SPECIFICATION FOR ELECTRIC-RESISTANCE-

WELDED CARBON STEEL AND CARBON-MANGANESE

STEEL BOILER AND SUPERHEATER TUBES

SA-178/SA-178M

(Identical with ASTM Specification A 178/A 178M-95.)

1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents

1.1 This specification covers minimum-wall-thick- 2.1 ASTM Standards:
ness, electric-resistance-welded tubes made of carbon A 226/A 226M Specification for Electric-Resistance-
steel and carbon-manganese steel intended for use as Welded Carbon Steel Boiler and Superheater Tubes
boiler tubes, boiler flues, superheater flues, and safe ends. for High-Pressure Service
A 450/A 450M Specification for General Requirements
NOTE 1 Type C and D tubes are not suitable for safe-ending for for Carbon, Ferritic Alloy, and Austenitic Alloy Steel
forge welding. Tubes
A 520 Specification for Supplementary Requirements for
1.2 The tubing sizes and thicknesses usually furnished Seamless and Electric-Resistance-Welded Carbon
to this specification are 12 to 5 in. [12.7 to 127 mm] in Steel Tubular Products for High-Temperature Service
outside diameter and 0.035 to 0.320 in. [0.9 to 9.1 mm], Conforming to ISO Recommendations for Boiler Con-
inclusive, in minimum wall thickness. Tubing having struction.
other dimensions may be furnished, provided such tubes E 213 Practice for Ultrasonic Examination of Metal Pipe
comply with all other requirements of this specification. and Tubing
E 273 Practice for Ultrasonic Examination of Longitudi-
1.3 Mechanical property requirements do not apply nal Welded Pipe and Tubing
to tubing smaller than 18 in. [3.2 mm] in inside diameter
or 0.015 in. [0.4 mm] in thickness.
3. Ordering Information
1.4 When these products are to be used in applications 3.1 Orders for material under this specification should
conforming to ISO Recommendations for Boiler Con- include the following, as required, to describe the desired
struction, the requirements of Specification A 520 shall material adequately:
supplement and supersede the requirements of this speci-
3.1.1 Quantity (feet, metres, or number of lengths),
fication.
3.1.2 Name of material (electric-resistance-welded
1.5 The values stated in either inch-pound units or tubes),
SI units are to be regarded separately as standard. Within 3.1.3 Grade (A, C, or D, Table 1),
the text, the SI units are shown in brackets. The values
3.1.4 Size (outside diameter and minimum wall
stated in each system are not exact equivalents; therefore,
thickness),
each system must be used independently of the other.
Combining values from the two systems may result in 3.1.5 Length (specific or random),
nonconformance with the specification. The inch-pound 3.1.6 Optional requirements (product analysis, Sec-
units shall apply unless the M designation of this speci- tion 7; crush test, Section 10; hydrostatic or nondestruc-
fication is specified in the order. tive electric test, 11.6),

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 SA-178/SA-178M 2004 SECTION II

3.1.7 Test report required (Certification Section of NOTE 2 A lot consists of 250 tubes for sizes 3 in. [76.2 mm] and
Specification A 450/A 450M), under and of 100 tubes for sizes over 3 in. [76.2 mm], prior to cutting
to length.
3.1.8 Specification, and designation,
3.1.9 Individual supplementary requirements, if
required, and 8. General Requirements
3.1.10 Special requirements. 8.1 Material furnished under this specification shall
conform to the applicable requirements of the current
edition of Specification A 450/A 450M unless otherwise
4. Manufacture provided herein.
4.1 The steel for Grade D shall be killed.
4.2 Tubes shall be made by electric-resistance
welding. 9. Tensile Requirements
9.1 Grade C and D tubes shall conform to the require-
ments as to tensile properties prescribed in Table 2.
5. Heat Treatment
NOTE 3: Explanatory Note For purposes of design the following
5.1 After welding, all tubes shall be heat treated at a tensile properties may be assumed for Grade A tubes:
temperature of 1650F [900C] or higher and followed
by cooling in air or in the cooling chamber of a controlled-
Tensile strength, min, ksi [MPa] 47 [325]
atmosphere furnace. Cold-drawn tubes shall be heat Yield Strength, min, ksi [MPa] 26 [180]
treated after the final cold-draw pass at a temperature of Elongation in 2 in. or 50 mm, min, % 35
1200 [650C] or higher.

