ASTM A178 welded boiler tube

ASME SA178 Tubing

ASTM A178 tubing is carbon steel and carbon manganese ERW tubing used in boilers, boiler flues, super heaters.

ASTM A178 is available in A178 Grade A (low carbon steel), A178 Grade C (medium carbon steel), and A178 Grade D (carbon manganese steel).

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ASME SA178 tubing, also known as ASTM A178, refers to carbon steel and carbon manganese electric-resistance-welded (ERW) tubing used in boilers, boiler flues, superheaters, and other high-temperature applications. This tubing is available in grades A (low carbon steel), C (medium carbon steel), and D (carbon manganese steel), each with specific chemical composition and mechanical properties.

Key Features:

Applications:

ASME SA178 tubing is used in various industries such as oil and gas, chemical processing, and power generation. It is ideal for applications involving high heat and pressure, such as boiler tubes, superheater flues, and heat exchangers.

Material and Construction:

The tubing is made from carbon steel alloys and carbon-manganese steel, with each grade having different chemical requirements and mechanical properties. The manufacturing process involves electric-resistance welding followed by heat treatment to achieve the desired strength and ductility.

Advantages:

Description:

ASME SA178 tubing is designed for critical engineered applications that require high-pressure and high-temperature performance. The tubing is manufactured to meet the stringent requirements of the ASME/ANSI B16.9 standard, making it suitable for use in boiler flues, superheater flues, and safe ends. The material is available in different grades to cater to various levels of pressure and temperature resistance, ensuring a reliable and long-lasting solution for industrial applications.

ASTM A178 Boiler Tube

What Is ASTM A178 / ASME SA178 Tubing?

ASTM A178 tubing is carbon steel and carbon manganese ERW tubing used in boilers, boiler flues, super heaters, ASTM A178 is available in A178 Grade A (low carbon steel), A178 Grade C (medium carbon steel), and A178 Grade D (carbon manganese steel). The ASTM A178 Specifications are listed below with the Chemical Composition and Mechanical Properties.

Scope

1.1 This specification2 covers minimum-wall-thickness, electric-resistance-welded tubes made of carbon steel and carbon-manganese steel intended for use as boiler tubes, boiler flues, superheater flues, and safe ends.

1.2 This specification covers Grades A, C, and D with differing chemical requirements (Section 6 and Table 1), differing tensile requirements (Section 9 and Table 2), and differing crush and mechanical testing requirements (Sections 10 and 11).

NOTE 1: Grades C and D tubes are not suitable for safe-ending for forge welding.

1.3 The tubing sizes and thicknesses usually furnished to this specification are 1/2 to 5 in. [12.7 to 127 mm] in outside diameter and 0.035 to 0.360 in. [0.9 to 9.1 mm], inclusive, in minimum wall thickness. Tubing having other dimensions may be furnished, provided such tubes comply with all other requirements of this specification.

1.4 Mechanical property requirements do not apply to tubing smaller than 1/8 in. [3.2 mm] in inside diameter or 0.015 in. [0.4 mm] in thickness.

1.5 Optional supplementary requirements are provided and when desired, shall be so stated in the order.

1.6 The values stated in either inch-pound units or SI units are to be regarded separately as standard. Within the text, the SI units are shown in brackets. The values stated in each system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system must be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in nonconformance with the specification. The inch-pound units shall apply unless the "M" designation of this specification is specified in the order.

1.7 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.


Different name

Condenser steel tube,heat-exchanger tube,low carbon steel pipe,Resistance welded steel tube,Bolier flues,Spoerheater flues and safe ends,ERW carbon steel pipes.


Chemical Composition of ASTM A178

Element % ASTM A178 Gr A / SA178A ASTM A178 Gr C / SA178C ASTM A178 Gr D / SA178D
Low carbon steel Medium Carbon Steel Manganess Steel
C 0.06-0.18 0.35 Max 0.27 Max
Mn 0.27-0.63 0.80 Max 1.00-1.50
P 0.035 0.035 0.030
S 0.035 0.035 0.015
Si ... ... 0.10 Min.

