Designation: A 751 – 01

Standard Test Methods, Practices, and Terminology for

Chemical Analysis of Steel Products1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A 751; 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.

INTRODUCTION

This standard was prepared to answer the need for a single document that would include all aspects
of obtaining and reporting the chemical analysis of steel, stainless steel, and related alloys. Such
subjects as definitions of terms and product (check) analysis variations (tolerances) required
clarification. Requirements for sampling, meeting specified limits, and treatment of data usually were
not clearly established in product specifications.
It is intended that this standard will contain all requirements for the determination of chemical
composition of steel, stainless steel, or related alloys so that product specifications will need contain
only special modifications and exceptions.

1. Scope A 880 Practice for Criteria for Use in Evaluation of Testing

1.1 This standard covers definitions, reference methods, Laboratories and Organizations for the Examination and
practices, and guides relating to the chemical analysis of steel, Inspection of Steel, Stainless Steel, and Related Alloys2
stainless steel, and related alloys. It includes both wet chemical E 29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to
and instrumental techniques. Determine Conformance with Specifications3
1.2 Directions are provided for handling chemical require- E 30 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Steel, Cast
ments, product analyses, residual elements, and reference Iron, Open-Hearth Iron, and Wrought Iron4
standards, and for the treatment and reporting of chemical E 50 Practices for Apparatus, Reagents, and Safety Consid-
analysis data. erations for Chemical Analysis of Metals, Ores, and
1.3 This standard applies only to those product standards Related Materials5
which include this standard or parts thereof as a requirement. E 59 Practice for Sampling Steel and Iron for Determination
1.4 In cases of conflict, the product specification require- of Chemical Composition6
ments shall take precedence over the requirements of this E 60 Practice for Analysis of Metals, Ores, and Related
standard. Materials by Molecular Absorption Spectrometry5
1.5 Attention is directed to Practice A 880 when there may E 212 Test Method for Spectrographic Analysis of Carbon
be a need for information on criteria for evaluation of testing and Low-Alloy Steel by the Rod-to-Rod Technique7
laboratories. E 293 Test Method for Spectrographic Determination of
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the Acid-Soluble Aluminum in Low-Alloy Steel By the Solu-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the tion Technique7
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- E 322 Method for X-Ray Emission Spectrometric Analysis
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- of Low-Alloy Steels and Cast Irons5
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. E 327 Test Method for Optical Emission Spectrometric
Analysis of Stainless Type 18-8 Steels by the Point-to-
2. Referenced Documents Plane Technique8
2.1 ASTM Standards:
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.03.
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02.
1 4
These test methods, practices, and terminology are under the jurisdiction of Discontinued. See 1994 Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol. 03.05.
5
ASTM Committee A01 on Steel, Stainless Steel and Related Alloys, and are the Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.05.
6
direct responsibility of Subcommittee A01.13 on Mechanical and Chemical Testing Discontinued and replaced by E 1806. See 1996 Annual Book of ASTM
and Processing Methods of Steel Products and Processes. Standards, Vol. 03.05.
7
Current edition approved Sept. 10, 2001. Published November 2001. Originally Discontinued. See 1996 Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol. 03.06.
8
published as A 751 – 77. Last previous edition A 751 – 96. Discontinued. See 1998 Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol. 03.06.