6. Chemical Composition 10. Crush Test

6.1 The steel shall conform to the requirements as to 10.1 When required by the purchaser, crushing tests
chemical composition prescribed in Table 1. shall be made on sections of tube 212 in. [63 mm] in
6.2 When a grade is ordered under this specification, length which shall stand crushing longitudinally without
supplying an alloy grade that specifically requires the cracking, splitting, or opening at the weld, as follows:
addition of any element other than those listed in Table Height of Crushed Section, in. [mm]
Wall Thickness
1 is not permitted.
of Tubes, Grade C
in. [mm] Grade A Tubes and D Tubes
3
7. Product Analysis 0.135 [3.43] and 4 [19] or until Crush tests not
under outside folds are required
7.1 When requested on the purchase order, a product in contact
analysis shall be made by the manufacturer or supplier Over 0.135 [3.43] 114 [32] ...
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 10.2 Table 3 gives the computed minimum elongation
mm] and under; or when tubes are identified by heat, one values for each 132 in. [0.8 mm] decrease in wall thick-
tube per heat shall be analyzed. The chemical composition ness. Where the wall thickness lies between two values
thus determined shall conform to the requirements spec- shown above, the minimum elongation value shall be
ified. determined by the following equation:
7.2 If the original test for product analysis fails, retests E p 48t + 15.00 [E p 1.87t + 15.00]
of two additional lengths of flat-rolled stock or tubes shall
be made. Both retests, for the elements in question, shall where:
meet the requirements of the specification; otherwise all E p elongation in 2 in. or 50 mm, %, and,
remaining material in the heat or lot (Note 2) shall be
t p actual thickness of specimen, in. [mm].
rejected or, at the option of the producer, each length of
flat-rolled stock or tube may be individually tested for 10.3 For tubing less than 1 in. [25.4 mm] in outside
acceptance. Lengths of flat-rolled stock or tubes which diameter, the length of the specimen shall be 212 times
do not meet the requirements of the specifications shall the outside diameter of the tube. Slight surface checks
be rejected. shall not be cause for rejection.

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 PART A FERROUS MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS SA-178/SA-178M

11. Mechanical Tests Required of the same size and heat, heat treated in the same furnace,
11.1 Flattening Test: at the same temperature, time at heat, and furnace speed.
11.1.1 For Grade A, one flattening test shall be 11.5 Reverse Flattening Test One reverse flattening
made on specimens from each of two tubes from each test shall be made on each 1500 ft [450 m] of finished
lot (Note 2) or fraction thereof, and from each 2000 ft tubing.
[600 m] or fraction thereof of safe-end material.
11.6 Hydrostatic or Nondestructive Electric Test
11.1.2 For Grades C and D, one flattening test shall Each tube shall be subjected to either the hydrostatic or the
be made on specimens from each of two tubes from each nondestructive electric test. The purchaser may specify
lot (Note 2) or fraction thereof. which test is to be used.
11.2 Flange Test:
11.2.1 For Grade A, one flange test shall be made
12. Forming Operations
on specimens from each of two tubes from each lot (Note
2) or fraction thereof, and from each 2000 ft [600 m] or 12.1 When inserted in the boiler, tubes shall withstand
fraction thereof of safe-end material. expanding and beading without showing cracks or flaws,
or opening at the weld. When properly manipulated,
11.2.2 For Grades C and D, one flange test shall superheater tubes shall withstand all forging, welding,
be made on specimens from each of two tubes from each and bending operations necessary for application without
lot (Note 2) or fraction thereof. The width of the flange developing defects.
shall not be less than 75% of that specified in Specification
A 450/A 450M.
11.3 Crush Test For Grade A, when required by 13. Product Marking
the purchaser, one crush test shall be made on specimens 13.1 In addition to the marking prescribed in Specifi-
from each of two tubes from each lot (Note 2) or fraction cation A 450/A 450M, the letters ERW shall be legibly
thereof, and from each 2000 ft [600 m] or fraction thereof stenciled on each tube, or marked on a tag attached to
of safe-end material. the bundle or box in which the tubes are shipped.
11.4 Tension Test For Grades C and D, one tension 13.2 The manufacturers name or symbol may be
test shall be made on specimens from each of two tubes placed permanently on each tube by rolling or light stamp-
from each lot. The term lot for tension test requirements ing before normalizing. If a single stamp is placed on
applies to all tubes prior to cutting, of the same nominal the tube by hand, this mark should not be less than 8 in.
diameter and wall thickness, which are produced from [200 mm] from one end of the tube.
the same heat of steel. When final heat treatment is in a
batch-type furnace, a lot shall include only those tubes
of the same size and the same heat which are heat treated 14. Keywords
in the same furnace charge. When the final heat treatment 14.1 boiler tube; resistance welded steel tube; steel
is in a continuous furnace, a lot shall include all tubes tube, carbon; welded steel tube

