4.1 These test methods for the chemical analysis of metals and alloys are primarily intended as referee methods to test such materials for compliance with compositional specifications, particularly those under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committees A01 on Steel, Stainless Steel, and Related Alloys and A04 on Iron Castings. It is assumed that all who use these test methods will be trained analysts capable of performing common laboratory procedures skillfully and safely. It is expected that work will be performed in a properly equipped laboratory under appropriate quality control practices such as those described in Guide E882.

1.1 These test methods cover the chemical analysis of carbon steels, low-alloy steels, silicon electrical steels, ingot iron, and wrought iron having chemical compositions within the following limits:

Element

 Composition Range, %

Aluminum

0.001  to 1.50

Antimony

0.002  to 0.03

Arsenic

0.0005 to 0.10

Bismuth

0.005  to 0.50

Boron

0.0005 to 0.02

Calcium

0.0005 to 0.01

Cerium

0.005  to 0.50

Chromium

0.005  to 3.99

Cobalt

0.01   to 0.30

Columbium (Niobium)

0.002  to 0.20

Copper

0.005  to 1.50

Lanthanum

0.001  to 0.30

Lead

0.001  to 0.50

Manganese

0.01   to 2.50

Molybdenum

0.002  to 1.50

Nickel

0.005  to 5.00

Nitrogen

0.0005 to 0.04

Oxygen

0.0001 to 0.03

Phosphorus

0.001  to 0.25

Selenium

0.001  to 0.50

Silicon

0.001  to 5.00

Sulfur

0.001  to 0.60

Tin

0.002  to 0.10

Titanium

0.002  to 0.60

Tungsten

0.005  to 0.10

Vanadium

0.005  to 0.50

Zirconium

0.005  to 0.15

1.2 The test methods in this standard are contained in the sections indicated as follows:

Sections

Aluminum, Total, by the 8-Quinolinol Gravimetric
 Method (0.20 % to 1.5 %)

124–131

Aluminum, Total, by the 8-Quinolinol
 Spectrophotometric Method
 (0.003 % to 0.20 %)

76–86

Aluminum, Total or Acid-Soluble, by the Atomic
 Absorption Spectrometry Method
 (0.005 % to 0.20 %)

308–317

Antimony by the Brilliant Green Spectrophotometric
 Method (0.0002 % to 0.030 %)

142–151

Bismuth by the Atomic Absorption Spectrometry
 Method (0.02 % to 0.25 %)

298–307

Boron by the Distillation-Curcumin
 Spectrophotometric Method
 (0.0003 % to 0.006 %)

208–219

Calcium by the Direct-Current Plasma Atomic
 Emission Spectrometry Method
 (0.0005 % to 0.010 %)

289–297

Carbon, Total, by the Combustion Gravimetric Method
 (0.05 % to 1.80 %)—Discontinued 1995

Cerium and Lanthanum by the Direct Current Plasma
 Atomic Emission Spectrometry Method
 (0.003 % to 0.50 % Cerium, 0.001 % to 0.30 %
 Lanthanum)

249–257

Chromium by the Atomic Absorption Spectrometry
 Method (0.006 % to 1.00 %)

220–229

Chromium by the Peroxydisulfate Oxidation-Titration
 Method (0.05 % to 3.99 %)

230–238

Cobalt by the Nitroso-R Salt Spectrophotometric
 Method (0.01 % to 0.30 %)

53–62

Copper by the Sulfide Precipitation-Iodometric
 Titration Method (Discontinued 1989)

87–94

Copper by the Atomic Absorption Spectrometry
 Method (0.004 % to 0.5 %)

279–288

Copper by the Neocuproine Spectrophotometric
 Method (0.005 % to 1.50 %)

114–123

Lead by the Ion-Exchange—Atomic Absorption
 Spectrometry Method
 (0.001 % to 0.50 %)

132–141

Manganese by the Atomic Absorption Spectrometry
 Method (0.005 % to 2.0 %)

269–278

Manganese by the Metaperiodate Spectrophotometric
 Method (0.01 % to 2.5 %)

9–18

Manganese by the Peroxydisulfate-Arsenite Titrimetric
 Method (0.10 % to 2.50 %)

164–171

Molybdenum by the Thiocyanate Spectrophotometric
 Method (0.01 % to 1.50 %)

152–163

Nickel by the Atomic Absorption Spectrometry
 Method (0.003 % to 0.5 %)

318–327

Nickel by the Dimethylglyoxime Gravimetric
 Method (0.1 % to 5.00 %)

180–187

Nickel by the Ion-Exchange-Atomic-Absorption
 Spectrometry Method
 (0.005 % to 1.00 %)

188–197

Nitrogen by the Distillation-Spectrophotometric
 Method (Discontinued 1988)

63–75

Phosphorus by the Alkalimetric Method
 (0.02 % to 0.25 %)

172–179

Phosphorus by the Molybdenum Blue
 Spectrophotometric Method
 (0.003 % to 0.09 %)

19–30

Silicon by the Molybdenum Blue Spectrophotometric
 Method (0.01 % to 0.06 %)

103–113

Silicon by the Gravimetric Titration
 Method (0.05 % to 3.5 %)

46–52

Sulfur by the Gravimetric Method
 (Discontinued 1988)

31–36

Sulfur by the Combustion-Iodate Titration Method
 (0.005 % to 0.3 %) (Discontinued 2017)

37–45

Tin by the Sulfide Precipitation-Iodometric Titration
 Method (0.01 % to 0.1 %)

95–102

Tin by the Solvent Extraction-Atomic Absorption
 Spectrometry Method
 (0.002 % to 0.10 %)

198–207

Titanium by the Diantipyrylmethane
 Spectrophotometric Method
 (0.025 % to 0.30 %)

258–268

Vanadium by the Atomic Absorption Spectrometry
 Method (0.006 % to 0.15 %)

239–248

1.3 Test methods for the determination of several elements not included in this standard can be found in Test Methods E1019.

1.4 Some of the composition ranges given in 1.1 are too broad to be covered by a single test method and therefore this standard contains multiple test methods for some elements. The user must select the proper test method by matching the information given in the Scope and Interference sections of each test method with the composition of the alloy to be analyzed.

1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. In some cases, exceptions allowed in IEEE/ASTM SI 10 are also used.

1.6 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. Specific hazards statements are given in Section 6 and in special “Warning” paragraphs throughout these test methods.

1.7 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.