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    ASTM B908 - 14

    Standard Practice for the Use of Color Codes for Zinc Casting Alloy Ingot

    Active Standard ASTM B908 | Developed by Subcommittee: B02.04

    Book of Standards Volume: 02.04

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    Significance and Use

    4.1 The purpose of these color codes is to allow for quick identification of ingot bundles or jumbo ingots of zinc casting alloys. Other than jumbo ingots, this standard is not intended to imply that each ingot will be color-coded but only that each ingot bundle be color coded.

    4.2 Each ingot bundle or jumbo ingot shall be identified with the appropriate color code listed in Table 1.

    (A) UNS assignations were established in accordance with Practice E527. The last digit of a UNS number differentiates between alloys of similar composition.
    (B) The North American system is design to be a simplified version of the International system by eliminating the leading white stripe and in the case of Alloy 3 eliminating all stripes.
    (C) ASTM alloy designations established in accordance with Practice B275.
    (D) The color codes for these alloys are adapted from European standard (CEN) specification EN 1774. No color coding currently exists in International standard ISO 301.
    (E) These alloys are not currently included in European standard EN 1774 nor International standard ISO 301 and no color codes have previously been assigned.
    (F) ACuZinc and ACuZinc5 are registered names of the General Motors Corporation.
    (G) ZA-73 is also often used as a hot-chamber die casting alloy and foundry casting alloy.

    4.3 The color will be applied as a stripe, or stripes, on two adjacent sides of the ingot bundle or jumbo ingot. The color stripes will be applied to include the ingot bundle foot.

    4.4 When using multiple stripes, the colored stripes will be applied from left to right as indicated in Table 1.

    4.5 In the absence of a written agreement to the contrary between the supplier and end user, the North American color code will be the standard for all North American transactions; for all other transactions the International Color Code will be used.

    1. Scope

    1.1 This standard is published with the following objectives:

    1.2 To establish standard color codes for the Zinc Die Casting and Foundry industry, and

    1.3 To standardize the use and application of these color codes.

    1.4 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 become familiar with all hazards including those identified in the appropriate Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for this product/material as provided by the manufacturer, to establish appropriate safety and health practices, and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.


    2. Referenced Documents (purchase separately) The documents listed below are referenced within the subject standard but are not provided as part of the standard.

    ASTM Standards

    B240 Specification for Zinc and Zinc-Aluminum (ZA) Alloys in Ingot Form for Foundry and Die Castings

    B275 Practice for Codification of Certain Nonferrous Metals and Alloys, Cast and Wrought

    B327 Specification for Master Alloys Used in Making Zinc Die Casting Alloys

    B792 Specification for Zinc Alloys in Ingot Form for Slush Casting

    B793 Specification for Zinc Casting Alloy Ingot for Sheet Metal Forming Dies and Plastic Injection Molds

    B892 Specification for ACuZinc5

    B899 Terminology Relating to Non-ferrous Metals and Alloys

    B952 Specification for Zinc Alloys in Ingot Form for Spin Casting

    E527 Practice for Numbering Metals and Alloys in the Unified Numbering System (UNS)

    ISO Standard

    ISO 301 Zinc alloy ingots intended for casting, 1981-05-15 English Version available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.

    CEN Standard

    EN 1774 Zinc and zinc alloys--Alloys for foundry purposes--Ingot and liquid, September 1997 English Version available from Global Engineering Documents, 15 Inverness Way, East Englewood, CO 80112-5704, http://global.ihs.com.

    ICS Code

    ICS Number Code 77.150.99 (Other products of non-ferrous metals)

    UNSPSC Code

    UNSPSC Code

    Referencing This Standard
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    DOI: 10.1520/B0908-14

    Citation Format

    ASTM B908-14, Standard Practice for the Use of Color Codes for Zinc Casting Alloy Ingot, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, 2014, www.astm.org

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