ASME SA-516 Grade 60 (ASTM A516 Grade 60, UNS K02100) is a carbon-manganese pressure vessel plate steel specified in ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section II Part A. The steel is killed and supplied to fine austenitic grain size. Carbon is capped between 0.21 and 0.27 percent according to plate thickness. Plate up to 40 mm is normally as-rolled and plate above 40 mm is normalized. Normal practice limits thickness to 205 mm. Typical applications are vessel shells and heads, boiler drums, storage tanks to API 620 and API 650, and heat exchanger tubesheets, baffles and flanges.
Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. is an open-die forging factory in Jiangyin, Jiangsu, China. It cuts, forges and machines SA-516 Grade 60 into tubesheets, tube plates, baffle and support plates, girth flanges, cover flanges, channel covers and nozzle necks to customer drawing, with HIC testing, weld-overlay cladding and EN 10204 3.2 certification where the order calls for them. Telephone +86-189-2135-9659, email sales@steelforgepieces.com.
Chemical composition
Composition limits for SA-516 Grade 60 on heat analysis, taken from ASME BPVC Section II Part A Table 1. The limits are identical to ASTM A516/A516M. Carbon and manganese are banded by thickness, so a certificate quoting one value for all thicknesses should be checked against the correct band.
| Element | Plate ≤ 12.5 mm | > 12.5 to 50 mm | > 50 to 100 mm | > 100 mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon, max | 0.21 | 0.23 | 0.25 | 0.27 |
| Manganese | 0.60–0.90 | 0.85–1.20 | 0.85–1.20 | 0.85–1.20 |
| Phosphorus, max | 0.035 | 0.035 | 0.035 | 0.035 |
| Sulphur, max | 0.035 | 0.035 | 0.035 | 0.035 |
| Silicon | 0.13–0.45 | 0.13–0.45 | 0.13–0.45 | 0.13–0.45 |
Notes: for each 0.01 percentage point of carbon below the specified maximum, manganese may rise 0.06 points above its maximum, to a ceiling of 1.50 percent on heat analysis. Grade 60 plate 12.5 mm and under may alternatively be furnished at 0.85–1.20 percent manganese. Unspecified elements are governed by ASTM A20/A20M. Product analysis tolerances are wider than the heat analysis figures above.
Mechanical properties
Tension test requirements for SA-516 Grade 60, in imperial and metric units. Yield strength is determined by the 0.2 percent offset method or the 0.5 percent extension-under-load method.
| Property | Imperial | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength | 60–80 ksi | 415–550 MPa |
| Yield strength, min | 32 ksi | 220 MPa |
| Elongation in 200 mm (8 in), min | 21 % | 21 % |
| Elongation in 50 mm (2 in), min | 25 % | 25 % |
| Maximum thickness, normal practice | 8 in | 205 mm |
Charpy V-notch impact testing is a supplementary requirement under A20/A20M S5 and is not supplied by default. Where low-temperature toughness forms part of the design case, state the test temperature and minimum absorbed energy on the purchase order. For this grade the temperature is commonly between −20 °C and −46 °C.
Delivery condition and heat treatment
- Plate 40 mm (1.5 in) and under is normally supplied as-rolled.
- Plate over 40 mm is supplied normalized.
- Normalizing is applied at any thickness when Charpy impact testing is specified.
- Steel is killed and supplied to fine austenitic grain size in accordance with ASTM A20/A20M, which is what gives the grade its notch toughness.
- Simulated post-weld heat treatment of mechanical test coupons under A20/A20M S3 is available where the fabricator will PWHT the finished vessel.
Components machined in SA-516 Grade 60
Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. supplies SA-516 Grade 60 as finished components rather than as mill plate. The parts below are produced to customer drawing for shell-and-tube heat exchangers, reactors, columns, towers and skid packages.
- Tubesheets and tube platesFixed, stationary and floating heads. Drilled to TEMA pattern with ligament and hole-tolerance control, face finish to specified Ra.
- Baffle plates and support platesSegmental, double-segmental and disc-and-doughnut, stack-drilled with the tubesheets to hold pitch.
- Girth flanges and cover flangesRolled-ring forged or plate-cut, faced and drilled to ASME B16.5, B16.47 Series A or B, or customer drawing.
- Channel covers and blind coversFlat and grooved covers with pass-partition slots machined in.
- Long weld neck nozzles and nozzle necksBored from forged blanks, with weld prep to the fabricator's WPS.
