An American National Standard

Designation: A 266/A 266M – 03a

Standard Specification for

Carbon Steel Forgings for Pressure Vessel Components1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A 266/A 266M; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.

1. Scope* E 112 Test Methods for Determining the Average Grain

1.1 This specification2 covers four grades of carbon steel Size
forgings for boilers, pressure vessels, and associated equip- E 165 Test Method for Liquid Penetrant Examination
ment. E 381 Method of Macroetch Testing Steel Bars, Billets,
Blooms, and Forgings
NOTE 1—Designations have been changed as follows:
Current Formerly 2.2 Other Standard:
Grade 1 Class 1
Grade 2 Class 2 ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section IX, Weld-
Grade 3 Class 3 ing Qualifications4
Grade 4 Class 4
1.2 Supplementary requirements are provided for use when 3. Ordering Information and General Requirements
additional testing or inspection is desired. These shall apply 3.1 In addition to the ordering information required by
only when specified individually by the purchaser in the order. Specification A 788, the purchaser shall include with the
1.3 The values stated in either inch-pound units or SI inquiry and order a detailed drawing, sketch, or written
(metric) units are to be regarded separately as the standard. description of the forging.
Within the text and tables, the SI units are shown in brackets. 3.2 Material supplied to this specification shall conform to
The values stated in each system are not exact equivalents; the requirements of Specification A 788, which outlines addi-
therefore, each system must be used independently of the other. tional ordering information, manufacturing requirements, test-
Combining values from the two systems may result in noncon- ing and retesting methods and procedures, marking, certifica-
formance with the specification. tion, product analysis variations, and additional supplementary
1.4 Unless the order specifies the applicable “M” specifica- requirements.
tion designation, the material shall be furnished to the inch- 3.3 If the requirements of this specification are in conflict
pound units. with the requirements of Specification A 788, the requirements
of this specification shall prevail.
2. Referenced Documents 3.4 For hubbed flanges and tube sheets ordered for ASME
2.1 ASTM Standards: 3 Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code application, Supplementary
A 275/A 275M Test Method for Magnetic Particle Exami- Requirement S12 of Specification A 788 shall be specified in
nation of Steel Forgings addition to Supplementary Requirement S8 of this specifica-
A 370 Test Methods and Definitions for Mechanical Testing tion.
of Steel Products
A 788 Specification for Steel Forgings, General Require- 4. Materials and Manufacture
ments
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4.1 The steel shall be made in accordance with the Melting

Process Section of Specification A 788. A sufficient discard
1
shall be made to secure freedom from injurious pipe and undue
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A01 on Steel,
segregation.
Stainless Steel, and Related Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
A01.06 on Steel Forgings and Billets. 4.2 The material shall be forged as close as practical to the
Current edition approved Sept. 10, 2003. Published October 2003. Originally specified shape and size.
approved in 1943. Last previous edition approved in 2003 as A 266/A 266M–03. 4.3 The finished product shall be a hot-worked forging as
2
For ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code applications, see related Specifi-
cation SA–266/ SA–266M in Section II of that code.
defined by Specification A 788.
3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, [Link], or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@[Link]. For Annual Book of ASTM
4
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 345 East 47th
the ASTM website. St., New York, NY 10017.

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.

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 A 266/A 266M – 03a
5. Machining TABLE 2 Tensile Requirements