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

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 A 751 – 01
E 350 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Carbon Steel, E 1184 Practice for Electrothermal (Graphite Furnace)
Low-Alloy Steel, Silicon Electrical Steel, Ingot Iron, and Atomic Absorption Analysis5
Wrought Iron5 E 1282 Guide for Specifying the Chemical Compositions
E 352 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Tool Steels and Selecting Sampling Practices and Quantitative Analy-
and Other Similar Medium- and High-Alloy Steels5 sis Methods for Metals, Ores and Related Materials5
E 353 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Stainless, E 1329 Practice for Verification and the Use of Control
Heat-Resisting, Maraging, and Other Similar Chromium- Charts in Spectrochemical Analysis5
Nickel-Iron Alloys5
E 354 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of High- 3. Terminology
Temperature, Electrical, Magnetic, and Other Similar Iron, 3.1 Definitions:
Nickel, and Cobalt Alloys5 3.1.1 Pertaining to Analyses:
E 403 Test Method for Optical Emission Spectrometric 3.1.1.1 cast or heat (formerly ladle) analysis—applies to
Analysis of Carbon and Low-Alloy Steel by the Point-to- chemical analyses representative of a heat of steel as reported
Plane Technique9 to the purchaser and determined by analyzing a test sample,
E 404 Test Method for Spectrographic Determination of preferably obtained during the pouring of the steel, for the
Boron in Carbon and Low-Alloy Steel by the Point-to- elements designated in a specification.
Plane Technique5
3.1.1.2 product, check or verification analysis—a chemical
E 415 Test Method for Optical Emission Vacuum Spectro-
analysis of the semifinished or finished product, usually for the
metric Analysis of Carbon and Low-Alloy Steel5
purpose of determining conformance to the specification re-
E 421 Test Method for Spectrographic Determination of
quirements. The range of the specified composition applicable
Silicon and Aluminum in High-Purity Iron7
to product analysis is normally greater than that applicable to
E 485 Test Method for Optical Emission Vacuum Spectro-
heat analysis in order to take into account deviations associated
metric Analysis of Blast Furnace Iron by the Point-to-Plane
with analytical reproducibility (Note 1) and the heterogeneity
Technique5
of the steel.
E 548 Guide for General Criteria Used for Evaluating
Laboratory Competence3 NOTE 1—All of the chemical analysis procedures referenced in this
E 572 Test Method for X-Ray Emission Spectrometric document include precision statements with reproducibility data with the
Analysis of Stainless Steel5 exception of Test Methods E 30.
E 663 Practice for Flame Atomic Absorption Analysis7 3.1.1.3 product analysis tolerances (Note 2)—a permissible
E 743 Guide for Spectrochemical Laboratory Quality As- variation over the maximum limit or under the minimum limit
surance10 of a specified element and applicable only to product analyses,
E 851 Practice for Evaluation of Spectrochemical Labora- not cast or heat analyses.
tories10
NOTE 2—The term “analysis tolerance” is often misunderstood. It does
E 882 Guide for Accountability and Quality Control in the
not apply to cast or heat analyses determined to show conformance to
Chemical Analysis Laboratory5 specified chemical limits. It applies only to product analysis and becomes
E 1019 Test Methods for Determination of Carbon, Sulfur, meaningful only when the heat analysis of an element falls close to one of
Nitrogen and Oxygen in Steel and in Iron, Nickel, and the specified limits. For example, stainless steel UNS 30400 limits for
Cobalt Alloys5 chromium are 18.00 to 20.00 %. A heat that the producer reported as
E 1024 Guide for Chemical Analysis of Metals and Metal 18.01 % chromium may be found to show 17.80 % chromium by a user
Bearing Ores by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectropho- performing a product analysis. If the product analysis tolerance for such a
chromium level is 0.20 %, the product analysis of 17.80 % chromium
tometry5 would be acceptable. A product analysis of 17.79 % would not be
E 1063 Test Method for X-Ray Emission Spectrometric acceptable.
Determination of Cerium and Lanthanum in Carbon and
Low-Alloy Steels10 3.1.1.4 proprietary analytical method—a non-standard ana-
E 1086 Test Method for Optical Emission Vacuum Spectro- lytical method, not published by ASTM, utilizing reference
metric Analysis of Stainless Steel by the Point-to-Plane standards traceable to the National Institute of Standards and
Excitation Technique5 Technology (NIST) (when available) or other sources refer-
E 1087 Practice for Sampling Molten Steel from a Ladle enced in Section 10.
Using An Immersion Sampler to Produce a Specimen for 3.1.1.5 referee analysis—performed using ASTM methods
Emission Spectrochemical Analysis11 listed in 9.1.1 and NIST reference standards or methods and
E 1097 Guide for Direct Current Plasma Emission Spec- reference standards agreed upon between parties. The selection
trometry Analysis5 of a laboratory to perform the referee analysis shall be a matter
of agreement between the supplier and the purchaser.
3.1.1.6 certified reference material—a specimen of material
specially prepared, analyzed, and certified for chemical content
9
Discontinued and replaced by E 403. See 1994 Annual Book of ASTM under the jurisdiction of a recognized standardizing agency or
Standards, Vol. 03.06.
10
Discontinued. See 1997 Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol. 03.06.
group, such as the National Institute of Standards and Tech-
11
Discontinued and replaced by E 59. See 1994 Annual Book of ASTM nology, for use by analytical laboratories as an accurate basis
Standards, Vol. 03.06. for comparison. Reference samples should bear sufficient