- Self-reinforced nozzles, FVC typeIntegrally reinforced, which removes the reinforcing pad and the inspection it carries.
- Weld-overlay clad componentsAlloy 625, Alloy 825, 316L and 304L overlay, typically 3–8 mm finished, UT bond-tested and chemically verified for iron dilution before drilling.
- Preheater, superheater, cooler and condenser partsFront and rear head components, support rings, spacers and tie rods.
Plate against forging
SA-516 is a plate specification. Where a drawing calls for a tubesheet or flange thicker than plate practice allows, or where the grain flow of a forging is required, the usual counterpart is ASME SA-266 Grade 2 or SA-105. Both routes are available here, and the drawing is reviewed to confirm which one applies before a price is given.
Grade 60 compared with 55, 65 and 70
All four A516 grades share the same steelmaking practice and the same intended service. They differ in strength level, which in turn sets the required vessel wall thickness. Grade 60 sits toward the ductile end of the range.
| Grade | UNS | Tensile, MPa (ksi) | Yield min, MPa (ksi) | Elong. 50 mm, min |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 55 [380] | K01800 | 380–515 (55–75) | 205 (30) | 27 % |
| Grade 60 [415] | K02100 | 415–550 (60–80) | 220 (32) | 25 % |
| Grade 65 [450] | K02403 | 450–585 (65–85) | 240 (35) | 23 % |
| Grade 70 [485] | K02700 | 485–620 (70–90) | 260 (38) | 21 % |
Grade 70 is the most widely stocked and permits a thinner wall at the same design pressure. Grade 60 welds and cold-forms more easily and carries a larger ductility margin. Grade selection should follow the vessel design calculation and the code edition in force.
International equivalents
Nearest comparable grades in other national standards. These are comparisons for material selection and are not drop-in substitutions. Yield bands, impact requirements and permitted thicknesses all differ, and an ASME Code vessel normally requires material ordered to the SA designation.
| Region | Standard | Grade | Yield min |
|---|---|---|---|
| Europe | EN 10028-2 | P265GH | 265 MPa |
| Germany (superseded) | DIN 17155 | HII | 265 MPa |
| China | GB/T 713 | Q245R | 245 MPa |
| Japan | JIS G3115 | SPV235 | 235 MPa |
| United States | ASTM A516/A516M | Grade 60 | 220 MPa |
Any substitution requires the approval of the engineer responsible for the vessel design. Quotations are prepared to whichever standard the drawing names.
What to send with an enquiry
Supplying the following with the drawing allows a firm price on the first quotation and reduces revisions after the order is placed.
- Drawing in PDF, DWG or STEP, with quantity and required delivery date.
- Standard and edition. ASME SA-516 or ASTM A516, and the code edition the vessel is designed to.
- Delivery condition. As-rolled or normalized, and whether simulated PWHT test coupons are required.
- NDT scope. Ultrasonic examination to SA-435, SA-577 or SA-578, and the acceptance class.
- Impact testing. Charpy test temperature and minimum absorbed energy, if required.
- Sour service. HIC testing to NACE TM0284 and hardness limits to NACE MR0175 / ISO 15156, if applicable.
- Cladding. Overlay alloy, finished thickness and the surface it applies to.
- Machining detail. Tube hole pattern and tolerance, ligament limits, face finish Ra, groove and pass-partition detail.
- Certification and inspection. EN 10204 3.1 or 3.2, and any third-party inspector such as TÜV, BV, SGS or Lloyd's to be appointed.
Send it to sales@steelforgepieces.com or call +86-189-2135-9659.
Frequently asked questions
Is ASME SA-516 Grade 60 the same as ASTM A516 Grade 60?
The two specifications are technically identical in chemistry and mechanical properties. SA-516 is the version adopted into ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section II Part A, so it is the one cited when a vessel is built to the ASME Code. A516 is the ASTM original. Material is commonly dual-certified to both. The remaining difference is administrative. SA-516 material must be produced under the quality programme the Code requires, and the mill test report should carry the SA designation if the vessel is Code-stamped.
What is the difference between SA-516 Grade 60 and Grade 70?
The two grades differ in strength level. Grade 60 has a tensile strength of 415–550 MPa (60–80 ksi) and a minimum yield of 220 MPa (32 ksi). Grade 70 has 485–620 MPa (70–90 ksi) tensile and 260 MPa (38 ksi) minimum yield. Grade 60 is the lower-carbon and more ductile of the two. Minimum elongation in 50 mm is 25 percent against 21 percent for Grade 70, and it welds and cold-forms more easily. Grade 70 permits a thinner and lighter vessel wall at the same design pressure. Grade selection should follow the vessel design calculation.