Product Analysis

  1. When requested on the purchase order, a product analy- sis shall be made by the manufacturer or supplier from one tube per 100 pieces for sizes over 3 in. [76.2 mm] and one tube per 250 pieces for sizes 3 in. [76.2 mm] and under; or when tubes are identified by heat, one tube per heat shall be analyzed. The chemical composition thus determined shall conform to the requirements specified.
  2. If the original test for product analysis fails, retests of two additional lengths of flat-rolled stock or tubes shall be made. Both retests, for the elements in question, shall meet the requirements of the specification; otherwise all remaining material in the heat or lot (Note 2) shall be rejected or, at the option of the producer, each length of flat-rolled stock or tube may be individually tested for acceptance. Lengths of flat- rolled stock or tubes which do not meet the requirements of the specifications shall be rejected.

Mechanical Property of ASTM A178

Grade C & Grade D tubes shall conform to the requirements -tensile properties prescribed below

Item ASTM A178 Gr A / SA178A ASTM A178 Gr C / SA178C ASTM A178 Gr D / SA178D
Tensile strength, min, ksi [MPa] 47[325] 60[415] 70[485]
Yield strength, min, ksi [MPa] 26[180] 37[255] 40[275]
Elongation in 2 in. or 50mm, min, % 35 30 30
For longitudinal strip tests a deduction for 1.50A 1.50A 1.50A
Each1⁄32-in[0.8mm] decrease in wall thickness below 5⁄16in. [8mm]
From the basic minimum elongation of the following percentage points shall be made

Outside diameter and Wall Thickness Tolerance of ASME SA178 Tubing

Outside Diameter tol Wall thickness tol
OD < 50 ±0.05mm S < 4mm ±12.5%
OD > 50 ±1% 4--20mm +15/-12.5%
S≧20mm ±12.5%

Referenced Documents

  • A450/A450M Specification for General Requirements for Carbon,Ferritic Alloy,and Austenitic Alloy steel tubes.
  • E213 Practice for Ultrasonic Examination of Metal pipe and tubing.
  • E273 Practice for Ultrasonic Examination of Longitudinal Welded Pipe and Tubing.

ASTM A450 covers carbon and low alloy steel tube. Steel samples shall be melt processed and shall either be ingot cast or strand cast. Heat and product analyses shall be performed on the steel materials. Steel specimens shall also undergo tensile tests and shall conform to required values of yield strength and elongation. Flattening test, reverse flattening test, flaring test, flange test, hardness test, hydrostatic test, air underwater pressure test, and nondestructive tests shall be performed on the steel materials.


Manufacturing Process

Heat treatment:

After welding,all tubes shall be heat treated at a temperature of 1650°F(900℃) or higher and followed by cooling in air or in the cooling chamber of a controlled-atmosphere furnace,Cold-drawn tubes shall be heat treated after the final cold-draw pass at a temperature of 1200°F(650℃)or higher.

Surface Condition:

Finished tubes shall be free of scale,A slight amount of oxidation will not be considered as scale.

Mechanical Tests Required:

Flattenting Test/Flaring test/Flange test/Crush test/Tension test/Reverse Flattening test/Hydrostatic or Nondestructive Electric Test


Usage

Used in boiler, superheater, heat-exchanger and pressure equipment in Petrochemical factory, Refinery factory, sugar mill, power plant, power plant, shipbuilding.


Manufacture & Heat Treatment

The ASTM A178 Grade D steel shall be killed. ASTM A178 tubes shall be made by electric-resistance welding process. After welding, all tubes shall be heat treated at a temperature of 1650°F [900°C] or higher and followed by cooling in air or in the cooling chamber of a controlled-atmosphere furnace. Cold-drawn tubes shall be heat treated after the final cold-draw pass at a temperature of 1200°F [650°F] or higher.


