Designation: B6 − 13 American Association of State

Highway and Transportation

Officials Standard
AASHTO No: M120-77

Standard Specification for

Zinc1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B6; 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 (´) 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* 2.2 ASTM Standards:2

1.1 This specification covers zinc metal made from ore or B852 Specification for Continuous Galvanizing Grade
other material by a process of distillation or by electrolysis in (CGG) Zinc Alloys for Hot-Dip Galvanizing of Sheet
five grades as follows: Steel
1.1.1 LME Grade B897 Specification for Configuration of Zinc and Zinc Alloy
1.1.2 Special High Grade Jumbo Block and Half Block Ingot
1.1.3 High Grade B899 Terminology Relating to Non-ferrous Metals and Al-
loys
1.1.4 Intermediate Grade
B914 Practice for Color Codes on Zinc and Zinc Alloy Ingot
1.1.5 Prime Western Grade
for Use in Hot-Dip Galvanizing of Steel
NOTE 1—Certain continuous galvanizing grades are specified in Speci- B949 Specification for General Requirements for Zinc and
fication B852. Other continuous galvanizing and controlled lead grades Zinc Alloy Products
are not included in this specification but are covered by specific user
purchasing specifications.
E29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to
Determine Conformance with Specifications
1.2 This specification does not cover zinc produced by E527 Practice for Numbering Metals and Alloys in the
“sweating” or remelting of secondary zinc. Unified Numbering System (UNS)
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded E536 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Zinc and Zinc
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical Alloys
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only 2.3 ISO Standards:3
and are not considered standard. ISO 3815-1 Zinc and zinc alloys — Part 1: Analysis of solid
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the samples by optical emission spectrometry
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the ISO 3815-2 Zinc and zinc alloys — Part 2: Analysis by
responsibility of the user of this standard to become familiar inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry
with all hazards including those identified in the appropriate 3. Terminology
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for this product/material
as provided by the manufacturer, to establish appropriate 3.1 Terms shall be defined in accordance with Terminology
safety and health practices, and determine the applicability of B899.
regulatory limitations prior to use. 3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 LME Grade, n—a grade of zinc containing a minimum
2. Referenced Documents of 99.995 % zinc, with controlled impurity levels, as specified
2.1 The following documents of the issue in effect on the in Table 1.
date of material purchase form a part of this specification to the 3.2.2 Special High Grade, n—a high purity grade of zinc
extent referenced herein. containing a minimum of 99.990 % zinc, with controlled
impurity levels, as specified in Table 1.

1 2
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B02 on For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Nonferrous Metals and Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
B02.04 on Zinc and Cadmium. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2013. Published March 2013. Originally the ASTM website.
3
approved in 1911. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as B6 – 12. DOI: Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
10.1520/B0006-13. 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.

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

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States

1
 B6 − 13
TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements
NOTE 1—The following applies to all specified limits in this table: For purposes of determining conformance with this specification, an observed value
obtained from analysis shall be rounded off “to the nearest unit” in the last right-hand place of figures used in expressing the limiting value, in accordance
with the rounding method of Practice E29.
Composition,%
Grade Alumi- Total
Color Iron Cadmium Copper Tin Zinc, min
[UNS]A Lead num Non-Zinc
CodeB max max max max by difference
max max
LME Grade White 0.003 max 0.002 0.003 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.005 99.995
(LME) [Z12002]
Special High GradeC Yellow 0.003 max 0.003 0.003 0.002 0.002 0.001 0.010 99.990
(SHG) [Z13001]
High Grade Green 0.03 max 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.002 0.001 0.05 99.95
(HG) [Z14003]
Intermediate Grade Blue 0.45 max 0.05 0.01 0.01 0.20 ... 0.5 99.5
(IG) [Z16005]
Prime Western Grade Black 0.5–1.4 0.05 0.20 0.01 0.10 ... 1.5 98.5
(PWG) [Z18005]
A
UNS designations were established in accordance with Practice E527.
B
Refer to Practice B914.
C
For London Metal Exchange (LME) purposes, Special High Grade zinc must be 99.995 % minimum zinc content by difference, corresponding to LME Grade in ASTM
Specification B6.

