SPECIFICATION FOR SEAMLESS NICKEL AND
NICKEL ALLOY CONDENSER AND
EXCHANGER TUBES
SB-163
(Identical with ASTM Specification except for the deletion of Supplementary Requirements for U.S. government and
Appendix X2.)
1 . Scope
1.1 This specification covers seamless tubes of nickel
and nickel alloys, as shown in Table for use in
condenser and heat-exchanger service.
1.2 This specification covers outside diameter and
average wall, or outside diameter and minimum wall
tube.
1.2.1 The sizes covered by this specification are
3 in. (74.2 mm) and under in outside diameter with
minimum wall thicknesses of 0.148 in. (3.76 mm) and
under, and average thicknesses of 0.165 in.
(4.19 mm) and under.
1.3 Tube shall be furnished in the alloys and condi-
tions as shown in Table 2.
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be
regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses
are for information only.
1.5 The following safety hazards caveat pertains
only to the test method portion, Section 12, of this
specification. This standard does not purport to address
all of the safety 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.
2 . Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E 8 Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Mate-
rials
E 18 Test Methods for Rockwell Hardness and Rockwell
Superficial Hardness of Metallic Materials
E 29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data
to Determine Conformance with Specifications
E 76 Test for Chemical Analysis of
Copper Alloys
E 112 Test Methods for Determining the Average
Grain Size
E 140 Hardness Conversion Tables for Metals
E 354 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of
Temperature, Electrical, Magnetic, and Other Similar
Iron, Nickel, and Cobalt Alloys
E 1473 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Nickel,
Cobalt, and High-Temperature Alloys
2.2 Federal Standards:
Fed. Std. No. 102 Preservation, Packaging and Packing
Levels
Fed. Std. No. 123 Marking for Shipment (Civil Agencies)
Fed. Std. No. 182 Continuous Identification Marking of
Nickel and Nickel-Base Alloys
2.3 Military Standard:
MIL-STD-129 Marking for Shipment and Storage
TABLE 1
CHEMICAL REQUIREMENTS
C o m p o s i t i o n , %
A l l o y
S i l i c o n
f u r ,
Nickel [Note Max N i t r o g e n Yttrium Boron Cobalt
Nicke l UNS NO2200 9 9 . 0 min. 0 .25 m a x 0 . 4 0 0 .35 0.15 0.35
L o w - C a r b o n N i c k e l U N S 9 9 . 0 min. 0 .25 0 . 4 0 0 . 3 5 0 . 0 2 0 . 3 5
NO2201
N i c k e l - C o p p e r A l l o y U N S 6 3 . 0 min. 28 .0 to 2.5 max 2 . 0 0 . 3 0 . 5
NO4400
Nickel-Chromium-Iron
Al loy UNS NO6600
Nickel-Chromium-Iron
Al loy UNS NO6601
Nickel-Chromium-Iron
Al loy UNS NO6690
Nickel-Chromium-Iron
Al loy UNS NO6025
Al loy UNS NO6045
3 4 . 0
7 2 . 0 m i n . 0 .5 max
58.0 to 1.0 max
6 3 . 0
5 8 . 0 m i n . 0 . 5
0.1
4 5 . 0 m i n . 0 . 3
6 .0 to 10.0 1.0 0.15 0.5
remainder 1 . 0 0 . 1 0 0 .5
7 . 0 to 11 .0 0 . 5 0 . 0 5 0 . 5
8.0 to 11.0 0.15 0.15 to 0.25 0.5
21.0 to 1.0 0 . 0 5 to 0 .12 2 . 5 to
2 5 . 0 3 . 0
8 .0 to 11 .0 0 . 1 5 0 .20 to 0 .40 0 . 5 0
a l u m i n u m a l l o y U N S
NO6603
Nickel-iron-chromium
al loy UNS NO8120
Al loy UNS NO8800
Nickel-Iron-Chromium
Al loy UNS NO8810
Nickel-Iron-Chromium
Al loy UNS
Nickel-Iron-Chromium
Al loy UNS NO8801
Nickel-Iron-Chromium-
Molybdenum-Copper
Al loy UNS NO8825
14.0 to
1 7 . 0
21.0 to
2 5 . 0
27.0 to
3 1 . 0
24.0 to
2 6 . 0
26.0 to
2 9 . 0
24.0 to
2 6 . 0
1.0 to
1.7
0 . 0 1 t o 0 . 0 5 t o
0 . 1 0 0 . 1 2
0.01 to
0.10 0.15
0.010
0.010
0.010
1.8 to
2 . 4
0.1 to 0 . 0 2 0
0.2 m a x
0 . 0 2 0 0 .03 to 0 .09
0.01 to 0 . 0 2 0 .
0 .25 m a x
Balance 0 . 5 0 2.4 to
3 . 0
0 .50 2 . 5 0 remainder
max
0.75 m a x 3 9 . 5 m i n .
0 .75 3 9 . 5 m i n .
0 .75 m a x . 3 9 . 5 m i n .
