This specification covers hot-, cold-, or both hot- and cold-rolled hafnium rods and wires in either one of two grades. All grades should be in the recrystallization annealed condition unless specified otherwise. The materials should be made from ingots produced by vacuum melting in an electron beam or consumable arc furnaces, or both, of a type conventionally used for reactive metals. Samples for chemical composition tests should be taken from the top, middle, and bottom of the ingots. The requirements for mechanical properties do not apply to wires. Corrosion tests shall be done in water. All rods should be furnished in mechanically descaled and pickled, centerless ground and pickled, or centerless ground, pickled, and oxidized surface finish, while wires should be furnished in either conditioned and pickled or conditioned, pickled, and oxidized surface finish.

1.1 This specification covers hot- or cold-worked hafnium rod and wire.

1.2 This specification contains two material grades, one specifically for nuclear applications (Grade R1) and one for commercial alloying applications (Grade R3).

1.3 The products covered include the following:

1.3.1 Rod ³/₈ to 1 in. (9.5 to 25 mm) in diameter.

1.3.2 Wire less than ³/₈ in. (9.5 mm) in diameter.

1.4 Unless a single unit is used, for example, corrosion mass gain in mg/dm², the values stated in either inch-pound or SI units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system must be used independently of the other. SI values cannot be mixed with inch-pound values.

1.5 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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.