ASTM A517 / ASME SA517

ASTM SA517 Grade S Pressure Vessel Steel Plate Chemical Composition & Mechanical Properties

Chinese-made American Standard Steel Plate Technical Data

High-strength quenched and tempered alloy steel plate for fusion-welded boilers and pressure vessels. Grade S is a Mn-Mo-Ti-Cb microalloyed grade with excellent strength and toughness balance for heavy-duty pressure equipment.

1. ASTM SA517 Grade S Material Identification & Standards

Standards

  • ASTM A517 / A517M
  • ASME SA517 / SA517M
  • ASTM A20/A20M (General Requirements)
  • ASME BPVC Section II Part A

Alloy Type

Mn-Mo-Ti-Cb

Microalloyed high-strength steel

Grade Classification

  • ASTM SA517 Grade S (Mn-Mo-Ti-Cb) ← This Spec
  • SA517 Grade A (C-Mn)
  • SA517 Grade B (C-Mn)
  • SA517 Grade E (Cr-Mo)
  • SA517 Grade F (Ni-Cr-Mo)
  • SA517 Grade H (Ni-Cr-Mo)
  • SA517 Grade P (Ni-Cr-Mo)
  • SA517 Grade Q (Ni-Cr-Mo)

Note: ASTM A517 Grade S is the only grade in the A517 series that does not contain Ni or Cr. Its Mn-Mo-Ti-Cb composition provides a cost-effective balance of strength and weldability.

2. ASTM SA517 Grade S Chemical Composition & Ladle Analysis Requirements

2.1 ASTM SA517 Grade S Chemical Composition Limits

Table 2.1: ASTM SA517 Grade S Chemical Composition Requirements (ASTM A517/ASME SA517 Mass Percent)
Element Smelting Analysis Finished Product Analysis
C 0.10-0.20 0.10-0.22
Mn 1.10-1.50 1.02-1.62
Si 0.15-0.40 0.13-0.45
S, ≤ 0.035 0.035
P, ≤ 0.035 0.035
Mo 0.10-0.35 0.10-0.38
Ti, ≤ 0.06 0.07
Cb, ≤ 0.06 0.07
B ...
Ni ...
Cr ...
V ...
Cu ...
Zr ...

Carbon Equivalent (CE)

CE = C + Mn/6 + (Cr+Mo+V)/5 + (Ni+Cu)/15

Typical value: 0.40-0.55 (Grade S is optimized for weldability with lower CE)

Note: High-strength quenched and tempered steel requires controlled welding procedures; low hydrogen practice is mandatory.

3. ASTM SA517 Grade S Mechanical Properties & Tensile Strength Specification

3.1 ASTM SA517 Grade S Tensile Properties

Property Thickness ≤65mm Thickness 65-150mm Test Method
Tensile Strength Rm 795-930 MPa 725-930 MPa ASTM A370
Yield Strength ReH >=690 MPa >=620 MPa ASTM A370
Elongation A (2in./50mm) >=16% >=14% ASTM A370
Charpy Impact KV₂ Lateral expansion ≥0.38mm [citation:12] By agreement

3.2 Charpy Impact Test Requirements for ASTM SA517 Grade S

Standard Requirement

Transverse Charpy V-notch impact test required

Lateral expansion: ≥0.38 mm

Mandatory

Test Temperature

  • By agreement between manufacturer and purchaser
  • Not higher than 0°C (32°F) per ASTM A517 [citation:12]
By Agreement

3.3 ASTM SA517 Grade S Hardness & Brinell Hardness Limits

  • As-supplied condition (quenched + tempered): Typically 235-290 HBW
  • NACE service environment: Weld & HAZ hardness control required

4. ASTM SA517 Grade S Quenched + Tempered: Heat Treatment Guide

1

As-Rolled (AR)

Not applicable for SA517

High strength requires Q+T

→
2

Quenched + Tempered (Q+T)

Austenitizing: ≥900°C

Quench: Water or Oil

Tempering: ≥620°C [citation:7]

→
3

Simulated PWHT (SPWHT)

By agreement

For property verification

Critical Control Points:
  • SA517 must be supplied in quenched + tempered condition
  • Austenitizing temperature: not less than 900°C (1650°F)
  • Quench in water or oil
  • Tempering temperature: not less than 620°C (1150°F) [citation:7]
  • Tempering temperature must be carefully controlled to achieve required strength and toughness balance

5. ASTM SA517 Grade S Welding Procedure Specification (WPS/PQR)

5.1 ASTM SA517 Grade S Welding Procedure Specification WPS

SMAW (Shielded Metal Arc) SAW (Submerged Arc) GTAW (Gas Tungsten Arc) FCAW (Flux Cored)

5.2 ASTM SA517 Grade S Preheat & Interpass Temperature Chart

Thickness Range Min Preheat Temp Recommended Preheat Max Interpass Temp
<=25mm 100°C 100-150°C 200-250°C
>25mm 150°C 150-200°C

5.3 Recommended Welding Consumables for ASTM SA517 Grade S

Process AWS Classification Strength Match Hydrogen Control
SMAW E11018-M, E11018M-H4R 110 ksi Low Hydrogen (H4)
GTAW ER110S-G 110 ksi Shielding: Ar
FCAW E110T1-G 110 ksi Self/ Gas Shielded
SAW F11A2-EM12K, F11P2-EM12K 110 ksi Flux bake 300°C*2h
Welding Notes:
  • A517 steel requires low hydrogen welding practice
  • Preheat is mandatory to prevent cold cracking
  • Control heat input to avoid HAZ softening
  • E11018-M electrodes are commonly used for matching strength [citation:5]

6. ASTM SA517 Grade S High Temperature Service & Applications

6.1 ASTM SA517 Grade S Service Capability

Service Characteristics

  • High strength-to-weight ratio
  • Good toughness at low temperatures
  • Suitable for high-pressure applications
  • Optimized weldability (lower CE than other A517 grades)

Typical Applications

  • High-pressure boilers
  • Pressure vessels for oil and gas industry
  • Storage tanks
  • Heat exchangers
  • Heavy machinery and offshore structures [citation:18]

6.2 ASTM SA517 Grade S Thickness Limitations

Maximum thickness for Grade S: 2 in. [50 mm] [citation:16]

Note: Grade S has a more limited maximum thickness compared to other A517 grades due to its Mn-Mo-Ti-Cb composition.