3.2.3 High Grade, n—a grade of zinc containing a minimum 7.3 Zinc metal may also be ordered in anodes or other
of 99.95 % zinc, with controlled impurity levels, as specified in shapes.
Table 1.
8. Appearance
3.2.4 Intermediate Grade, n—a grade of zinc containing a
minimum of 99.5 % zinc, with controlled impurity levels, as 8.1 The zinc metal shall be reasonably free of surface
specified in Table 1. corrosion and adhering foreign matter.
3.2.5 Prime Western Grade, n—a grade of zinc containing 9. Sampling for Chemical Analysis
0.5 to 1.4 % lead, a minimum of 98.5 % zinc, with controlled
9.1 Sampling procedures shall be in compliance with the
impurity levels, as specified in Table 1.
provisions of Specification B949, Section 6.
3.3 Abbreviations:
3.3.1 LME—LME Grade Zinc 10. Methods of Chemical Analysis
3.3.2 SHG—Special High Grade Zinc 10.1 In case of disagreement, results secured by an ap-
3.3.3 HG—High Grade Zinc proved method or a method mutually agreed upon by both
parties shall be the basis of acceptance. Approved methods
3.3.4 IG—Intermediate Grade Zinc include Test Methods E536, ISO 3815-1and ISO 3815-2.
3.3.5 PWG—Prime Western Grade Zinc NOTE 2—Test Methods E536 is directly applicable, in an unmodified
form, only to alloys 3, 5, and 7. ISO 3815-1 and ISO 3815-2 are generic
4. Ordering Information methods applied to zinc and zinc alloys. Each of the methods may be
modified and formatted for the alloy to be assayed. An experienced
4.1 Orders for zinc metal under this specification shall chemist, using suitable and/or traceable standards along with valid quality
include information as specified in Specification B949, Section assurance techniques, will be able to perform and validate the methods
4. and demonstrate acceptable precision and accuracy.

5. Materials and Manufacture 11. Rejection and Rehearing

5.1 The manufacturer shall use care to have each lot of zinc 11.1 Claims to be considered in accordance with the provi-
metal be as uniform in quality as possible. sions of Specification B949, Section 8.

6. Chemical Requirements 12. Investigation of Claims

6.1 The zinc metal shall conform to the requirements 12.1 Claims shall be investigated in accordance with the
prescribed in Table 1. provisions of Specification B949, Section 8.
6.2 Chemical requirement procedures shall be in compli- 13. Settlement of Claims
ance with the provisions of Specification B949, Section 5.2. 13.1 Claims shall be settled in accordance with the provi-
7. Sizes and Shapes sions of Specification B949, Section 8.
7.1 Slabs varying in weight from 40 to 60 lb (18 to 27 kg) 14. Product Identification Marking and Packaging
are all considered standard slabs. 14.1 Each slab, block, jumbo or ingot shall be marked for
7.2 Zinc metal may be ordered in jumbos or blocks, as identification in accordance with the provisions of Specifica-
specified in Specification B897. tion B949, Section 10.

2
 B6 − 13
15. Keywords
15.1 high grade zinc; intermediate grade zinc; LME grade
zinc; prime western zinc; special high grade zinc; zinc; zinc
metal

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

Committee B02 has identified the location of selected changes to this standard since the last issue (B6 - 12)
that may impact the use of this standard. (Approved February 1, 2013.)

(1) UNS numbers were added.

Committee B02 has identified the location of selected changes to this standard since the last issue (B6 - 09)
that may impact the use of this standard. (Approved May 1, 2012.)

(1) Note added to Section 10 about use of referenced analytical

methods.

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