What is the difference between the two steels. Does one have a lower ductle-to-brittle transition temperature??

AJohnson (Materials) 27 Dec 01

12:02
In a nutshell, yes. Both of these steels are pressure vessel carbon steels with similar chemical compositions. The 516 grades have carbon content maximums that are
.02 to .04 % lower than the 515 grades. Carbon also happens to be one of the most potent alloying elements in its effect on toughness. The small .02 to .04 % drop
in carbon could double the Charpy V-notch energy depending on the test temperature. Remember that plain carbon steels with low carbon contents in general have
very steep transition temperature curves, and a plain carbon steel that has good toughness at 32 F can loose more than 50% of that toughness when the temperature
drops to 0 F.
Andy
UKCats (Chemical) (OP) 27 Dec 01
13:41
What is the niche for SA-515?? I don't know of one. Was it cheaper to make at one time, much like a wooden tennis racket, but now hardly ever made anymore.
butelja (Mechanical) 30 Dec 01
21:49
I believe that it preceded SA-516. In my opinion, it has no proper place in low temperature climates since SA-516 is readily available. I believe that it's niche was
before SA-516 when SA-285 was the standard material and it offered higher allowable stresses. Since the brittle fracture problems associated with SA-515 have
become known, most clients insist on SA-516 and will not allow SA-515.
gunnarhole (Mechanical) 1 Jan 02 22:28
The names give some guidance:

ASTM A-515 Standard Specification for Pressure Vessel Plates, Carbon Steel, for Intermediate and Higher Temperature Services

ASTM A-516 Standard Specification for Pressure Vessel Plates, Carbon Steel, for Moderate and Lower Temperature Services

In ASME Section I (power boilers) A-515 can be used at higher temperatures that A-516 (1000 F vs 850 F). In Section VIII they have the same HT limit.
Shmulik (Mechanical) 6 Jan 02 7:44
Sir,
Please find at ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code - Part A (Ferrous Material Spesification) table A1.15 for Minimum test temp. combination meeting charpy V-Notch
requirements indicated. You can clearly see that the A-516 group is suiable for low temp. Please note that the A-515 group requires post weld heat treatment in order
to avoid cracking.
Guest (Visitor) 8 Jan 02 19:59
The primary differances between A515 and A516 is that A515 is produce to coarse grain practices and for use in high temperature applications such steam piping or
pressure vessels. The coarse grains help to minimize graphitization. A516 is produced to fine grain practices in order to maximize the fracture toughness. Bob
ellynn (Petroleum) 7 Feb 04 6:13
1) I have Pipe A672 Gr.B60 CLASS 22(stress relieved)with thickness 42.30mm and 48.50mm (ASTM Specification A515 Gr.60).
2) The minimum Design Metal Temperature is 0C (Design T.427C Max.)as per our class.
3) According to ASTM A515 para.5 (2in and under in thickness mat be ordered normalized or stress relieved, or both).
4) Following to B31.3 Fig.323.2.2A (curve B) it is necessary to impact tested this material.

My question is: the material must be stress relieved or normalized.

Thank you for your help.
Ellynn
metengr (Materials) 7 Feb 04 13:20
UKCats;
Plate material furnished under the ASME SA 515 specification is for use in components or vessels that operate above ambient temperature service because of the
coarse grained structure of the material, resulting in lower impact or notch toughness properies. So yes, SA 515 plate material has poorer impact properties in
comparison to SA 516 plate material, which is supplied as fine grained material. I believe the SA 515 pressure vessel plate specification replaced the original SA 285
plate specification that was used in many ASME Section I boiler components like waterwall drums, etc.


For vessels or components that operate above ambient temperature service, SA 515 is acceptable plate material because you would be above the ductile to brittle
transition temperature in service. For vessels that operate at or below ambient temperature service, the SA 516 plate material would be specified because of improved
impact properties or notch toughness per ASME Section VIII Div 1 or Div 2 mimimum design metal temperature requirements.
JoeTank (Structural) 7 Feb 04 13:59
metengr,
SA515 did not replace SA285. SA285 is alive and well.

Shmulik,
ASME VIII, UCS-56 covers PWHT for the P1 materials (of which SA515 is included) based primarily on a thickness criteria. P1 materials will require PWHT above 1.25
inches, unless preheated to 200F. PWHT is required for thicknesses above 1.50 inches. But, I do not recall any specific requirement that SA515 was singled out for
PWHT as a Code rule. Where in the ASME Code does it say that SA515 is required to be PWHT other that when required based on thickness?
Steve Braune
Tank Industry Consultants
www.tankindustry.com
metengr (Materials) 7 Feb 04 15:36
SB;
You are correct, it was SA 212 that I was thinking about not 285. That is what happens when entropy sets in after 40. By the way, I deal with NBIC/ASME issues, and I
do not recall a similar requirement for PWHT of SA 515, other than PWHT requirements in accordance with UCS-56 or PW 39.
unclesyd (Materials) 7 Feb 04 16:30
Other than the previously mention differentiation between SA515 and SA516, we had two cases where laminations were a problems in the SA515 plate in thick
sections, above 1 1/2" thick. We found out several years later that this was a known problem to some people, though not widely disseminated information.
stanweld (Materials) 9 Feb 04 12:15
SA-515 does not preclude fine grain melting practice. With today's greater uniformity of steel making you will often find that SA-515 will be made to fine grain practice
when you check the aluminum, vanadium and niobium residual element analysis. Only if you order Supplementary Requirement S61 will you guarantee that the
material will have a coarse grain. Coarse grain is beneficial in improving high temp creep properties (over SA-516) and provides somewhat improved resistance to
graphitization.