ASTM B543

This specification covers welded tube of specific copper and various copper alloys of a limited range of diameters, for use in surface condensers, evaporators, heat exchangers, and general engineering applications. The product shall be manufactured by forming the material into a tubular shape on a suitable forming mill. Welding of tube shall be accomplished by forge-welding, fusion-welding, or full finishing that produces a forge weld leaving no crevice in the weld seam visible to the unaided eye. The tube shall conform to tensile strength and yield strength requirements, and shall be subject to expansion, flattening, and reverse bend tests. Mercurous nitrate or ammonia vapor tests shall be required only for selected UNS Numbers of Copper Alloys. Each tube shall be subjected to eddy-current, hydrostatic, and pneumatic tests.

This abstract is a brief summary of the referenced standard. It is informational only and not an official part of the standard; the full text of the standard itself must be referred to for its use and application. ASTM does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents of this abstract are accurate, complete or up to date.

Significance and Use

For purposes of determining compliance with the specified limits for requirements of the properties listed in the following table, an observed value or a calculated value shall be rounded as indicated in accordance with the rounding method of Practice E 29.

1. Scope

1.1 This specification covers welded tube of copper and various copper alloys up to 3¹/₈in., inclusive, in diameter, for use in surface condensers, evaporators, heat exchangers, and general engineering applications. The following coppers or copper alloys are involved:

^A Copper UNS Nos. C10800 and C12200 are classified in Classification B 224.

1.2 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. (Warning—Mercury is a definite health hazard in use and disposal. (See 12.1.1.))

2. Referenced Documents

ASTM Standards
B153 Test Method for Expansion (Pin Test) of Copper and Copper-Alloy Pipe and Tubing
B154 Test Method for Mercurous Nitrate Test for Copper Alloys
B224 Classification of Coppers
B846 Terminology for Copper and Copper Alloys
B858 Test Method for Ammonia Vapor Test for Determining Susceptibility to Stress Corrosion Cracking in Copper Alloys
B900 Practice for Packaging of Copper and Copper Alloy Mill Products for U.S. Government Agencies
E112 Test Methods for Determining Average Grain Size
E118 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Copper-Chromium Alloys
E243 Practice for Electromagnetic (Eddy-Current) Examination of Copper and Copper-Alloy Tubes
E255 Practice for Sampling Copper and Copper Alloys for the Determination of Chemical Composition
E29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications
E3 Guide for Preparation of Metallographic Specimens
E478 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Copper Alloys
E527 Practice for Numbering Metals and Alloys in the Unified Numbering System (UNS)
E53 Test Method for Determination of Copper in Unalloyed Copper by Gravimetry
E54 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Special Brasses and Bronzes
E62 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Copper and Copper Alloys (Photometric Methods)
E8 Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials

Index Terms

condenser; copper; copper alloy; copper nickel; evaporator; heat exchanger; welded tube; UNS No. C10800; UNS No.C12200; UNS No. C19400; UNS No. C23000; UNS No. C44300; UNS No. C44400; UNS No. C44500; UNS No. C68700; UNS No. C70400; UNS No. C70600; UNS No. C70620; UNS No. C71000; UNS No. C71500; UNS No. C71520; UNS No. C71640; UNS No. C72200; Brass pipe/tube--specifications; Condenser and heat exchanger systems--copper/copper alloy; Copper alloy tube--specifications; Copper welded tube; Evaporators/evaporation--specifications; UNS C10800--tube (for condensers/heat exchangers); UNS C12200--tube (for condensers/heat exchangers); UNS C19400--tube (welded); UNS C23000--pipe/tube (seamless/welded); UNS C44300 (admiralty, arsenical)--tube; UNS C44400 (admiralty, antimonial (Cu-Zn-Sn)); UNS C44500 (admiralty, phosphorized (Cu-Zn-Sn))--tube; UNS C68700 (aluminum brass, aresenical); UNS C70400 (copper-nickel, 5 %); UNS C70600 (Cu-Ni)--pipe/tube (seamless/welded); UNS C71000--tube (for condensers/heat exchangers); UNS C71500--pipe/tube (seamless/welded); UNS C71640 (copper-nickel); UNS C72200 (copper nickel)--tube; Welded Cu/Cu alloy tube; ICS Number Code 77.150.30 (Copper products)

Citing ASTM Standards

[Back to Top]