5.1 Surfaces shall be machined as designated by the pur- Grade 1 Grades Grade 3
2 and 4
chaser. Unmachined surfaces shall be sufficiently free of scale
Tensile strength, min, ksi 60–85 70–95 75–100
to permit inspection. [MPa]
5.2 Machining may be performed either prior to or after heat Yield strength (0.2 % offset), 30 36 37.5
treatment at the option of the manufacturer unless specified in min, ksi [MPa]
Elongation in 2 in. or 50 23 20 19
accordance with Supplementary Requirement S1. mm, min, %
Reduction of area, min, % 38 33 30
6. Heat Treatment
6.1 After forging and before reheating for heat treatment,
the forgings shall be cooled in such a manner as to prevent
injury and to accomplish transformation. 8.1.1 Except when otherwise specified in accordance with
6.2 All forgings shall be annealed, normalized, or normal- Supplementary Requirement S2, the longitudinal axis of the
ized and tempered, but alternatively may be liquid quenched specimens shall be parallel to the direction of major working of
and tempered when mutually agreed upon between the manu- the forging. For upset-disc forgings, the longitudinal axis of the
facturer and the purchaser. When tempering is performed, it test specimen shall be in the tangential direction.
shall be at a subcritical temperature, but no less than 1100°F [Link] The longitudinal axis of the specimen shall be
[595°C]. located midway between the parallel surfaces of the test
6.3 A multiple stage austenitizing procedure may be used extension if added to the periphery of disks or midway between
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whereby the forging is first fully austenitized and liquid the center and surface of solid forgings. For hollow forgings,
quenched, followed by reheating within the intercritical tem- the longitudinal axis of the specimens shall be located midway
perature range to partially reaustenitize, and again liquid between the center and outer surfaces of the wall. When
quenched. On completion of the austenitizing/quenching separately forged test blocks are employed as defined in 8.1.3,
cycles, tempering at a temperature between 1100°F [595°C] the tension test specimens shall be taken from a location that
and the lower critical temperature shall follow. represents the midwall of the heaviest section of the production
forgings. When specimens are required from opposite ends,
NOTE 2—Although liquid quenching from the austenitizing tempera- they shall be taken from the diagonal corners of an axial plane.
tures is more effective in enhancing impact properties, air cooling from the
austenitizing temperatures is also beneficial and may be used instead of
8.1.2 Except as specified herein, tests for acceptance shall
the normalizing procedure in 6.2. be made after heat treatment has been completed. When the
ends of the cylindrical forgings are closed in by reforging, the
7. Chemical Composition cylindrical forgings may be annealed, normalized, or normal-
7.1 Heat Analysis—The heat analysis obtained from sam- ized and tempered and tested prior to reforging. After reforg-
pling in accordance with Specification A 788 shall comply with ing, the entire forging shall be reheat-treated in the same
Table 1 except that the additional features of Supplementary manner and at the same temperature range as employed when
Requirements S11 and S12 shall also apply as individually the forging was heat-treated prior to certification testing.
specified in the ordering information. 8.1.3 When mutually agreed upon between manufacturer
7.2 Product Analysis—The purchaser may use the product and purchaser, test specimens may be machined from a
analysis provision of Specification A 788 to obtain a product specially forged block suitably worked and heat treated with
analysis from a forging representing each heat or multiple heat. the production forgings. Such a special block shall be obtained
from an ingot, slab, or billet from the same heat used to make
8. Mechanical Properties the forgings it represents. This block shall receive essentially
the same type of hot working and forging reduction as the
8.1 General Requirements—Except when otherwise speci-
production forgings; however, a longitudinally forged bar with
fied in accordance with Supplementary Requirement S2, the
dimensions not less than T by T by 3T may be used to represent
material shall conform to the requirements for mechanical
a ring forging. The dimension T shall be representative of the
properties prescribed in Table 2 when tested in accordance with
heaviest effective cross section of the forging. For quenched
the latest issue of Test Methods and Definitions A 370. The
and tempered forgings for which tests are required at both ends
largest obtainable tension test specimen as specified in Test
by [Link] and [Link], separately forged test blocks are not
Methods and Definitions A 370 shall be used.
allowed.
NOTE 3—In using separately forged test blocks, attention is drawn to
TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements the effect of mass differences between the production forgings and the test
blocks.
Composition, %
Grades 1 and 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 8.2 Specific Requirements—The number and location of
Carbon, max 0.30 0.35 0.30 tests are based on forging length, weight, and heat treatment,
Manganese 0.40–1.05 0.80–1.35 0.80–1.35 and shall be as prescribed below. The length and weight to be
Phosphorus, max 0.025 0.025 0.025 used for this purpose shall be the shipped length and weight of
Sulfur, max 0.025 0.025 0.025
Silicon 0.15–0.35 0.15–0.35 0.15–0.35 forgings produced individually or the aggregate shipped length
and weight of all pieces cut from a multiple forging.

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 A 266/A 266M – 03a
8.2.1 Annealed, Normalized, or Normalized and Tempered [Link] For quenched and tempered forgings and forged bars
Steel Forgings: weighing more than 10 000 lb [4500 kg] at the time of heat
[Link] For forgings weighing 5000 lb [2250 kg] or less at treatment, two tension test specimens shall be taken from each
the time of heat treatment, one tension test shall be taken from forging. These shall be offset 180° from each other except that
one forging per heat in each heat–treatment charge. When heat if the length of the forging, excluding test prolongations,
treatment is performed in continuous-type furnaces with suit- exceeds 12 ft [3.7 m], then one specimen shall be taken from
able temperature controls and equipped with recording pyrom- each end of the forging.
eters so that complete heat-treatment records are available, a
tempering charge may be considered as any continuous run not 9. Repair Welding
exceeding an 8-h period. 9.1 Repair welding of forgings is permissible only at the
[Link] For forgings and forged bars weighing over 5000 lb option of the purchaser. If repair welding is performed, welders
[2250 kg] at the time of heat treatment, one tension test shall be and weld procedures shall be qualified in accordance with
taken from each forging. Section IX of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code.
8.2.2 Quenched and Tempered Forgings:
[Link] For quenched and tempered forgings weighing 5000 10. Certification
lb [2250 kg] or less at the time of heat treatment, but not
10.1 In addition to the mandatory certification requirements
exceeding 12 ft [3.7 m] in length, one tension test shall be
of Specification A 788, the heat treatment cycle data shall be
taken from one forging per heat in each heat–treatment charge.
included.
When heat treatment is performed in continuous-type furnaces
with suitable temperature controls and equipped with recording
11. Product Marking
pyrometers so that complete heat-treatment records are avail-
able, a tempering charge may be considered as any continuous 11.1 Each forging shall be identified in accordance with the
run not exceeding an 8-h period. Marking Section of Specification A 788. In addition, the
[Link] For quenched and tempered forgings and forged bars forging shall be marked following the grade designation by the
weighing over 5000 lb [2250 kg] to 10 000 lb [4500 kg] at the letter “A” for annealed, “N” for normalized, “NT” for normal-
time of heat treatment, but not exceeding 12 ft [3.7 m] in ized and tempered, and “S” for liquid quenched and tempered,
length, one tension test shall be taken from each forging. as applicable.
[Link] For quenched and tempered forgings and forged bars
that exceed 12 ft [3.7 m] in length, one tension test shall be 12. Keywords
taken from each end of each forging. 12.1 pressure vessel service; steel forgings—carbon

SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENTS

One or more of the following supplementary requirements shall apply only when specified by the
purchaser in the inquiry, contract, or order. Details of these supplementary requirements shall be
agreed upon between the manufacturer and the purchaser.

S1. Rough Turning and Boring S4. Magnetic Particle Examination

S1.1 The position of the rough turning and boring in the S4.1 All accessible surfaces of the finished forging shall be
sequence of manufacturing operations shall be as specified by examined by a magnetic particle method. The method shall be
the purchaser. in accordance with Test Method A 275/A 275 M. Acceptance
limits shall be as agreed upon between the manufacturer and
S2. Alternative Tension Test Orientation the purchaser.

S2.1 In lieu of the requirements of Section 8, the longitu- S5. Liquid Penetrant Examination
dinal axis of the test specimens shall be transverse to the S5.1 After forgings have been heat treated by liquid quench-
direction of major working of the forging. The results shall ing and tempering, all accessible surfaces shall be inspected for
conform with requirements of Table 2, with the exception of quench cracks by the liquid penetrant method in accordance
the ductility limits that shall be as follows: with Test Method E 165 as an alternative to magnetic particle
Grade 1 2 and 4 3 examination.
Elongation in 2 in. [50 mm], min, % 20 19 18
Reduction of area, min, % 30 25 25 S6. Macroetch Test
S6.1 A sample forging shall be sectioned and etched to
S3. Hydrostatic Test
show flow lines and internal imperfections. The test shall be
S3.1 A hydrostatic pressure test shall be applied. The details conducted in accordance with Method E 381. Details of the test
of the test, including its position in the sequence of manufac- shall be agreed upon between the manufacturer and the
turing operations, shall be specified. purchaser.
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 A 266/A 266M – 03a
S7. Product Analysis Nickel 0.25 % max
Chromium 0.20 % max
S7.1 A product analysis in accordance with Section 7 shall Molybdenum 0.08 % max
be made from one randomly selected forging representing each
size and shape of forging on the order. If the analysis fails to S12. Restriction on Carbon (Applicable to Grade I)
comply, each forging shall be checked or the lot rejected. All S12.1 The carbon content shall be 0.30 % max.
results shall be reported to the purchaser.
S8. Specimen Location on Forged Hubs S13. Impact Tests
S8.1 Forged hubs to be butt-welded to shells shall be forged S13.1 Charpy impact tests shall be made. The number and
in such a manner as to provide in the hub the full minimum location of the tests, minimum properties, and test temperatures
tensile strength and elongation specified for the material, in a shall be specified.
direction parallel to the axis of the vessel. A tension specimen S13.2 The specimens shall be machined and tested in
(subsize if necessary) shall be taken in this direction and as accordance with Test Methods and Definitions A 370.
close to the finished hub outside diameter as practical. S13.3 Retests may be conducted in accordance with Section
10 of Specification A 788.
S9. Hardness
S9.1 The purchaser may check the Brinell hardness of the S14. Individual Forging
forging at any location on the surface of the forging, and the S14.1 Forgings, whether identical or not, shall be pro-duced
hardness shall be within the following limits: individually. They shall not be forged in multiples and sepa-
Grade Brinell Hardness Limits rated prior to or after heat treatment.
1 121 to 170 S14.2 The shape and size of individual forgings shall be
2 and 4 137 to 197
3 156 to 207
agreed upon between the manufacturer and the purchaser by
means of a forging drawing or the purchase order.
S10. Grain Size
S10.1 The austenitic grain size of the steel shall be 1 to 5 as S15. Carbon Equivalancy
determined using Test Methods E 112. S15.1 The heat analysis including the residual element
restrictions of S1 in Specification A 788 shall be limited such
S11. Restriction on Residual Elements (Applicable to that the carbon equivalent shall not exceed 0.45 for Grade 1 or
Heat Analysis) 0.50 for Grade 2 or 4 when calculated in accordance with the
S11.1 Nickel, chromium, and molybdenum shall be deter- following formula:
mined and shall not exceed the following limits: % Mn % Cr 1 % Mo 1 % V % Ni 1 % Cu
CE 5 % C 1 6 1 5 1 15

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

Committee A01 has identified the location of the following changes to this standard since A 266/A 266-03 that
may impact the use of this standard.

(1) Added mandatory supplementary requirement reference to

ordering information.

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