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 SA-178/SA-178M 2004 SECTION II

TABLE 1
CHEMICAL REQUIREMENTS
Composition, %
Grade A, Grade C, Grade D,
Low-Carbon Medium- Carbon-Manganese
Element Steel Carbon Steel Steel

Carbon 0.060.18 0.35 max 0.27 max

Manganese 0.270.63 0.80 max 1.001.50
Phosphorus, max 0.035 0.035 0.030
Sulfur, max 0.035 0.035 0.015
Silicon ... ... 0.10 min

TABLE 2
TENSILE REQUIREMENTS
Grade C Grade D

Tensile strength, min, ksi [MPa] 60 [415] 70 [485]

Yield strength, min, ksi [MPa] 37 [255] 40 [275]
Elongation in 2 in. or 50 mm, min, % 30 30
For longitudinal strip tests a deduction for each 132 in. [0.8 mm] decrease in 1.50A 1.50A
wall thickness below 516 in. [8 mm] from the basic minimum elongation of
the following percentage points shall be made.
A
See Table 3 for the computed minimum values:

TABLE 3
MINIMUM ELONGATION VALUES
Wall Thickness
Elongation in 2 in. or 50
in. mm mm, min, % A
5
16 (0.312) 8 30
9
32 (0.281) 7.2 29
1
4 (0.250) 6.4 27
7
32 (0.219) 5.6 26
3
16 (0.188) 4.8 24
5
32 (0.156) 4 22
1
8 (0.125) 3.2 21
3
32 (0.094) 2.4 20
1
16 (0.062) 1.6 18
A
Calculated elongation requirements shall be rounded to the nearest whole number.

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 PART A FERROUS MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS SA-178/SA-178M

SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENTS

The following supplementary requirements may become a part of the specification when
specified in the inquiry or invitation to bid, and production order or contract. These
requirements shall not be considered, unless specified in the order and the necessary tests
shall be made at the mill.

S1. Additional Testing of Welded Tubing for permitted by Specification A 450/A 450M.
ASME Requirements S1.3 The test methods described in the supplement
S1.1 The weld seam of each tube shall be subjected may not be capable of inspecting the end portions of
to an ultrasonic inspection employing Practices E 273 or tubes. This condition is referred to as end effect. This
E 213 with the rejection criteria referenced in Specifica- portion, as determined by the manufacturer, shall be
tion A 450/A 450M. removed and discarded.
S1.2 If Practice E 273 is employed, a 100% volumetric S1.4 In addition to the marking prescribed in Specifi-
inspection of the entire length of each tube shall also be cation A 450/A 450M, S1 shall be added after the grade
performed using one of the nondestructive electric tests designation.
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