Testing & Inspection

ERW tubes made from ASTM A178 steel may be tested or inspected in the following ways covering crush test, flattening test, flange test, tension test, reverse tension test, hydrostatic test, nondestructive electric test, dimension inspection, visual examination, as well as ultrasonic inspection.


Material Comparison Tables (ASTM ℃KS, JIS, DIN, BS, NBN, NF, UNI)

A 178 C-Steel Electric-Resistance-Welded Boiler Tubes

ASTM
STANDARD
UNS NO. KOREA/JAPANES GERMAN BRITISH BELGIAN FRENCH ITALIAN
KS/JIS Symbol KS/JIS Numbe Remarks DIN Type DIN
Number
Materiral
Number
Remarks B.S
Number
B.S Grade NBN Type NBN Grade Remarks AFNOR Type NF Number Ramarks UNI Type UNI Number Ramarks
Graade A K01200 STBH 340 / STB 35 D3563 / G3461 St 37.8 17177 1.0315 (7) 3059 ERW 320 (3) (3)
Grade c K03503 SHBH 410 / STB 42 D3563 / G3461 St 42.8 17177 1.0498 (7) (3) (3)
ASME SA178 Tubing

Delivery

Measurement size

Measure weld stee pipes
Measure weld stee pipes
Measure weld stee pipes
Measure weld stee pipes
Flat oval pipes
Flat oval pipes

Packing

Packing weld stee pipes
Packing weld stee pipes
Packing weld stee pipes
Packing weld stee pipes
Packing weld stee pipes
Packing weld stee pipes
Packing weld stee pipes
Packing weld stee pipes
Packing weld stee pipes

Welded pipes specification and size

API SPEC 5CT

Product Name Executive Standard Dimension (mm) Steel Code / Steel Grade
Casting API 5CT Ø48.3~273 x WT2.77~11.43 J55, K55, N80, L80
Tubing API 5CT Ø48.3~273 x WT2.77~11.43 J55, K55, N80, L80, H40

API SPEC 5L

Product Name Executive Standard Dimension (mm) Steel Code / Steel Grade
Line Pipes API 5L Ø60.3~273.1 x WT2.77~12.7 A25, A, B, X42, X46, X52, X56, X60, X65, X70, X80

ASTM / ASME

Product Name Executive Standard Dimension (mm) Steel Code / Steel Grade
Electric-Resistance-Welded Steel Pipes ASTM A135 Ø42.2~114.3 x WT2.11~2.63 A
Electric-Resistance-Welded Carbon Steel and Carbon-Manganese Steel Boiler and Superheater Tubes ASTM A178 42.2-114.3 x 2.11-2.63 A, C, D
ERW and Hot-dip Galvanized Steel Pipes ASTM A53 Ø21.3~273 x WT2.11~12.7 A, B
Pipes for Piling Usage ASTM A252 Ø219.1~508 x WT3.6~12.7 Gr.2, Gr.3
Tubes for General Structural Purpose ASTM A500 Ø21.3~273 x WT2.11~12.7 Gr.2, Gr.3
Square Pipes for General Structural Purpose ASTM A500 25 x 25~160 x 160 x WT1.2~8.0 Carbon Steel

DIN

Product Name Executive Standard Dimension (mm) Steel Code / Steel Grade
Threaded Steel Pipes DIN 2440 Ø21~164 x WT2.65~4.85 Carbon Steel

BS

Product Name Executive Standard Dimension (mm) Steel Code / Steel Grade
Screwed and Socketed Steel Tubes BS 1387 Ø21.4~113.9 x WT2~3.6 Carbon Steel

