Common Material Codes

Instrument Engineer -
0





Common Material Codes 


Carbon Steel – ASTM Grades Used in Refineries

Pipes
• ASTM A106 Gr B, seamless, high-temp service
• ASTM A53 Gr B, welded or seamless
• ASTM A333 Gr 6, low-temp service
• ASTM A671 / A672, EFW pipes for medium pressure
• ASTM A691, Cr-Mo alloy steel pipe for high-temp

Plates
• ASTM A516 Gr 60 / 65 / 70, pressure vessel plates
• ASTM A285 Gr C, low-pressure vessels
• ASTM A36, structural plates

Forgings / Fittings
• ASTM A105, forged flanges and fittings
• ASTM A234 WPB, butt-weld fittings
• ASTM A350 LF2, forged low-temp fittings
• ASTM A420 WPL6, low-temp butt-weld fittings

Structural
• ASTM A36, beams, channels, supports
• ASTM A572, high-strength structural steel

Stainless Steel – ASTM Grades Used in Refineries

Austenitic Stainless Steel
• ASTM A312 TP304 / 304L, pipes for general corrosive service
• ASTM A312 TP316 / 316L, pipes for chloride and seawater areas
• ASTM A182 F304 / F316, forged flanges and fittings
• ASTM A403 WP304 / WP316, butt-weld fittings
• ASTM A240 304 / 316, plates and sheets

Duplex Stainless Steel
• ASTM A790 UNS S31803 / S32205, duplex pipes
• ASTM A182 F51 / F53, duplex forged fittings
• ASTM A815, duplex butt-weld fittings

Instrumentation Tubing
• ASTM A269 316L, seamless SS tubing
• ASTM A213, high-temp SS tubing
• ASTM A479, SS bars for fittings and manifolds

Special Alloys (common in refinery sour service)
• ASTM B622 / B619 Hastelloy C276, piping systems
• ASTM B444 Inconel 625, high-temp corrosive areas
• ASTM B363, Ni-alloy fittings

If you want

I can give you:
• A refinery-ready table comparing each ASTM grade, temperature limits, corrosion resistance, and typical equipment
• Selection guide for sour service, wet H2S and amine units
• Quick cheat sheet for interview use

You said:
is there any way to remember these codes without getting confused?
ChatGPT said:

Here is a simple, practical way to remember ASTM material codes without confusion. The method uses patterns, grouping, and “anchor words” so you recall the right material for the right service.

Use short sentences, active voice, and clear grouping.

1. Learn the pattern in ASTM naming

You only need to remember three families.

  • ASTM A for carbon steel and alloy steel

  • ASTM A also for stainless steel pipe/tube (but higher numbers)

  • ASTM A for forgings and plates (specific ranges)

  • ASTM B for non-ferrous metals like copper, brass, Monel

  • ASTM A, B, D appear often, but the refinery piping world is mostly A and B

Keep this rule:
Low numbers = carbon steel.
High numbers = stainless steel.
B-series = non-ferrous.

2. Group them by service, not by number

If you study by number, you forget.
If you study by use, you remember.

Carbon steel group

  • A106, seamless pipe, high temp.

  • A53, welded pipe, general service.

  • A105, forged flanges and fittings.

  • A234, wrought butt weld fittings.

  • A516, plates for vessels.

  • A350 LF2, low temp flanges.

Memory tip:
“106-53-105-234 is the pipeline family.
516 is the vessel plate.
LF2 is low temperature.”

Stainless steel group

  • A312, stainless pipe.

  • A213, stainless tubes.

  • A182, stainless flanges.

  • A403, stainless buttweld fittings.

  • A240, stainless plates.

Memory tip:
“300 series stainless uses 300-series ASTM
312 pipe, 213 tube, 182 flanges, 403 fittings, 240 plates.”

Alloy/Inconel/Monel (nickel base)

  • ASTM B161/B163, nickel pipe and tube.

  • ASTM B564, nickel alloy flanges.

  • ASTM B366, nickel alloy fittings.

