Technical aspects of the ASTM/ASME A/SA 351 specification
The ASTM/ASME A/SA 351 standard regulates the requirements for the production of austenitic steel castings. This nomenclature is focused on the manufacture of pipeline valve elements, including shut-off and control valves, flange connections, and fittings operating under high pressure conditions.
Expert note: For carbon steel castings under pressure, refer to the A216 / A216M standard; for low-alloy grades, use A217 / A217M; and for duplex stainless steels, use A995 / A995M.
The specification includes a wide range of austenitic steel grades. EV Group China specialists emphasize that the selection of a specific grade should be based on an analysis of operating conditions, such as temperature, chemical aggressiveness of the environment, and required mechanical properties. The purchaser is responsible for selecting the grade that corresponds to the structural design loads.
Important limitation: The grades CE20N, CF3A, CF3MA, and CF8A have reduced thermal stability, and therefore their use at temperatures exceeding 425 °C (800 °F) is not recommended.
EV Group China notes that additional quality requirements for castings can be included in the purchase order upon agreement with the buyer. The standard allows the use of both SI and inch-pound units as independent standards. In the absence of an explicit indication of the metric system (M) in the contract, pound-inch units take precedence.