EN

Scaffolding Pipes EN 39 Ø48.3 x WT3.2~4 Carbon Steel

JIS

Product Name Executive Standard Dimension (mm) Steel Code / Steel Grade
Carbon Steel Tubes for General Structure Purpose JIS G3444 Ø21.7~216.3 x WT2.0~6.0 Carbon Steel
Carbon Steel Tubes for Machine Structure Purpose JIS G3445 Ø15~76 x WT0.7~3.0 STKM11A, STKM13A
Carbon Steel Pipes for Ordinary Piping JIS G3452 Ø21.9~216.3 x WT2.8~5.8 Carbon Steel
Carbon Steel Pipes for Pressure Service JIS G3454 Ø21.7~216.3 x WT2.8~7.1 Carbon Steel
Carbon Steel Rigid Steel Conduits JIS G8305 Ø21~113.4 x WT1.2~3.5 G16~G104, C19~C75, E19~E75
Carbon Steel Rectangular Pipes for General Structure JIS G3466 16 x 16~150 x 150 x WT0.7~6 Carbon Steel
Frequently Asked Questions
The coil used for production has lower alloy content than similar steel plates, which brings better weldability. Besides, the rolling direction of the coil is not perpendicular to the pipe axis, so the finished pipe owns excellent crack resistance.
Welded steel pipe is a seamed steel product manufactured by bending steel strip or steel plate into round, square or other shapes and then welding. Its raw materials are steel sheets or strips. With the development of strip rolling, welding and inspection technology, welded pipes have richer specifications and more reliable quality.
Nickel and chromium are key elements for anti-corrosion performance. Higher nickel content provides stronger resistance against acid environments such as sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid. Adding chromium alone can also effectively prevent corrosion.
Poor edge condition of steel strip, irregular shape and dimensional deviation at the head and tail of uncut steel strip will lead to hard bending of the strip and further cause weld misalignment. This defect may result in product downgrade.
General technical requirements and inspection rules follow GB3092 Welded Steel Pipes for Low-Pressure Fluid Transmission. Hydrostatic test complies with relevant pressure regulations, and eddy current flaw detection is implemented according to GB7735 Steel Tube Eddy Current Flaw Detection Inspection Method.
Defects like folds, cracks, delamination and lap welding are strictly prohibited. Minor scratches, weld misalignment, burns and scars that do not exceed wall thickness negative deviation are acceptable. Wall thickening and inner weld beads at welding seams are also permitted.
Welded pipes shall undergo mechanical property test, flattening test and flaring test. They must withstand a 2.5Mpa hydrostatic pressure test for 1 minute without leakage. Eddy current flaw detection can be used as an alternative to hydrostatic test.
Qualified pipes are cut to fixed length by flying saw, then transported via turning frame. Both pipe ends are chamfered and flattened, marked clearly, and finally bundled into hexagonal bundles for delivery.
The weld seam of straight seam steel pipe is parallel to the pipe longitudinal direction. It can adopt narrow blanks to produce large-diameter pipes, and the same-width blanks can make pipes of different diameters. Its disadvantage is longer weld seam and lower production efficiency compared with spiral welded pipe.
There are four mainstream processing methods: Forging, Extrusion, Rolling and Steel Drawing. Forging uses impact or pressure to shape steel; Extrusion is widely used for non-ferrous metal pipes; Rolling reduces cross-section by roller compression; Steel Drawing is mainly applied to cold working to narrow pipe diameter and extend length.
Surface quenching and tempering generally adopt induction heating or flame heating. Local quenching can also be realized by induction heating for parts requiring partial high hardness.
Vickers hardness tester is commonly used. Rockwell hardness tester is also available: use HRA scale when hardened layer thickness is 0.4-0.8mm, and HRC scale when thickness exceeds 0.8mm. For shallow hardened layers, superficial Rockwell hardness tester with HRN scale is recommended.
Yes. Vickers, Rockwell and superficial Rockwell hardness values can be converted to one another. Corresponding conversion tables are provided in ISO, ASTM and GB/T standards.
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