ASTM A519 Standard Specification for Seamless Carbon and Alloy Steel Mechanical Tubing

Get Certified ASTM A519 Testing for Seamless Carbon and Alloy Steel

The ASTM A519 test ensures tubing manufacturers, suppliers, engineers, fabricators, purchasers, and quality-control professionals can confirm the properties of seamless carbon and alloy steel mechanical tubing. Technicians test representative tubing for chemical composition, mechanical properties, size, and soundness (satisfactory workmanship), and appropriate visual and/or workmanship examinations. Qualified testing yields verified data on material makeup, mechanical properties, size, and the state in which it was produced. These results may be used to help with production quality checking, supplier qualification, material acceptance, product fabrication, and product development.

• Material Type: Carbon steel and alloy steel mechanical tubing.
• Manufacturing: Seamless hot-finished and seamless cold-finished tubing.
• Product Shapes: Round, square, rectangular, and special sections.
• Round-Tube Size: Outside diameters up to and including 12¾ in. [325 mm], with wall thicknesses as required.
• Chemical Requirements: Specified chemical composition for the applicable carbon- and alloy-steel grades.
• Mechanical Requirements: Applicable tensile and other mechanical properties for the selected grade and condition.
• Heat Analysis: Chemical analysis is performed to determine the percentages of specified elements.
• Manufacturing Condition: Requirements vary according to hot-finished or cold-finished tubing.
• Supplementary Requirements: Optional supplementary requirements may be specified in the purchase order.
• Unit System: Inch-pound and SI units are treated as separate standard systems; the applicable system is determined according to the ordering requirements.

What are the uses of ASTM A519 testing?

ASTM A519 testing is used to verify that seamless carbon steel and alloy steel mechanical tubing meets applicable material, mechanical, dimensional, and manufacturing requirements. Manufacturers use the specification to control the manufacturing process, while purchasers and engineers use test results to verify the characteristics of the tubing being purchased.  The testing provides information needed to assess the selected steel grade and tubing condition. Dimensional and mechanical evaluations also help confirm that tubing is suitable for its intended mechanical application and subsequent fabrication.

• Material Verification: verifies selected carbon or alloy steel grade chemical composition. 
• Mechanical Property Evaluation – Identifies appropriate strength and ductility properties. 
• Dimensional Inspection: Inspects outside diameter, wall thickness, length, and tolerances. 
• Manufacturing Verification: Identifies and records hot-finished and cold-finished tubing conditions. 
• Qualifies suppliers: Supplies documented material and product information. 
• Material Acceptance: Assists in the assessment of mechanical tubing materials supplied. 
• Fabrication Control: Provides data to be used at later stages of fabrication, forming, joining, or other manufacturing processes. 
• Product Development: Aids comparison and evaluation of various grades and conditions of tubing.

Which Materials Can Be Tested According to ASTM A519?

ASTM A519 is for seamless mechanical tubing of carbon and alloy steels. The specification includes several grades of low-carbon steels and other listed carbon-steel grades, and the alloy-steel grades found in the applicable tables. Materials and products covered include:

• Seamless carbon-steel mechanical tubing
• Seamless alloy-steel mechanical tubing
• Hot-finished mechanical tubing
• Cold-finished mechanical tubing
• Round tubing
• Square tubing
• Rectangular tubing
• Special-section tubing
• Low-carbon mechanical tubing grades
• Other carbon-steel mechanical tubing grades
• Alloy-steel mechanical tubing grades

Why is ASTM A519 Testing Important?

Controlling the chemical composition, mechanical properties, dimensions, and manufacturing attributes of mechanical tubing is important to ensure consistent performance, which is where ASTM A519 testing comes into play. Chemical analysis confirms the steel grade applied, and mechanical testing gives information on strength and ductility. For mechanical tubing, dimensional inspection is especially critical, as outside diameter, wall thickness, shape, and length can affect the working performance and fabrication. Hot-finished and cold-finished tubing may also have different dimensional and mechanical properties, so it is also important to identify the manufacturing process.

ASTM A519 Testing Process and Data Collection

Technicians first identify representative seamless tubing according to the specified grade, heat, manufacturing condition, shape, dimensions, and production information. The tubing is inspected for surface condition and measured for outside dimensions, wall thickness, length, and other applicable characteristics.  Chemical analysis determines the applicable elemental composition, while mechanical testing is performed under controlled conditions to determine the required strength and ductility characteristics. The technician records specimen identification, tubing shape, outside diameter, wall thickness in mm, specimen dimensions, manufacturing condition, grade, heat information, applied force, deformation, and relevant test conditions. The analyst compares the measured results with the requirements for the specified ASTM A519 grade and product condition.

Common Challenges and Troubleshooting

ASTM A519 testing can be affected by incorrect grade identification, inaccurate dimensional measurements, improper specimen preparation, equipment calibration issues, or confusion between hot-finished and cold-finished product conditions. Control these factors before mechanical or chemical testing begins. Chemical-analysis results may be affected by contamination or unsuitable sample preparation. Mechanical results can vary because of specimen geometry, machining, gripping, alignment, loading conditions, and deformation measurement. Dimensional measurements can also be affected by tubing roundness, surface condition, wall-thickness variation, or inappropriate measurement locations.

• Chemical analysis results are reported for the elements as applicable, and mechanical results consist of the strength and ductility properties required for the specified grade and condition. When using SI units, the tensile strength and yield-related properties are typically reported in MPa, and elongation is given as a percentage (%). 
• The technician enters the following data: specimen ID, tubing grade, heat data, manufacturing condition, tubing shape, OD, wall thickness (mm), specimen dimensions, test conditions, applied force, deformation, and equipment data. The analyst records the composition, tensile and yield data, elongation, dimensions, surface observations, and other information necessary for analysis. 
• The report includes the tubing identification, grade, heat information, manufacturing condition, product shape, dimensions, specimen information, chemical-analysis results, mechanical properties, dimensional measurements, workmanship observations, and applicable test conditions. 
• These practices provide the technician and/or analyst with the ability to generate consistent, reliable, and comparable ASTM A519 results through standardized specimen preparation, calibrated equipment, controlled mechanical testing, proper dimensional measurement, appropriate chemical analysis, and qualified data interpretation.

Link to ASTM A519