SPECIFICATION FOR PRESSURE VESSEL PLATES,

ALLOY STEEL, QUENCHED AND TEMPERED,

NICKEL-CHROMIUM-MOLYBDENUM
SA-543 /SA-543M

(Identical with ASTM Specification A 543 /A 543M-93)

1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents

1.1 This specification covers nickel-chromium-molyb- 2.1 ASTM Standards:
denum alloy steel plates for use in the quenched and A 20 /A 20M Specification for General Requirements for
tempered condition, intended for the fabrication of Steel Plates for Pressure Vessels
welded pressure vessels and other pressure equipment. A 435 /A 435M Specification for Straight-Beam Ultra-
These alloy compositions are normally considered for sonic Examination of Steel Plates
construction involving plate thicknesses of 2 in. [50 A 577 /A 577M Specification for Ultrasonic Angle-Beam
mm] or greater. Examination of Steel Plates
A 578 /A 578M Specification for Straight-Beam Ultra-
1.2 Material under this specification is available in sonic Examination of Plain and Clad Steel Plates for
two types, B and C. The material is also available in Special Applications
three classes as follows:

Minimum Tensile
3. General Requirements and Ordering
Strength,
Class ksi [MPa] Information
1 105 [725] 3.1 Material supplied to this material specification
2 115 [795] shall conform to Specification A 20 /A 20M. These
requirements outline the testing and retesting methods
3 90 [620]
and procedures, permissible variations in dimensions,
and mass, quality and repair of defects, marking, load-
ing, etc.
1.3 The maximum thickness of plates is limited only 3.2 Specification A20 /A 20M also establishes the
by the capacity of the chemical composition to meet rules for the ordering information which should be
the specified mechanical property requirements. complied with when purchasing material to this specifi-
cation.
1.4 The minimum plate thickness is 3⁄16 in. [5 mm].
3.3 In addition to the basic requirements of this
1.5 The values stated in either inch-pound units or specification, certain supplementary requirements are
SI units are to be regarded separately as standard. available when additional control, testing, or examina-
Within the text, the SI units are shown in brackets. The tion is required to meet end use requirements. These
values stated in each system are not exact equivalents; include:
therefore, each system must be used independently of
3.3.1 Vacuum treatment,
the other. Combining values from the two systems may
result in nonconformance with the specification. 3.3.2 Additional or special tension testing,

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3.3.3 Impact testing, and 5.2 Plates over 4 in. [100 mm] in thickness shall
receive a prior treatment of normalizing at, or water
3.3.4 Nondestructive examination. quenching from a temperature within the range from
1650 to 1850°F [900 to 1010°C] before the heat treat-
3.4 The purchaser is referred to the listed supplemen- ment specified in 5.1.
tary requirements in this specification and to the detailed
requirements in Specification A 20 /A 20M. 5.3 When the fabricator elects to perform the heat
treatment in 5.1 and 5.2, the manufacturer shall temper
3.5 If the requirements of this specification are in the plates prior to shipment at a temperature not lower
conflict with the requirements of Specification A 20 /A than 1100°F [595°C].
20M, the requirements of this specification shall prevail.

6. Chemical Requirements
6.1 The steel shall conform to the chemical require-
4. Manufacture ments shown in Table 1 unless otherwise modified
4.1 Steelmaking Practice — The steel shall be killed in accordance with Supplementary Requirement S17,
and shall conform to the fine austenitic grain size Vacuum Carbon-Deoxidized Steel, in Specification A
requirement of Specification A 20 /A 20M. 20 /A 20M.

7. Mechanical Requirements
5. Heat Treatment 7.1 Tension Test Requirements:

5.1 All plates shall be heat treated by heating to a 7.1.1 The material as represented by the tension-
suitable austenitizing temperature, holding for a suffi- test specimens shall conform to the requirements shown
cient time period to attain uniform temperature through in Table 2.
the thickness and quenching in a suitable liquid medium 7.1.2 For nominal plate thicknesses of 3⁄4 in. [20
by spraying or immersion. The plates shall then be mm] and under, the 11⁄2 in. [40 mm] wide rectangular
tempered to produce the required properties by heating specimen may be used for the tension test and the
to a suitable temperature not lower than 1100°F [595°C] elongation may be determined in a 2 in. [50 mm] gage
with a holding time of not less than 1⁄2 h /in. [1.2 length that includes the fracture and shows the greatest
min /mm] of thickness but not less than 1⁄2 h. elongation.

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 SA-543 /SA-543M 2001 SECTION II

TABLE 1
CHEMICAL REQUIREMENTS
Composition, %
Element Type B Type C
A
Carbon, max 0.20 0.18
Manganese, maxA 0.40 0.40
Phosphorus, maxA 0.020 0.020
Sulfur, maxA 0.020 0.020
Silicon:
Heat analysis 0.15–0.40 0.15–0.40
Product analysis 0.13–0.45 0.13–0.45
Nickel:
Heat analysis 2.25–4.00 2.00–3.50
Product analysis 2.18–4.07 1.93–3.57
Chromium:
Heat analysis 1.00–1.90 1.00–1.90
Product analysis 0.94–1.96 0.94–1.96
Molybdenum:
Heat analysis 0.20–0.65 0.20–0.65
Product analysis 0.16–0.69 0.16–0.69
Vanadium, maxA 0.03 0.03
A
Applies to both heat and product analyses.

TABLE 2
TENSILE REQUIREMENTS
Class 1 Class 2 Class 3
Tensile strength, ksi [MPa] 105–125 115–135 90–115
[725–860] [795–930] [620–795]
Yield strength, min, ksi 85 [585] 100 [690] 70 [485]
[MPa]
Elongation, 2 in. [50 mm], 14A 14A 16A
min, %
A
See 7.1.2.

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SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENTS

Supplementary requirements shall not apply unless specified in the order.

A list of standardized supplementary requirements for use at the option of the
purchaser are included in Specification A 20/A 20M. Several of those considered
suitable for use with this specification are listed below by title. Other tests may be
performed by agreement between the supplier and the purchaser.

S1. Vacuum Treatment,

S2. Product Analysis,
S3. Simulated Post-Weld Heat Treatment of
Mechanical Test Coupons,
S4.2 Additional Tension Test,
S5. Charpy V-Notch Impact Test,
S6. Drop Weight Test,
S7. High-Temperature Tension Test,
S8. Ultrasonic Examination in accordance with
Specification A435/A 435M,
S9. Magnetic Particle Examination,
S11. Ultrasonic Examination in accordance with
Specification A 577/A 577M,
S12. Ultrasonic Examination in accordance with
Specification A 578/A 578M,
S14. Bend Test, and
S17. Vacuum Carbon-Deoxidized Steel.

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