This specification covers a group of common requirements that, unless covered by the individual product specification in another ASTM document, applies to steel forgings for general use. Materials shall be produced primarily by either electric-furnace, basic oxygen, vacuum-induction (VIM), or open-hearth melting process. The primary melting may incorporate separate degassing or refining and may be followed by secondary melting, using electro slag (ESR) or vacuum arc remelting (VAR). Steel shall be forged by any of these three classes based on forging temperature: cold-worked forging, hot-cold-worked forging, or hot-worked forging. After forging, specimens shall be allowed to cool prior to reheating for heat treatment. Details of heat and product analyses for the evaluation of chemical composition are thoroughly discussed. Tension and hardness tests shall be conducted to evaluate mechanical properties such as percentage of elongation and reduction of area. Repair welding shall not be allowed unless permitted by the product specification.

1.1 This specification covers a group of common requirements that, unless otherwise specified in the individual product specification, shall apply to steel forgings under any of the following specifications issued by ASTM: