AMS 5556H

AEROSPACE
MATERIAL Issued AUG 1955
Revised MAY 2003
SPECIFICATION Reaffirmed MAY 2008

Superseding AMS 5556G

Steel, Corrosion and Heat-Resistant, Seamless or Welded Hydraulic Tubing

18Cr - 11Ni - 0.70Cb (SAE 30347)
Solution Heat Treated
(Composition similar to UNS S34700)

1. SCOPE:

1.1 Form:

This specification covers a corrosion and heat-resistant steel in the form of seamless or welded and
drawn tubing.

1.2 Application:

This tubing has been used typically for parts requiring both corrosion and heat resistance, especially
when such parts are welded during fabrication, but usage is not limited to such applications. The
alloy provides oxidation resistance up to 1500 °F (816 °C) but is useful at that temperature only
when stresses are low.

1.3 Classification:

Tubing covered by this specification is classified as follows:

Type 1 Seamless
Type 2 Welded and drawn

1.3.1 Unless a specific type is ordered, either type may be supplied.

2. APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS:

The issue of the following documents in effect on the date of the purchase order forms a part of this
specification to the extent specified herein. The supplier may work to a subsequent revision of a
document unless a specific document issue is specified. When the referenced document has been
cancelled and no superseding document has been specified, the last published issue of that document
shall apply.

SAE Technical Standards Board Rules provide that: “This report is published by SAE to advance the state of technical and engineering sciences. The use of this report is
entirely voluntary, and its applicability and suitability for any particular use, including any patent infringement arising therefrom, is the sole responsibility of the user.”
SAE reviews each technical report at least every five years at which time it may be reaffirmed, revised, or cancelled. SAE invites your written comments and suggestions.
Copyright © 2008 SAE International
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of SAE.
TO PLACE A DOCUMENT ORDER: Tel: 877-606-7323 (inside USA and Canada)
Tel: 724-776-4970 (outside USA)
Fax: 724-776-0790
Email: CustomerService@sae.org
SAE WEB ADDRESS: http://www.sae.org
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2.1 SAE Publications:

Available from SAE, 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096-0001 or www.sae.org.

AMS 2243 Tolerances, Corrosion and Heat-Resistant Steel Tubing

AMS 2248 Chemical Check Analysis Limits, Corrosion and Heat-Resistant Steels and Alloys,
Maraging and Other Highly-Alloyed Steels, and Iron Alloys
AMS 2371 Quality Assurance Sampling and Testing, Corrosion and Heat-Resistant Steels and
Alloys, Wrought Products and Forging Stock
AMS 2634 Ultrasonic Inspection, Thin Wall Metal Tubing
AMS 2807 Identification, Carbon and Low-Alloy Steels, Corrosion and Heat-Resistant Steels and
Alloys, Sheet, Strip, Plate, and Aircraft Tubing

2.2 ASTM Publications:

Available from ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959 or www.astm.org.

ASTM A 262 Detecting Susceptibility to Intergranular Attack in Stainless Steels

ASTM A 370 Mechanical Testing of Steel Products
ASTM E 112 Determining Average Grain Size
ASTM E 353 Chemical Analysis of Stainless, Heat-Resisting, Maraging, and Other Similar
Chromium-Nickel-Iron Alloys
ASTM E 426 Electromagnetic (Eddy Current) Examination of Seamless and Welded Tubular
Products, Austenitic Stainless Steel and Similar Alloys
ASTM E 1417 Liquid Penetrant Examination

3. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS:

3.1 Composition:

Shall conform to the percentages by weight shown in Table 1, determined by wet chemical methods
in accordance with ASTM E 353, by spectrochemical methods, or by other analytical methods
acceptable to purchaser.

TABLE 1 - Composition
Element min max
Carbon -- 0.08
Manganese -- 2.00
Silicon 0.50 1.00
Phosphorus -- 0.040
Sulfur -- 0.030
Chromium 17.00 19.00
Nickel 9.00 13.00
Columbium 10xC 1.10
Molybdenum -- 0.75
Copper -- 0.75

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3.1.1 Check Analysis: Composition variations shall meet the applicable requirements of AMS 2248.

3.2 Condition:

Solution heat treated and, unless solution heat treatment is performed in an atmosphere yielding a
bright finish, pickled as required or passivated.

3.3 Fabrication:

Tubing shall be produced by either a seamless or a welded and drawn process. Any finishing
operation applied to remove objectionable pits and surface blemishes shall be performed prior to
final solution heat treatment. A light polish to improve external surface appearance may be employed
after solution heat treatment, and, if performed, the product shall be subsequently passivated.

3.3.1 Welded (Type 2) tubing shall be cold reduced after welding to remove any dimensional indication
of the presence of the weld.

