This specification covers general requirements for flat-rolled stainless and heat-resisting steel plate, sheet, and strip. The steel shall be made by one of the following processes: electric-arc, electric-induction, or other suitable processes. Heat and product analyses shall conform to the chemical requirements for each of the specific elements. The material shall undergo mechanical tests such as tension test, hardness test, and bend test. Special tests like intergranular corrosion test, permeability test, Charpy impact testing and tests for detrimental intermetallic phases in wrought duplex stainless steels shall be also be performed when required.

1.1 This specification covers a group of general requirements that, unless otherwise specified in the purchase order or in an individual specification, shall apply to rolled steel plate, sheet, and strip, under each of the following specifications issued by ASTM: Specifications A 167, A 176, A 240/A 240M, A 263, A 264, A 265, A 666, A 693, A 793, and A 895.

1.2 In the case of conflict between a requirement of a product specification and a requirement of this specification, the product specification shall prevail. In the case of conflict between a requirement of the product specification or a requirement of this specification and a more stringent requirement of the purchase order, the purchase order shall prevail. The purchase order requirements shall not take precedence if they, in any way, violate the requirements of the product specification or this specification; for example, by waiving a test requirement or by making a test requirement less stringent.

1.3 The values stated in either inch-pound units or SI units are to be regarded separately as standard. Within the text, the SI units are shown in brackets, except that when A 480M is specified, Annex A3 shall apply for the dimensional tolerances and not the bracketed SI values in Annex A2. The values stated in each system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system must be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in nonconformance with the specification.

1.4 This specification and the applicable material specifications are expressed in both inch-pound and SI units. However, unless the order specifies the applicable “M” specification designation [SI units], the material shall be furnished in inch-pound units.