ASTM A688 Properties⚙️ (Chem., Mech. & Rankings) rev. 2022

In this post I'll talk about and give details about ASTM A688. First let's describe it and then have a look at its material's properties.

What is ASTM A688?

ASTM A688 is a Specification for Seamless and Welded Austenitic Stainless Steel Feedwater Heater Tubes.

Category

Steel Tubes

Scope

This specification covers seamless and welded austenitic stainless steel feedwater heater tubes including those bent, if specified, into the form of U-tubes for application in tubular feed-water heaters.

Ok let's start with ASTM A688 chemical composition.

Chemical Composition

Grade TP304

C max.

0.08

Mn max.

2.00

P max.

0.040

S max.

0.030

Si max.

0.75

Ni

8.00 - 11.00

Cr

18.00 - 20.00

Learn more about chemical composition.

Now it's the mechanical properties turn:

Yield Strength

Grade 304

30 ksi (205 MPa) min.

Learn more about what is yield strength.

Tensile Strength

Grade 304

75 ksi (515 MPa) min.

Learn more about what is tensile strength.

Elongation (min.) 50 mm

0.35.

Learn more about what is elongation.

Reduction of Area (min. %)

Not Required.

Learn more about reduction of area.

Density

7480 - 8000 kg/m3 (around 7.9 g/cm3 or 0.285 lb/in3).

Learn more about density.

Elastic Modulus

180 GPa (26107 ksi) - 210GPa (30458 ksi).

Learn more about the Elastic Modulus.

Poisson's Ratio

Usually around 0.26 – 0.31.

Learn more about the poisson ratio.

Allowable Stress

Depends on the project (And its factor of safety).

Learn more about the what is allowable stress.

My Material's Rank

While engineers will often look for the cheapest material they can use, I took a different approach to material's selection to help newbie students.

I ranked materials according to their yield strengths and ASTM A688 currently ranks 126 in my yield strength index. This means there are other 125 materials that are more resistant.

Note: I've analysed 134 materials in order to create an yield strength index. Check my astm material's comparison post for more details.

Details and PDF

Instructions:

1. Go to this page.
2. Type the name of the standard you are looking for in the search box. Tip: Don't forget to include "ASTM" as a keyword.
3. Read the details about the standard or download the PDF.

ASTM Classroom

Are you having trouble understanding the basics of ASTM?

What is the difference between Code, Standard & Specification?

This video will walk you through:

References

Citation

When you need to include a fact or piece of information in an assignment or essay you should also include where and how you found that piece of information.

That gives credibility to your paper and it is sometimes required in higher education.

To make your life (and citation) easier just copy & paste the information below into your assignment or essay:

Luz, Gelson. ASTM A688 Properties (Chem., Mech. & Rankings). Materials Blog. Gelsonluz.com. dd mmmm. yyyy. <URL>

Now replace dd, mmmm and yyyy with the day, month, and year you browsed this page. Also replace URL for the actual url of this page (The < and > stay, ok?). This citation format is based on MLA.

Other References

A262 Practices for Detecting Susceptibility to Intergranular⁣
Attack in Austenitic Stainless Steels⁣
A480/A480M Specification for General Requirements for⁣
Flat-Rolled Stainless and Heat-Resisting Steel Plate,⁣
Sheet, and Strip⁣
A941 Terminology Relating to Steel, Stainless Steel, Related⁣
Alloys, and Ferroalloys⁣
A1016/A1016M Specification for General Requirements for⁣
Ferritic Alloy Steel, Austenitic Alloy Steel, and Stainless⁣
Steel Tubes⁣
E112 Test Methods for Determining Average Grain Size⁣