3.4 Properties:

Tubing shall conform to the following requirements; tensile and bend testing shall be performed in
accordance with ASTM A 370:

3.4.1 Tensile Properties: Shall be as shown in Table 2.

TABLE 2A - Tensile Properties, Inch/Pound Units

Nominal Elongation in Elongation in
Wall Thickness Tensile Yield Strength 2 inches 2 inches
Nominal OD Inches Strength at 0.2% Offset %, min %, min
Inches ksi ksi, min Strip Full Tube
Up to 0.188, incl Up to 0.016, incl 75 to 120 30.0 -- 33
Over 0.016 75 to 105 30.0 -- 35

Over 0.188 to 0.500, incl Up to 0.010, incl 75 to 115 30.0 30 35

Over 0.010 incl 75 to 105 30.0 30 35

Over 0.500 Over 0.010 75 to 105 30.0 30 35

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TABLE 2B - Tensile Properties, SI Units

Elongation in Elongation in
Nominal Tensile Yield Strength 50.8 mm 50.8 mm
Nominal OD Wall Thickness Strength at 0.2% Offset %, min %, min
Millimeters Millimeters MPa MPa, min Strip Full Tube
Up to 4.78, incl Up to 0.41, incl 517 to 827 207 -- 33
Over 0.41 517 to 724 207 -- 35

Over 4.78 to 12.70, incl Up to 0.25, incl 517 to 793 207 30 35

Over 0.25 incl 517 to 724 207 30 35

Over 12.70 Over 0.25 517 to 724 207 30 35

3.4.2 Flarability: Specimens as in 4.3.1 shall withstand flaring at room temperature, without formation of
cracks or other visible defects, by being forced axially with steady pressure over a hardened and
polished tapered steel pin having a 74 degree included angle to produce a flare having the
permanent expanded OD not less than that specified in Table 3.

TABLE 3A - Flarability, Inch/Pound Units

Nominal OD Expanded OD Nominal OD Expanded OD
Inches Inches Inches Inches
0.125 0.200 0.750 0.937
0.188 0.302 1.000 1.187
0.250 0.359 1.250 1.500
0.312 0.421 1.500 1.721
0.375 0.484 1.750 2.106
0.500 0.656 2.000 2.356
0.625 0.781

TABLE 3B - Flarability, SI Units

Nominal OD Expanded OD Nominal OD Expanded OD
Millimeters Millimeters Millimeters Millimeters
3.18 5.08 19.05 23.80
4.78 7.67 25.40 30.15
6.35 9.12 31.75 38.10
7.92 10.69 38.10 43.71
9.53 12.29 44.45 53.49
12.70 16.66 50.80 59.84
15.88 19.84

3.4.2.1 Tubing with nominal OD between any two standard sizes given in Table 3 shall take the same
percentage flare as that for the larger of the two sizes.

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3.4.3 Pressure Test: Tubing shall show no bulges, leaks, pinholes, cracks, or other defects when
subjected to an internal hydrostatic pressure (P), except that a diametric permanent set of 0.002
inch/inch (0.002 mm/mm) of diameter is acceptable. The hydrostatic pressure (P) shall be
determined from Equation 1:

(Eq. 1)
where: P = Test pressure in ksi (MPa)
S = 30.0 ksi (207 MPa)
D = Nominal OD in inches (mm) (nominal OD plus tolerance)
d = Nominal ID in inches (mm) (nominal OD minus twice the minimum wall thickness)

3.4.4 Susceptibility to Intergranular Attack: Specimens from tubing, after sensitizing treatment, shall pass
the intergranular corrosion test performed in accordance with ASTM A 262, Practice E. After
immersion, tubing shall not exhibit intergranular attack or cracks when tested in accordance with
the following:

3.4.4.1 Examination of OD Surface: Shall be performed after flattening a 1-inch (25-mm) long specimen
to a total thickness under load of three times the wall thickness.

3.4.4.2 Examination of ID Surface: Shall be performed after splitting a 1-inch (25-mm) long specimen
and folding the split specimen, with ID surface on the outside of fold, around a mandrel having a
diameter equal to the wall thickness of the tube.

3.4.4.2.1 Tubing Over 0.625 Inch (15.88 mm) in OD: The axis of the fold shall be parallel to the axis of
the tube.

3.4.4.2.2 Tubing 0.625 Inch (15.88 mm) and Under in OD: The axis of the fold shall be either parallel or
transverse to the axis of the tube.

3.4.4.3 If a weld is visible, flattening and/or folding parallel to the tube axis shall be oriented so as to
apply maximum tension to the weld.

3.4.5 Microstructure: Tubing shall reveal no continuous intergranular carbide precipitation when
electrolytically etched and examined microscopically at 500X magnification. The presence of some
discontinuous intragranular carbide precipitation shall not be considered detrimental if the other
technical requirements are met.

3.4.6 Average Grain Size: Shall be ASTM No. 5 or finer, determined by examination of a specimen,
polished and electrolytically etched in 10% oxalic acid solution, in accordance with ASTM E 112.