What is the maximum thickness available in SA-516 Grade 60?
A516/A516M limits thickness only by the ability of the composition to meet the specified mechanical properties, but normal practice caps plate at 205 mm (8 in). Above that thickness, or where the geometry is not flat, a forged counterpart such as ASME SA-266 Grade 2 is used. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal supplies both plate-cut and forged components and will confirm which route the drawing requires.
Does SA-516 Grade 60 need to be normalized?
Plate 40 mm (1.5 in) and under is normally supplied as-rolled. Plate over 40 mm is supplied normalized, and normalizing is also required when Charpy impact testing is specified. Normalizing refines the grain structure and improves low-temperature notch toughness, which is the main reason the grade is specified.
Can SA-516 Grade 60 be used in sour service?
Yes, when ordered as a HIC-resistant variant. Sour-service plate is produced with restricted sulphur and phosphorus, calcium treatment for inclusion shape control, and low centreline segregation, then tested to NACE TM0284 for hydrogen-induced cracking on a per-heat and per-thickness basis. Hardness is also controlled to meet NACE MR0175 / ISO 15156. This must be stated on the purchase order, because standard SA-516 Grade 60 is not supplied HIC-resistant.
What is the chemical composition of SA-516 Grade 60?
On heat analysis: carbon 0.21 percent maximum for plate up to 12.5 mm, rising with thickness to 0.23, 0.25 and 0.27 percent; manganese 0.60–0.90 percent up to 12.5 mm and 0.85–1.20 percent above; phosphorus 0.035 percent maximum; sulphur 0.035 percent maximum; silicon 0.13–0.45 percent. The steel is killed and supplied to fine austenitic grain size per ASTM A20/A20M.
What are the European and Chinese equivalents of SA-516 Grade 60?
The nearest equivalents are EN 10028-2 P265GH in Europe, GB/T 713 Q245R in China, and JIS G3115 SPV235 in Japan. These are close comparisons and are not interchangeable substitutions. Yield and tensile bands, impact requirements and permitted thicknesses differ, and a vessel designed to the ASME Code normally requires material ordered to the SA designation. Any substitution needs the design engineer's approval.
Can you supply clad SA-516 Grade 60 tubesheets?
Yes. Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal applies weld-overlay cladding to SA-516 Grade 60 tubesheets and covers in Alloy 625, Alloy 825, 316L and 304L, typically 3–8 mm finished thickness after machining. Overlay is applied by strip or wire process, then post-weld heat treated, ultrasonically tested for bond, dye-penetrant tested and chemically verified for iron dilution at the finished surface before the tube holes are drilled.
Who supplies SA-516 Grade 60 tubesheets and flanges from China?
Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. is an open-die forging factory at No.1 Chengxiqiao Road, Zhouzhuang Town, Jiangyin City, Jiangsu Province, China. It machines SA-516 Grade 60 tubesheets, tube plates, baffle and support plates, girth flanges, cover flanges, channel covers and nozzle necks to customer drawing, with EN 10204 3.1 or 3.2 certification and third-party inspection on request. Contact +86-189-2135-9659 or sales@steelforgepieces.com.
About the supplier
Jiangyin Jiangnan Metal Co., Ltd. is an open-die forging factory at No.1 Chengxiqiao Road, Zhouzhuang Town, Jiangyin City, Jiangsu Province, China. The works produces forged rings, flanges, bars and seamless rolled rings, and machines pressure-vessel and heat-exchanger components in carbon steel, alloy steel, stainless steel and nickel alloys.
For ASME SA-516 Grade 60, the scope runs from plate procurement with mill certification, through cutting, forging, normalizing and rough machining, to finish machining, tube-hole drilling, weld-overlay cladding, non-destructive examination and final inspection. Material traceability is held by heat number through to the EN 10204 certificate issued with the parts.
Telephone 0086-189-2135-9659. Email sales@steelforgepieces.com. Contact page.
Last reviewed . Data on this page is drawn from ASME BPVC Section II Part A (SA-516/SA-516M), ASTM A516/A516M and ASTM A20/A20M. It is provided for material selection and does not replace the current edition of the standard or the judgement of the engineer responsible for the vessel design.