7. ASTM SA517 Grade S Inspection & NDT Testing Methods

7.1 Non-Destructive Testing

UT ASTM A435/A435M, A577/A577M, A578/A578M Per Supplementary Requirements [citation:16]
MT ASTM A275/A275M Surface Crack Detection
PT ASTM A165 Surface Open Defects
RT ASME V Article 2 Weld Internal Quality

7.2 Specimen Orientation & Location

Transverse (T)

Required for tensile & impact

Per ASTM A517 requirements

Test Specimen

40mm rectangular for ≤20mm

12.5mm round for >20mm [citation:12]

Charpy V-Notch

Transverse orientation

Lateral expansion measurement

8. ASTM SA517 Grade S Physical Properties

Density

7.67-7.86

g/cm3 (20°C) [citation:7]

Elastic Modulus

190-210

GPa (20°C) [citation:7]

Poisson's Ratio

0.27-0.30

[citation:7]

9. ASTM SA517 Grade S Dimensions & Thickness Tolerance

9.1 Available Dimensions

Thickness (Grade S) 6-50 mm Max 2 in. per ASTM A517 [citation:16]
Width 1500-4050 mm
Length 3000-15000 mm
Unit Weight Max 30 MT

9.2 Thickness Tolerances (ASTM A20)

Nominal Thickness Class A (Unrestricted) Class B (Restricted)
6-25mm +1.20mm, -0.30mm +/-0.60mm
>25-50mm +1.50mm, -0.30mm +/-0.80mm

10. ASTM SA517 Grade S Mill Test Certificate & EN 10204 3.2 Documentation

EN 10204 3.1

Manufacturer Test Certificate

Based on non-specific inspection

EN 10204 3.2

Third Party Inspection Certificate

Witnessed by customer or third party

ASME Data Report

Form CM-1

For ASME stamped equipment

Mill Test Certificate must include:

  • ✓Heat number, plate number, batch traceability
  • ✓Chemical composition (ladle + product analysis)
  • ✓Mechanical properties (tensile, impact)
  • ✓Heat treatment records (temperature-time curves)
  • ✓NDT reports (UT/MT etc.)
  • ✓Dimensional inspection records

11. ASTM SA517 Grade S Equivalent Grades: A517 Steel Comparison

Grade Yield MPa Tensile MPa Elong % Max Thk Key Characteristics
SA517 Grade S ≥690 (65mm) 795-930 ≥16 50 mm Mn-Mo-Ti-Cb, no Ni/Cr, optimized CE
SA517 Grade A ≥690 795-930 ≥16 32 mm C-Mn steel, basic grade
SA517 Grade E ≥690 795-930 ≥16 150 mm Cr-Mo, higher thickness capability
SA517 Grade F ≥690 795-930 ≥16 65 mm Ni-Cr-Mo, good low-temp toughness
SA517 Grade Q ≥690 795-930 ≥16 150 mm Ni-Cr-Mo, highest thickness capability
Grade Selection Notes:
  • Grade S: Mn-Mo-Ti-Cb, no Ni/Cr, optimized weldability, max 50mm
  • Grade E/Q: Cr-Mo or Ni-Cr-Mo, highest thickness capability (150mm)
  • Grade F: Ni-Cr-Mo, good low-temperature toughness
  • Grade A/B: C-Mn, basic grades with limited thickness

Warning: Equivalent grades are approximate. Project-specific Gap Analysis and PQR qualification required. High-strength quenched and tempered steels require controlled welding procedures and qualified personnel.

12. ASTM SA517 Grade S Design Considerations & Fabrication Guidelines

Design Considerations

  • High strength: Grade S provides yield strength of 690 MPa for thickness up to 65mm
  • Thickness limitation: Maximum thickness for Grade S is 50mm (2 in.) per ASTM A517 [citation:16]
  • Weldability: Lower carbon equivalent than other A517 grades, optimized for welding
  • Impact requirements: Transverse Charpy V-notch with lateral expansion ≥0.38mm

Fabrication Considerations

  • Cold forming: May require stress relief after forming depending on strain level
  • Hot forming: Forming temperature 900-960°C, re-quenching and tempering required after forming
  • Welding: Low hydrogen practice mandatory; preheat 100-200°C depending on thickness
  • Machining: High strength requires proper tooling and cutting parameters

Common Failure Mode Prevention

  • Hydrogen-induced cold cracking: Strict low-hydrogen practice, preheat, control diffusible hydrogen <=5 mL/100g
  • HAZ softening: Control heat input during welding to avoid excessive softening
  • Lamellar tearing: Consider through-thickness properties for critical joints
  • Stress corrosion cracking: Consider environment and use appropriate protective measures

Get Full Technical Support & Quotation

  👉 →  Ready to Buy? View Product Details & Stock