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 A 751 – 01
resemblance to the material to be analyzed so that no signifi- primary melt. If this heat analysis does not meet the heat
cant differences are required in procedures or corrections (for analysis requirements of the specification, one sample from the
example, for interferences or inter-element effects). product of each remelted ingot shall be analyzed, and the
3.1.1.7 working reference materials—reference materials analyses shall meet the heat analysis requirements.
used for routine analytical control and traceable to NIST 5.2 If the test samples taken for the heat analysis are lost,
standards and other recognized standards when appropriate inadequate, or not representative of the heat, a product analysis
standards are available. of the semifinished or finished product may be used to establish
3.1.2 Pertaining to Elements: the heat analysis.
3.1.2.1 intentionally added unspecified element—an ele- 5.2.1 If a product analysis is made to establish the heat
ment added in controlled amounts at the option of the producer analysis, the product analysis shall meet the specified limits for
to obtain desirable characteristics. heat analysis and the product analysis tolerances described in
3.1.2.2 residual element—a specified or unspecified ele- Section 6 do not apply.
ment, not intentionally added, originating in raw materials,
refractories, or air. 6. Product Analysis Requirements
3.1.2.3 specified element—an element controlled to a speci- 6.1 For product analysis, the range of the specified chemical
fied range, maximum or minimum, in accordance with the composition is normally greater (designated product analysis
requirements of the product specification. tolerances) than that applicable to heat analyses to take into
3.1.2.4 trace element—a residual element that may occur in account deviations associated with analytical reproducibility
very low concentrations, generally less than 0.01 %. and the heterogeneity of the steel. If several determinations of
4. Concerning the Specification of Chemical Composition any element in the heat are made, they may not vary both
Requirements above and below the specified range.
4.1 It is recommended that Guide E 1282 be consulted as a 6.2 Product analysis tolerances may not be used to deter-
guide for specifying the chemical compositions for steels. mine conformance to the specified heat or cast analysis unless
4.2 The recommended practice for specifying chemical permitted by the individual material specification.
composition limits is to limit the number of significant figures 6.3 Product analysis tolerances, where available, are given
for each element so that the number of figures to the right of the in the individual material specifications or in the general
decimal point conforms to the following: requirement specifications.
Chemical Maximum Number of Figures to
Concentration the Right of the Decimal Point 7. Unspecified Elements (Note 4)
Up to 0.010 % — 0.XXXX or may be expressed as ppm
Up to 0.10 % — 0.XXX
7.1 Reporting analyses of unspecified elements is permitted.
0.10 to 3.00 % — 0.XX
NOTE 4—All commercial metals contain small amounts of various
Over 3.0 % — 0.X
elements in addition to those which are specified. It is neither practical nor
4.3 For those cases in which the composition range spans necessary to specify limits for every unspecified element that might be
either 0.10 % or 3.0 %, the number of figures to the right of the present, despite the fact that the presence of many of these elements is
decimal is to be determined by that indicated by the upper often routinely determined by the producer.
limit. 7.2 Analysis limits shall be established for specific elements
4.4 Technical considerations may dictate the employment of rather than groups of elements such as “all others,” “rare
less than the number of figures to the right of the decimal as earths,” and “balance.”
previously recommended.
NOTE 3—The recommendations should be employed to reduce the 8. Sampling
number of significant figures, such as from 18.00 % to 18.0 %, but a 8.1 Cast or Heat Analyses:
significant figure should never be added unless there is a technical reason 8.1.1 Samples shall be taken, insofar as possible, during the
for so doing.
casting of a heat, at a time which, in the producer’s judgment,
5. Cast or Heat Analysis best represents the composition of the cast.
5.1 The producer shall perform analyses for those elements 8.1.2 In case the heat analysis samples or analyses are lost
specified in the material specification. The results of such or inadequate, or when it is evident that the sample does not
analyses shall conform to the requirements specified in the truly represent the heat, representative samples may be taken
material specification. from the semifinished or finished product, in which case such
5.1.1 For multiple heats, either individual heat or cast samples may be analyzed to satisfy the specified requirements.
analysis or an average heat or cast analysis shall be reported. If The analysis shall meet the specified limits for heat analysis.
significant variations in heat or cast size are involved, a 8.2 Check, Product, or Verification Analyses—Unless oth-
weighted average heat or cast analysis, based on the relative erwise specified, the latest revision of Practice E 59 shall be
quantity of metal in each heat or cast, shall be reported. used as a guide for sampling.
5.1.2 For consumable electrode remelted material, a heat is
defined as all the ingots remelted by the same process from a 9. Test Methods
primary heat. The heat analysis shall be obtained from one 9.1 This section lists some test methods that have been
remelted ingot, or the product of one remelted ingot, from each found acceptable for chemical analysis of steels.