Memory tip:
“B = non-ferrous
B161/163 pipe-tube
B564 flanges
B366 fittings”

3. Use a three-step recall method

When you see a material number, ask:

  1. Does it start with A or B?

  2. Is the number below 200, 200–500, or 500+?

  3. What is the service?

    • Pipe

    • Tube

    • Flange

    • Fitting

    • Plate

    • Vessel

Then apply:

For carbon steel

  • Pipe, seamless → A106

  • Pipe, welded → A53

  • Flange → A105

  • Fitting → A234

  • Vessel plate → A516

For stainless steel

  • Pipe → A312

  • Tube → A213

  • Flange → A182

  • Fittings → A403

  • Plates → A240

For nickel alloys

  • Pipe/tube → B161/B163

  • Flange → B564

  • Fittings → B366

4. Use practical real-world associations

You work in refinery/O&G, so link ASTM to equipment.

  • All stainless pipe in skid packages → A312

  • All high-temp carbon steel pipe → A106

  • All welded pipe in utilities → A53

  • All flanges you order → A105 (CS) or A182 (SS)

  • All pressure vessel plates → A516

  • All buttweld fittings carbon steel → A234

  • All buttweld fittings stainless → A403

  • All instrument air or utility SS tube → A213 or A269 depending on spec

  • All nickel alloy piping in sour service → B161/B163

5. Build a simple “material map”

Carbon Steel (CS)

Pipe → A106 / A53
Flange → A105
Fittings → A234
Plate → A516
Low temp → A350 LF2

Stainless Steel (SS)

Pipe → A312
Tube → A213
Flanges → A182
Fittings → A403
Plate → A240

Nickel Alloy

Pipe/tube → B161/B163
Fittings → B366
Flanges → B564

Put this on your mobile notes. Review for one week. You will remember for life.

**ASTM Material Cheat Sheet

Refinery, Oil and Gas**

1. Carbon Steel

Pipe

  • ASTM A106, seamless, high temperature

  • ASTM A53, welded, general service

Flanges

  • ASTM A105, forged

Fittings

  • ASTM A234 WPB, wrought butt weld fittings

Pressure Vessel Plates

  • ASTM A516 Gr 60/65/70

Low-Temperature Service

  • ASTM A350 LF2, forged flanges and fittings

Structural Steel

  • ASTM A36, plates and shapes

2. Stainless Steel

Pipe

  • ASTM A312, TP304, TP316 grades

Tubes

  • ASTM A213, seamless tubes for heat exchangers

  • ASTM A269, general stainless tubes

Flanges

  • ASTM A182, F304, F316

Fittings

  • ASTM A403, WP304, WP316 butt weld fittings

Plates

  • ASTM A240, 304, 316 sheet and plate

3. Duplex / Super Duplex

Pipe, Tube, Fittings, Flanges

  • ASTM A790, duplex pipe

  • ASTM A815, duplex fittings

  • ASTM A182 F51/F53, duplex flanges

  • ASTM A240 duplex plates

4. Nickel Alloy / Inconel / Monel

Pipe and Tube

  • ASTM B161, nickel pipe

  • ASTM B163, nickel alloy tube

Fittings

  • ASTM B366, nickel alloy fittings

Flanges

  • ASTM B564, nickel alloy flanges

5. Copper Alloy / Brass

Pipe, Tube, Fittings

  • ASTM B43, copper pipe

  • ASTM B88, copper tube

  • ASTM B16, brass pipe fittings

6. Quick Memory Rules

  • A = steel, carbon or stainless

  • Low A-numbers = carbon steel

  • High A-numbers = stainless steel

  • B = non-ferrous alloys

  • 106/53 = carbon steel pipe

  • 312/213 = stainless pipe and tube

  • 105/182 = carbon vs stainless flanges

  • 234/403 = carbon vs stainless fittings

  • 516/240 = carbon vs stainless plates

7. Typical Refinery Usage

  • Process piping → A106, A53, A312

  • Sour/high temp → A106 or nickel alloys

  • Flanges → A105 CS, A182 SS

  • Vessels → A516 plates

  • Instrument tubing → A213, A269

  • Corrosion-prone areas → 316 SS or nickel alloys

Instrument Engineer

Post a Comment

Previous Post Next Post
WhatsApp Chat for Coaching
🌐 Translate