ABOUT FLANGES

Revised: 07/27/2010

Material Mechanical Property Requirements

For API Spec 6A, and 16A Bodies, Bonnets and
End and Outlet Connections

API Spec 6 A and 16A specify four standard material property designations,
identified by yield strengths. The following table lists the API Spec 6A material
designations and the measured minimum mechanical property requirements.

Table 1 - Designated material property requirements for bodies, bonnets and end and
outlet connections

0 .2% Yield Tensile Elongation in 50 Reduction in Area

Material Strength Strength mm (2 in) min.
Designation min. min. min. %
(psi) (psi ) %

36K a 36,000 70,000 21 No requirement

45K 45,000 70,000 19 32

60K 60,000 85,000 18 35

75K 75,000 95,000 b 35
17
a 36K material designated for use only for bodies of fabricated equipment when stress levels
allow.
b API Spec 16A requires 18 elongation for 75K material.

Although API Spec 6A exactly specifies minimum mechanical properties for end
and outlet connections, it allows manufacturers to choose among 4 categories of
material strength for bodies and bonnets based on calculated stress levels within
the assembled equipment at test pressure. The manufacturer may join one
strength of material to another by welding as determined by design requirements.

The table below indicates the common materials used by manufacturers in

compliance with requirements.

Table 2 - Designated material requirements for bodies and bonnets

Pressure Rating
(psi)
a 2, 000 3,000 5, 000 10,000 15,000 20,000
Part

Material Designation

Body, b 36K, 45K, 36K, 45K, 36K, 45K, 36K, 45K , 45K, 60K 45K, 60K
Bonnet 60K, 75K 60K, 75K 60K, 75K 60K, 75K 75K 75K

a
API Spec 6 A Top Connectors shall have bodies, bonnets and collars made from 75K
material.
b
Bodies may have end and outlet connections of higher strength material, made integral by
welding, in compliance with the requirements of API Spec 6A.

Equipment connections need not have any higher material strength than that of
the lowest pressure connection. For example, manufacturers may make a 7-1 /16

15M x 7 -1/16 10M Flanged Adapter Spool entirely from 60K material and meet
API Spec 6A requirements. This unit of equipment has a 10,000 psi working
pressure, as determined by its' lowest pressure connection, and 60K material
meets the minimum mechanical property requirements for 10,000 psi working
pressure end connections.

The table below lists the material for integral end and outlet connections of
pressure containing equipment.
15M x 7 -1/16 10M Flanged Adapter Spool entirely from 60K material and meet
API Spec 6A requirements. This unit of equipment has a 10,000 psi working
pressure, as determined by its' lowest pressure connection, and 60K material
meets the minimum mechanical property requirements for 10,000 psi working
pressure end connections.

The table below lists the material for integral end and outlet connections of
pressure containing equipment.

Table 3 - Designated material requirements for integral end and outlet connections

Pressure Rating
(psi )
Integral
2,000 3, 000 5 ,000 10,000 15,000 20, 000
End
Connection
Material Designation

Flanged
and 60K, 75K 60K, 75K 60K , 75K 60K, 75K 75K 75K
Hubbed

Threaded 60K, 75K 60K, 75K 60K , 75K

The table below lists the material requirements for API 6A specified weld neck
flanges.

Table 4 - Designated material requirements for weld neck flanges

Pressure Rating
(psi)
Flange 2 ,000 3,000 5, 000 10,000 15,000 20, 000
Designation
Material Designation

6 B Weld
Neck 45K 45K 45K
Flange
6 BX Weld
Neck 60K, 75K 60K, 75K 60K, 75K 60K, 75K 75K 75K
a
Flange
a See: Caution: For 6BX Weld Neck Flanges.

Commonly, manufacturers use the commercial steels shown in the table below to
make API pressure control equipment. NACE specifies all of these materials as
satisfactory for Hydrogen Sulfide Service (H 2S) per MR0175 provided the
hardness does not exceed 22 Rockwell C (22 RC), equivalent to 237 Brinell
Hardness (237 HBW) per ASTM E140.

Table 5 - Commercial steels used for pressure control equipment

Material a API Min. Yield/Min. HBW b NACE max. HBW

A 106 Carbon Steel 36K/140 237

A 105 Carbon Steel 45K/140 237
c 60K/174 237
1040 Low Alloy Steel
4130 Low Alloy Steel d 237
60K /174, 75K /197
4140 Low Alloy Steel 60K /174, 75K /197 d 237

8630 Low Alloy Steel d 237

60K /174, 75K /197
410 Martinsitic Stainless Steel 60K /174, 75K /197 d 237
a For special purposes manufacturers may use material other than the ones shown in this
table. In most cases the NACE maximum hardness still applies for ferrous magnetic steels.

Operators should consult with the equipment manufacturer concerning acceptability of

higher hardnesses on specific materials .
b Abbreviation for Brinell Hardness taken using a carbide indenter .
c
Typically 6B , 5000 psi and lower pressure connections.
d 75K material can substitute for 60K material.

API and NACE both specify material chemistry limitations; otherwise NACE
specifies only upper hardness limits for specific materials. API additionally
specifies: tensile strength, yield strength, elongation, and reduction of area; all
 higher hardnesses on specific materials .
b Abbreviation for Brinell Hardness taken using a carbide indenter .
c
Typically 6B , 5000 psi and lower pressure connections.
d 75K material can substitute for 60K material.

API and NACE both specify material chemistry limitations; otherwise NACE
specifies only upper hardness limits for specific materials. API additionally
specifies: tensile strength, yield strength, elongation, and reduction of area; all
confirmed by destructive testing of a specific test sample (referred to as a
Qualification Test Coupon or Test Coupon) taken from the same heat of steel
and processed in the same manner as the production part (s) it represents. The
hardness test(s) taken on this sample provide(s) a reference to compare to
production parts processed in the same way. The hardness test in this case
provides a quality control measurement to give the manufacturer "confidence"
that the "same processes" gave the same result.

Caution: API Spec 6A requires design stress limits that the manufacturer must
consider when choosing the strength of material for bodies. Operators should
consult with the equipment manufacturer when questions arise concerning
justification of acceptance of the Brinell Hardness of a body that falls below that
required for the lowest pressure connector integral to that body.

Brinell Hardness has no bearing on material suitability for "low temperature"

service.

For more information about Brinell Hardness as related to API pressure control
equipment, see Brinell Hardness Testing, What Can We Learn From It ?

For a chart of Brinell hardness impression sizes, their respective Brinell

hardness numbers, the approximate tensile strength corresponding to those
numbers, and conversion between Brinell and Rockwell hardness numbers, see
Hardness Number Conversion Chart.

For specific service temperatures or, as an additional quality control measure,

API Spec 6A requires Charpy V-Notch impact tests. These test requirements
vary by PSL level , as shown in the table below

Table 6 - Charpy V-Notch impact requirements ( 10 mm x 10 mm ) ASTM A370

Minimum Service Minimum Average Impact Value , ft-lb
Temperature Transverse Direction (Longitudinal Direction)
Temperature
Classifications
°F ( °C ) PSL 1 PSL 2 PSL 3 & 4
R,S ,T,U,V 0 ( -18 ) a a 15 ( 20 )
P -20 ( -29 ) a 15 ( 20 ) 15 ( 20 )
L, N -50 ( -46 ) 15 ( 20 ) 15 ( 20 ) 15 ( 20 )

K -75 ( -60 ) 15 ( 20 ) 15 ( 20 ) 15 ( 20 )
a Charpy V-Notch testing not required for these temperatures and PSL combinations.

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