten (wolfram); 0.10 for vanadium; 0.05 for zirconium;
or 0.10 for any other alloying element, except sulphur, phosphorus, carbon, and nitrogen.
annealing, n—a generic term covering any of several heat treatments.
DISCUSSION—
This treatment is used for purposes such as reducing hardness, improving machinability, facilitating cold working, producing a desired microstructure,
or obtaining desired mechanical, physical, or other properties. Where applicable, it is preferred that the following more specific terms be used: box
annealing, bright annealing, full annealing, intermediate annealing, isothermal annealing, process annealing,spheroidizing, and subcritical
annealing. The term “annealing,” without qualification, implies full annealing. Any process of annealing will usually reduce stresses; however, if
the treatment is applied for the sole purpose of stress reduction, it should be designated stress reli
...

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: A941 − 23
Standard Terminology Relating to
1
Steel, Stainless Steel, Related Alloys, and Ferroalloys
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A941; 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.
1. Scope* aging, n—a change in the properties of certain steels that
occurs at ambient or moderately elevated temperatures after
1.1 This standard is a compilation of definitions of terms
hot working or a heat treatment (quench aging, natural
related to steel, stainless steel, related alloys, and ferroalloys.
aging, or artificial aging) or after a cold-working operation
1.2 When a term is used in an ASTM document for which
(strain aging).
Committee A01 is responsible, it is included herein only when
DISCUSSION—The change in properties is often, but not always, due to
judged, after review by Subcommittee A01.92, to be a gener-
precipitation hardening, but never involves a change in the chemical
ally usable term. composition of the steel.
1.3 Some definitions include a discussion section, which is
alloy steel, n—a steel, other than a stainless steel, that
a mandatory part of the definition and contains additional
conforms to a specification that requires one or more of the
information that is relevant to the meaning of the defined term.
following elements, by mass percent, to have a minimum
content equal to or greater than: 0.30 for aluminum; 0.0008
1.4 Definitions of terms specific to a particular standard will
for boron; 0.30 for chromium; 0.30 for cobalt; 0.40 for
appear in that standard and will supersede any definitions of
copper; 0.40 for lead; 1.65 for manganese; 0.08 for molyb-
identical terms in this standard.
denum; 0.30 for nickel; 0.06 for niobium (columbium); 0.60
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
for silicon; 0.05 for titanium; 0.30 for tungsten (wolfram);
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
0.10 for vanadium; 0.05 for zirconium; or 0.10 for any other
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
alloying element, except sulphur, phosphorus, carbon, and
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
nitrogen.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
annealing, n—a generic term covering any of several heat
treatments.
2. Referenced Documents
DISCUSSION—This treatment is used for purposes such as reducing
2
hardness, improving machinability, facilitating cold working, produc-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
ing a desired microstructure, or obtaining desired mechanical, physical,
E112 Test Methods for Determining Average Grain Size
or other properties. Where applicable, it is preferred that the following
more specific terms be used: box annealing, bright annealing, full
3. Terminology
annealing, intermediate annealing, isothermal annealing, process
annealing, spheroidizing, and subcritical annealing. The term
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
“annealing,” without qualification, implies full annealing. Any pro-
Ac , Ac , Ac , Ac —See transformation temperature.
cm 1 3 4
cess of annealing will usually reduce stresses; however, if the
Ae , Ae , Ae , Ae —See transformation temperature. treatment is applied for the sole purpose of stress reduction, it should be
cm 1 3 4
designated stress relieving.
age hardening, n—hardening by aging, usually after rapid
Ar , Ar , Ar , Ar —See transformation temperature.
cooling or cold working.
cm 1 3 4
artificial aging, n—aging above room temperature.
age hardening, n—see precipitation hardening.
atmospheric corrosion resistance, n—the ability to resist
1 degradation or alteration of material through chemical reac-
This terminology is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A01 on Steel,
tion with the surrounding atmosphere.
Stainless Steel and Related Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
A01.92 on Terminology.
DISCUSSION—This term generally pertains to carbon steel, low alloy
Current edition approved May 1, 2023. Published May 2023. Originally
steel, or micro-alloyed steel.
approved in 1995. Last previous edition approved in 2022 as A941 – 22a. DOI:
10.1520/A0941-23.
austempering, n—heat treatment involving quenching a
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
steel object from a temperature above the transformation
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
range in a medium maintained at a temperature above the
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. martensite range suffi
...