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3.5 Quality:

3.5.1 Tubing, as received by purchaser, shall be uniform in quality and condition and shall have a finish
conforming to the best practice for high quality aircraft tubing. It shall be smooth and free from
heavy scale or oxide, burrs, seams, tears, grooves, laminations, slivers, pits, and other
imperfections detrimental to usage of the tubing. Surface imperfections, such as handling marks,
straightening marks, light mandrel and die marks, and scale pattern, will not be considered
injurious if the imperfections are removable within the tolerances specified for wall thickness but
removal of such imperfections is not required.

3.5.2 Tubing shall be free from grease or other foreign matter. Metallic flakes or particles shall not be
collected on a clean white cloth drawn through the bore of a sample tube. Discoloration of the
cloth, without the presence of flakes or particles, is acceptable.

3.5.3 When specified by purchaser, tubing shall be subjected to fluorescent penetrant inspection in
accordance with ASTM E 1417, to ultrasonic inspection in accordance with AMS 2634, to
electromagnetic (eddy-current) testing in accordance with ASTM E 426, or to any combination
thereof. Tubing shall meet the requirements of 3.5 and other acceptance criteria established by the
cognizant engineering organization.

3.6 Tolerances:

Shall conform to all applicable requirements of AMS 2243.

4. QUALITY ASSURANCE PROVISIONS:

4.1 Responsibility for Inspection:

The vendor of tubing shall supply all samples for vendor’s tests and shall be responsible for the
performance of all required tests. Purchaser reserves the right to sample and to perform any
confirmatory testing deemed necessary to ensure that the tubing conforms to specified
requirements.

4.2 Classification of Tests:

4.2.1 Acceptance Tests: Composition (3.1), tensile properties (3.4.1), flarability (3.4.2), microstructure
(3.4.5), average grain size (3.4.6), cleanliness of tubing (3.5.2), nondestructive inspection when
specified (3.5.3), and tolerances (3.6) are acceptance tests and shall be performed on each heat or
lot as applicable.

4.2.2 Periodic Tests: Pressure test (3.4.3) and susceptibility to intergranular attack (3.4.4) are periodic
tests and shall be performed at a frequency selected by the vendor unless frequency of testing is
specified by purchaser.

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4.3 Sampling and Testing:

Shall be in accordance with AMS 2371 and the following:

4.3.1 Specimens for flarability test (3.4.2) shall be full tubes or sections cut from a tube. The end of the
specimen to be flared shall be cut square, with the cut end smooth and free from burrs, but not
rounded. One or more specimens from each lot shall be tested.

4.4 Reports:

The vendor of the product shall furnish with each shipment a report showing the following results of
tests and relevant information:

4.4.1 For each heat:

Composition.

4.4.2 For each lot:

Tensile properties
Flarability
Microstructure
Average grain size
Nondestructive inspection, when specified.

4.4.3 A statement that the product conforms to the other technical requirements.

4.4.4 Purchase order number

Heat and lot numbers
AMS 5556H
Size
Quantity.

4.5 Resampling and Retesting:

Shall be in accordance with AMS 2371.

5. PREPARATION FOR DELIVERY:

5.1 Sizes:

Except when exact lengths or multiples of exact lengths are ordered, straight tubing will be
acceptable in mill lengths of 6 to 20 feet (1.8 to 6.1 m) but not more than 10% of any shipment shall
be supplied in lengths shorter than 10 feet (3 m).

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5.2 Identification:

Shall be in accordance with AMS 2807.

5.3 Packaging:

Tubing shall be prepared for shipment in accordance with commercial practice and in compliance
with applicable rules and regulations pertaining to the handling, packaging, and transportation of the
tubing to ensure carrier acceptance and safe delivery.

6. ACKNOWLEDGMENT:

A vendor shall mention this specification number and its revision letter in all quotations and when
acknowledging purchase orders.

7. REJECTIONS:

Tubing not conforming to this specification, or to modifications authorized by purchaser, will be subject
to rejection.

8. NOTES:

8.1 A change bar (|) located in the left margin is for the convenience of the user in locating areas where
technical revisions, not editorial changes, have been made to the previous issue of a specification.
An (R) symbol to the left of the document title indicates a complete revision of the specification,
including technical revision. Change bars and (R) are not used in original publications, nor in
specifications that contain editorial changes only.

8.2 Terms used in AMS are clarified in ARP1917.

8.3 Dimensions and properties in inch/pound units and the Fahrenheit temperatures are primary;
dimensions and properties in SI units and the Celsius temperatures are shown as the approximate
equivalents of the primary units and are presented only for information.

8.4 Purchase documents should specify not less than the following:

AMS 5556H
Type and size of tubing desired
Quantity of tubing desired.

PREPARED UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF AMS COMMITTEE “F”

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