1 .5 0.02 to
0.10
1.5 0.10
1.0
1 . 0
1 . 0
1 . 0
1 . 0 0
0 . 5
0 . 0 3
0 . 0 1 5
23.0 to
2 7 . 0
19.0 to
2 3 . 0
19.0 to
2 3 . 0
19.0 to
2 3 . 0
0 . 4 0
m a x
0.15 to
0 . 6 0
0.15 to
0 . 6 0
0.15 to
0 . 6 0
0.15 to .
0 . 3 0
0.15 to
0 . 6 0
0.15 to
0 . 6 0
0 . 1 5
0 . 6 0
0.75 to
1 .5
0 . 6 t 0 1 . 2
0 . 0 1 0 3 . 0 0 . 4 t o 2 . 5 035.0 to
3 9 . 0
30.0 to
3 5 . 0
30.0 to
3 5 . 0
30.0 to
3 5 . 0
0.9 max
1.5 0.05 to
0 . 1 0
1 .5 0.06 to
0.10
0 . 0 1 5
0 . 0 1 5
30.0 to 0 . 5 0 3 9 . 5 m i n .
3 4 . 0
38.0 to 1 .5 to 3 .0 2.5 to 2 2 . 0 m i n .
4 6 . 0 3 . 5
1 . 5 0 0.10 0 . 0 1 5
0 . 0 3
19.0 to
2 2 . 0
19.5 to
2 3 . 5
1.0 0 .05 max 0 . 2
N O T E S :
Maximum unless range is given.
Element shall be determined arithmetically by difference.
A l loy UNS A l + T i , 0 .85 1 .20 .
PART B NONFERROUS SPECIFICATIONS SB-163
TABLE 2
ALLOY AND CONDITIONS
Alloy
Nickel UNS and Low-Carbon Nickel UNS NO2201
Nickel-Copper Alloy UNS NO4400
Nickel-Chromium-Iron-Aluminum Alloy UNS NO6603
Nickel-Chromium-Iron Alloy UNS NO6600
Nickel-Chromium-Iron Alloy UNS NO6601
Nickel-Chromium-Iron Alloy UNS NO6690
Nickel-Chromium-Iron Alloy UNS NO6045
Nickel-Iron-Chromium Alloy UNS NO8120
Nickel-iron-Chromium Alloy UNS NO8800
Nickel-Iron-Chromium Alloy UNS NO8810
Nickel-Iron-Chromium Alloy UNS NO8811
Nickel-Iron-Chromium Alloy UNS NO8801
Nickel-Iron-Chromium-Molybdenum-Copper Alloy UNS NO8825
Nickel-Chromium-Iron Alloy UNS NO6025
NOTE:
Condition
Annealed or stress-relieved
Annealed or stress-relieved
Annealed
Annealed
Annealed
Annealed
Annealed
Annealed or cold-worked
Annealed or cold-worked
Annealed
Annealed
Annealed
Annealed
Annealed
Alloy UNS NO8800 is normally employed in temperatures up to and including (593°C).
Alloys UNS N08810, UNS N08811, and UNS NO8120 are normally employed in service temperatures
above where resistance to creep and rupture is required, and it is annealed to develop
controlled grain size for optimum properties in this temperature range.
3 . Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 average diameter average of the maximum
and minimum outside diameters, as determined at any
one cross section of the tube.
3.1.2 tube hollow product of round or any
other cross section having a continuous periphery.
4 . Ordering Information
4.1 It is the responsibility of the purchaser to specify
all requirements that are necessary for the safe and
satisfactory performance of material ordered under this
specification. Examples of such requirements include
but are not limited to the following:
4.1.1 (Table
4.1.2 Condition (Temper) Table 3 and Appendix
Xl.
4.1.2.1 If annealed ends for stress relieved tubing
are desired, state length of end to be annealed and
whether or not one end or both ends are to be annealed.
4.1.3 Finish.
4.1.4 Dimensions Outside diameter, minimum
or average wall thickness (in inches, not gage number),
and length.
4.15 Fabrication Operations:
4.1.5.1
4.1.5.2
4.1.5.3
4.1.5.4
employed.
Pressure Requirements If other than
required by
Cold Bending or Coiling.
Packing.
Rolling or Expanding into Tube Sheets.
Welding or Brazing Process to be
will
and
4.1.5.6 Ends Plain ends cut and deburred
be furnished.
4.1.6 Supplementary Requirements State nature
details.
4.1.7 Certification State if certification is re-
quired (Section 1.5).
4.1.8 Samples for Product (Check) Analysis
Whether samples for product (check) analysis be
furnished.
4.1.9 Purchaser Inspection If purchaser wishes
to witness tests or inspection of material at place of
manufacture, the purchase order must so state indicating
which tests or inspections are to be witnessed (Sec-
tion 13).