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 A 751 – 01
9.1.1 The following ASTM wet chemical test methods have 9.2.2 Analysis of stainless steels using spark emission
been found acceptable as referee test methods and as a base for spectroscopy (OES). See Table 2 for normal elements and
standardizing instrumental analysis techniques: ranges for stainless steels.
Test 9.2.3 Analysis of solutions using an atomic absorption
Methods General Description spectrophotometer.
E 30 — antecedent to Test Methods E 350 through E354
E 350 — the basic wet chemical procedure for steels
9.2.4 Analysis of solutions using an inductively coupled
E 352 — wet chemical procedure for tool steels plasma emission spectrometer.
E 353 — wet chemical procedure for stainless steels 9.2.5 Determination of carbon or sulfur, or both, by com-
E 354 — wet chemical procedure for high nickel steels
E 1019 — determination of carbon, sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen, and hy- bustion (in oxygen) and measurement of CO2 or SO2, or both,
drogen, in steel and in iron, nickel, and cobalt alloys by thermal conductivity or infrared detectors.
Element Ranges % Element Ranges %
9.1.2 The following ASTM instrumental test methods, prac- C 0.002 – 5.0 S 0.0005 – 0.1
tices, and guides may be employed for chemical analysis of
steels or may be useful as a guide in the calibration and 9.2.6 Determination of nitrogen and oxygen by fusion (in a
standardization of instrumental equipment for routine sampling helium atmosphere) and measurement of N2 by thermal con-
and analysis of steels: ductivity and oxygen by measurement of CO by infrared or
Standard General Description thermal conductivity detectors.
E 50 — apparatus, reagents, and safety Element Ranges %
E 60 — photometric and spectrophotometric work N2 0.0005 – 0.3
E 212 — spectrographic analysis of steels (rod-to-rod technique) O2 0.0008 – 0.02
E 293 — spectrographic analysis of acid-soluble aluminum
E 322 — x-ray fluorescence for steels 9.2.7 Analysis of solutions using inductively coupled
E 327 — spectrometric analysis of stainless steels plasma emission spectroscopy (ICP) or direct plasma emission
E 403 — spectrometric analysis of steels
E 404 — spectrographic determination of steels for boron (point-to-
spectroscopy (DCP). Normal elements and ranges for stainless
plane technique) steels are as follows:
E 415 — vacuum spectrometric analysis of steels Element Ranges %
E 421 — spectrographic determination of silicon and aluminum in B 0.0002 – 0.01
high-purity iron Ca 0.0002 – 0.01
E 485 — optical emission vacuum spectrometric analysis of blast Mg 0.0002 – 0.01
furnace iron by the point-to plane technique Ce 0.001 – 0.2
E 572 — x-ray emission spectrometric analysis of stainless steels Zr 0.001 – 0.1
E 663 — flame atomic absorption Ta 0.005 – 0.5
E 882 — accountability and quality control La 0.001 – 0.01
E 1019 — determination of carbon, sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen, and hy-
drogen in steel and in iron, nickel, and cobalt alloys 9.3 There are additional common techniques often used for
E 1024 — flame atomic absorption
E 1063 — x-ray emission spectrometric determination of cerium and
chemical analysis of standards for instrument analysis such as:
lathanum in carbon and low-alloy steels polarographic analysis, ion exchange separations, radioactiva-
E 1086 — optical emission vacuum spectrometric analysis of stain- tion, and mass spectrometry.
less steel by the point-to plane excitation technique
E 1087 — sampling
E 1097 — direct current plasma spectroscopy 10. Reference Materials
E 1184 — graphite furnace atomic absorption
E 1282 — selecting sampling practices and analysis methods
10.1 For referee analyses, reference standards of a recog-
E 1329 — verification and use of control charts nized standardizing agency shall be employed with preference
given to NIST standard reference materials when applicable.
9.2 The following are some of the commonly accepted
(NIST does not produce reference standards suitable for all
techniques employed for routine chemical analysis of steels.
elements or all alloys.12)
These routine analyses are the basis for the producers’ quality
control/assurance programs. Proprietary methods are permis-
sible provided the results are equivalent to those obtained from
standard methods when applicable. 12
Some sources of reference materials are listed in ASTM Data Series
9.2.1 Analysis of stainless steels using x-ray fluorescence
Publication No. DS2, issued 1963.
spectroscopy (XRF). See Table 1 for normal elements and
ranges for stainless steels.
TABLE 2 Normal Elements and Ranges for Stainless Steels
Using Spark Emission Spectroscopy
C 0.004–5.0 V 0.005–2.0
TABLE 1 Normal Elements and Ranges for Stainless Steels S 0.0005–0.1 Ti 0.005–2.5
Using X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy N2 0.0020–0.3 Co 0.005–4.0
MN 0.005–15.0 Sn 0.001–0.20
Element Ranges % Element Ranges %
P 0.001–1.5 W 0.005–3.0
MN 0.005–15.0 Cu 0.005–4.0 Si 0.005–5.0 Pb 0.002–0.05
P 0.001–0.15 Cb 0.005–3.0 Cr 0.01–26.0 B 0.0005–0.05
Si 0.005–5.0 V 0.005–2.0 Ni 0.01–36.0 Ca 0.0002–0.01
Cr 0.01–26.0 Ti 0.005–2.5 Al 0.001–5.5 Mg 0.001–0.01
Ni 0.01–36.0 Co 0.005–4.0 Mo 0.005–8.0 Ce 0.001–0.2
Al 0.002–5.5 Sn 0.002–0.20 Cu 0.005–4.0 Zr 0.001–0.1
Mo 0.005–8.0 W 0.005–3.0 Cb 0.005–3.0 Ta 0.005–0.5

