This specification covers austenitic stainless steels in the annealed and normally required cold-worked conditions. They shall be formed in different shapes such as sheets, strips, plates and flat bars. The steels shall adhere to specified chemical composition requirements. Mechanical properties such as yield strength, tensile strength, elongation, hardness, and bending shall be determined. The specimens shall be subjected to tension test, free-bend test, and controlled-bend or V-block test.

1.1 This specification covers austenitic stainless steels in the annealed and normally required cold-worked conditions for various structural, pressure vessel, magnetic, cryogenic, and heat-resisting applications.

1.2 The application of this specification, or the use of material covered by this specification does not automatically allow usage in pressure vessel applications. Only annealed conditions of grades specifically approved by the ASME code are permitted for pressure vessel use.

1.3 This specification is expressed in both inch-pound units and in SI units; however, unless the purchase order or contract specifies the applicable M specification designation (SI units), the inch-pound units shall apply. The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard.

1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.