Designation: A 126 – 95

AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS

100 Barr Harbor Dr., West Conshohocken, PA 19428
Reprinted from the Annual Book of ASTM Standards. Copyright ASTM

Standard Specification for

Gray Iron Castings for Valves, Flanges, and Pipe Fittings1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A 126; 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 TABLE 1 Tensile Requirements

1.1 This specification covers three classes of gray iron for

Class A Class B Class C
castings intended for use as valve pressure retaining parts, pipe
Tensile strength, min, ksi 21 (145) 31 (214) 41 (283)
fittings, and flanges. (MPa)
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for
information only. 7. Chemical Requirements
7.1 A chemical analysis shall be performed on each lot and
2. Referenced Documents shall conform to the following requirements for phosphorus
2.1 ASTM Standards: and sulfur:
A 48 Specification for Gray Iron Castings2 Phosphorus, max, % 0.75
A 438 Test Method for Transverse Testing of Gray Cast Sulfur, max, % 0.15
Iron2 7.2 The chemical analysis shall be performed on a sample
A 644 Terminology Relating to Iron Castings2 obtained during the pouring of the lot.
E 8 Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials3
8. Tensile Properties
3. Terminology
8.1 One tension test shall be performed on each lot and shall
3.1 Definitions of many terms common to gray iron castings
conform to the mechanical properties specified in
are found in Terminology A 644.
Table 1.
4. Classification
9. Transverse Test
4.1 Castings produced to this specification are classified
9.1 When specified by the purchaser, one transverse test
based upon the minimum tensile strength of the iron (see Table
shall be performed on each lot and shall conform to the
1).
requirement specified in Table 2.
5. Ordering Information 9.2 The test shall be performed with the bar resting on
5.1 Orders for material in this specification should include supports separated by 12 in. (305 mm) and the load applied
the following information: midway between the supports. The load shall be applied at a
5.1.1 ASTM designation and year date, rate that will produce 0.10 in. (2.5 mm) central deflection in 20
5.1.2 Class of iron required, to 40 s.
5.1.3 Quantity, 9.3 In case the transverse test specimen varies from the
5.1.4 Transverse test, if required (see Section 8), and specified diameter of 1.20 in. (30.5 mm), a correction factor
5.1.5 Certification, if required (see Section 17). conforming to the requirements for Test Bar B in Table 1 of
Test Method A 438 shall apply.
6. Workmanship, Finish, and Appearance
10. Cast Test Bars
6.1 The castings shall be made in a workmanlike manner
and the surface shall be free of adhering sand, scale, cracks, 10.1 Separately cast 11⁄8 in. (28.6 mm) diameter test bars
and hot tears as determined by visual examination. shown in Fig. 1 shall be poured in sand molds from the same
lot as the castings represented.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A-4 on Iron NOTE 1—The numbering on the test specimens shown in Fig. 1 and Fig.
Castings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee A04.01 on Gray Iron 2 is intended simply to illustrate a method of designation. In the particular
Castings. method shown12 refers to December 8, B 1 is the cupola number, and the
Current edition approved Dec. 10, 1995. Published January 1996. Originally numeral 1 which follows shows the hour cast (1 p.m.).
published as A 126 – 29T. Last previous edition A 126 – 93.
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.02. 10.2 Test bars that are intended to represent castings which
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.01. are cooled in the mold to less than 900°F (480°C) before

1
 A 126
TABLE 2 Transverse Test Requirements area of the reduced section shall be 1 in.2(645 mm2) 65 %. The
actual cross-sectional area shall be used in calculating the
Class A Class B Class C
tensile strength.
Force at center, min, lb (kN) 2200 3300 4000
(9.75) (14.65) (17.75)
Deflection at center, min, in. 0.10 0.12 0.12 14. Alternate Test Bars
(mm) (2.5) (3.0) (3.0)
14.1 Alternate test bars poured in accordance with Specifi-
cation A 48 to the equivalent classes shown in Table 5 may be
shakeout, shall be cooled in their molds to a temperature less substituted for the Specification A 126 test bars. When the
than 900°F, and then may be cooled in still air to room alternate bars are used, they shall be machined and tested in
temperature. accordance with Specification A 48 and shall meet the require-
10.3 Test bars that are intended to represent castings which ments of Specification A 48.
are hotter than 900°F when shaken out of their molds, shall be
cooled as described in 9.2 or (by agreement between the 15. Inspection
manufacturer and the purchaser) may be shaken out of their
15.1 All tests and inspections required by this specification
molds at approximately the same temperature as the castings
shall be performed by the manufacturer or other reliable
they represent.
sources whose services have been contracted for by the
11. Tension Test Apparatus manufacturer. Complete records of all tests and inspections
11.1 Ball and socket specimen holders or spherical-seated shall be maintained by the manufacturer and shall be available
bearings or other device which will ensure that the specimen, for review by the purchaser.
when under load, will be as nearly as possible in pure axial
tension without transverse stress shall be used in making the 16. Rejection and Rehearing
tension test. 16.1 Castings which fail to conform to the requirements
NOTE 2—Suitable socket specimens holders and spherical-seated bear- specified when inspected or tested by the purchaser or his agent
ing device are shown in Fig. 4 and described in 5.2.3 of Test Methods E 8. may be rejected. Rejection shall be reported to the manufac-
11.2 After reaching a stress of 15 000 psi (103 MPa), the turer or supplier promptly and in writing. In case of dissatis-
speed of the crosshead of the testing machine shall not exceed faction with the test results, the manufacturer or supplier may
1⁄8 in. (3.2 mm)/min. make claim for a rehearing.

12. Sampling 17. Certification

12.1 A lot shall consist of one of the following: 17.1 When requested by the purchaser, the manufacturer
12.1.1 All the metal poured from a single heating in a batch shall furnish the certification stating that the material was
type melting furnace, manufactured, sampled, tested, and inspected in accordance
12.1.2 All the metal from two or more batch type melting with Specification A 126, including the year date. The certifi-
furnaces poured into a single ladle or single casting, or cation shall also include the results of all tests performed
12.1.3 All the metal poured from a continuous melting including chemical analysis.
furnace for a given period of time between changes in charge, 17.2 A signature is not required on the certification. How-
processing conditions, or aim-for chemistry or 4 h, whichever ever, the document shall clearly identify the organization
is the shorter period.
submitting the certification and the authorized agent of the
12.1.3.1 The purchaser may agree to extend the 4-h time
manufacturer who certified the test results. Notwithstanding
period to 8 h if the manufacturer can demonstrate sufficient
the absence of a signature, the organization submitting the
process control to warrant such an extension.
certification is responsible for its content.
13. Test Specimens
18. Keywords
13.1 Tension test specimens shall have threaded ends and
conform to the dimensions shown in Fig. 2. The cross-sectional 18.1 gray iron castings; pressure retaining parts

2
 A 126

Metric Equivalents
in. ⁄
18 ⁄
14 ⁄
12 ⁄
34 ⁄
78 1 1⁄8 1.2 1 9⁄32 1 1⁄2 1 3⁄4 2 3⁄4 13
mm 3.2 6.4 12.7 19.0 22.2 28.6 30.5 32.5 38.1 44.4 69.8 1330

NOTE—These dimensions are suggested as satisfactory for average conditions, but may be varied to best suit individual pouring.
FIG. 1 Mold of Tension and Transverse Test Specimens

Metric Equivalents
in. mm in. mm
1 1⁄8 28.6 3 3⁄4 95.2
1 3⁄4 44.4 5 5⁄8 142.9
1 7⁄8 47.6 7 1⁄2 290.5

NOTE—Modification may be made to the grip-ends of the tension test specimen to allow alternative means of gripping as required by testing procedures
and equipment. Should alternative grip-ends be disputed, the threaded grip-ends shall be used.
FIG. 2 Tension Test Specimen

TABLE 5 Equivalent Classes (Specification A 48)

Specification Under 0.50 in. 0.51 to 1.00 in. Over 1 in.

A 126 Class (12.7 mm) (13.0 to 25.4 mm) (25.4 mm)
A 25 A 20 B 20 C
B 35 A 30 B 30 C
C 45 A 40 B 40 C

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