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 A 751 – 01
10.1.1 When standard reference materials for certain alloys 12. Rounding Procedure
are not available from NIST, reference materials may be 12.1 To determine conformance with the specification re-
produced by employing ASTM standard procedures and NIST quirements, an observed value or calculated value shall be
standard reference materials to the extent that such procedures rounded in accordance with Practice E 29 to the nearest unit in
and reference standards are available. Several independent the last right-hand place of values listed in the table of
laboratories should be used for certification of these standards chemical requirements.
and their results statistically reviewed and merged. 12.2 In the special case of rounding the number “5” when
10.1.2 Methods not published by ASTM such as a definitive no additional numbers other than “0” follow the “5”, rounding
analytical method may be used when the method is validated shall be done in the direction of the specification analysis limits
by analyzing certified reference materials along with the if following Practice E 29 would cause rejection of material.
candidate reference material. Examples of definitive analytical
methods include gravimetric, coulometry, titrimetric based on 13. Records
normality, and mass spectrometry.
10.2 Working reference materials may be used for routine 13.1 In addition to the test data requested, the test records
analytical control. shall contain the following information as appropriate:
13.1.1 Description of the material tested, for example, heat
11. Significant Numbers number, grade of material, product specification.
11.1 Laboratories shall report each element to the same 13.1.2 Test method(s) or unambiguous description of the
number of significant numbers as used in the pertinent material nonstandard method(s) used.
specifications.
11.2 When a chemical determination yields a greater num- 14. Keywords
ber of significant numbers than is specified for an element, the 14.1 cast analysis; chemical analysis; heat analysis; product
result shall be rounded in accordance with Section 12. analysis; reference materials

APPENDIX

(Nonmandatory Information)

X1. QUALITY ASSURANCE FOR VALIDITY OF ANALYTICAL RESULTS

X1.1 The requirements embodied in Guide E 548 and X1.3.1 Replication of sampling and testing to improve the
Practices A 880 and E 851, provide generic requirements for precision of results;
production of valid chemical-analysis results. X1.3.2 Use of reference materials is crucial to accurate
results;
X1.2 Additional pertinent standards for improving the
X1.3.3 Instrumentation that is appropriate and properly
competency of chemical analysis laboratories are included in
maintained; and
Guides E 743 and E 882.
X1.3.4 Personnel who are properly trained, ethical chemists
X1.3 Keys to improving validity of chemical analytical or technicians and who work with properly documented,
results are as follows: current standards.

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in this standard. Users of this standard are expressly advised that determination of the validity of any such patent rights, and the risk
of infringement of such rights, are entirely their own responsibility.

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