1 4 9
SB-163 1998
TABLE 3
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF TUBES
Material and Condition
Yield Strength Rockwell Hardness
Tensile Strength, (0.2% Offset), Elongation in 2 in. (or Equivalent) for
Min., ksi Min., psi or 50 mm (or 4 min., % Annealed Ends
Nickel UNS N02200:
Annea led
Stress-relieved
Low-Carbon Nickel UNS N02201:
Annea led
Stress-relieved
Nickel-Copper Alloy U N N 04400
Annealed
Stress-relieved
Nickel-Chromium-Iron Alloys:
Annealed Alloy
Annealed Alloy UNS NO6601
Annealed Alloy UNS NO6690
Annealed Alloy UNS NO6045
Annealed Alloy UNS NO6025
Annealed Alloy UNS NO6603
Nickel-Iron-Chromium Alloys:
Annealed Alloy NO8120
Annealed Alloy UNS NO8800
Annealed Alloy UNS
Cold-worked Alloy UNS NO8800
Annealed Alloy UNS
Annealed Alloy NO8811
Nickel-iron-Chromium-Molybdenum-Copper
Alloy:
Annealed UNS NO8825
5 5
6 5
15
4 0
40
15 65 max
5 0
6 0
1 2
30
4 0
15 62 max
7 0 28
8 5 55
35
15 75 max
80 35
80 30
85 35
90 35
94 43
94 43
30
30
30
35
30
25
90 40
75 30
65 25
83 47
65 25
65 25
30
30
30
30
30
30
8 5 35 30
NOTE:
Rockwell or equivalent hardness values apply only to the annealed ends of stress-relieved tubing. Caution should be observed in using the
Rockwell test on thin material, as the results may be affected by the thickness of specimen. For thickness under 0.050 in. (1.27 mm) the
use of the Rockwell superficial or the hardness test is suggested. For hardness conversions for nickel and high-nickel alloys, see
Hardness Conversion Tables E 140.
5 . Chemical Composition
5.1 The material shall conform to the composition
limits specified in Table
the hardness of the ends after annealing shall not
exceed the values specified in Table 3.
5.2 If a product (check) analysis is performed by
the purchaser, the material shall conform to the product
(check) analysis variations in Table 4.
6.3 Flare A flare test shall be made on one end
of each random length tube after heat treatment.
In the case of stress-relieved tubing with annealed ends,
the test shall be made prior to, or subsequent to,
annealing of the ends, at the option of the manufacturer.
6. Mechanical Properties and Other
Requirements
6.1 Properties The material shall
conform to the mechanical properties specified in Ta-
ble 3.
63.1 The flare test shall consist of Baring a test
specimen with an expanding tool having an included
angle of 60 deg. until the specified outside diameter
has been increased by 30%. The flared specimen shall
not exhibit cracking through the wall.
6.2 Hardness When ends are specified 6.4 Grain Size A transverse sample representing
for tubing in the stress-relieved condition (see Table full-wall thickness of annealed alloys UNS NO8810
150
PART B SPECIFICATIONS SB-163
Element
Specified Limit of
Element,
Variation Under or Over
Max. of the Specified Limit
or Element
Nickel
Copper
TABLE 4
PRODUCT (CHECK) ANALYSIS CHEMICAL
COMPOSITION VARIATIONS
Manganese
Carbon
S i l i c o n
Sulfur
Chromium
Aluminum
Titanium
Phosphorus
Zirconium
Yttrium
Tungsten
Cobalt
Boron
Colum-
bium
Nitrogen
Over 20.00 to 30.00, 0.25
Over 40.00, 0.30
Over 60.00, 0.35
Over 80.00, 0.45
Over 99.00, 0.60
up to 0.20
Over 0.20 to 0.50,
Over 0.50 to 5.00,
Over 20.00 to 30.00,
Over 30.00 to 40.00,
0.02
0.03
0.04
0.15
0.20
Over 0.75,
Over 0.75 to 2.50,
Over 5.00 to 10.00,
Over 10.00 to 15.00,
Over 15.00 to 30.00,
Over 30.00 to 50.00,
0.03
0.05
0.10
0.15
0.30
0.45
Up to 1.00,
Over 1.00 to 3.00,
0.03
0.04
Up to 0.02,
Over 0.02 to 0.20,
Over 0.20 to 0.60,
0.005
0.01
0.02
Over 0.25 to 0.50,
Over 0.50 to 1.00,
Over 1.00 to 4.50,
0.03
0.05
0.10
Up to 0.02,
Over 0.02 to 0.060,
0.003
0.005
Over 5.00 to 15.00, 0.15
Over 15.00 to 25.00, 0.25
Over 25.00 to 35.00, 0.30
Over 0.10 to 0.50,
Over 0.50 to 2.00,
Over 2.00 to 5.00,
Over 0.10 to 0.50,
Over 0.50 to 1.00,
Over 1.00 to 2.00,
All
Up to 0.10,
Up to 0.10,
Over 0.10 to 0.20
Up to 0.10,
Up to 1.00,
Over 1.00 to 3.00,
Over 0.02 to 1.00,
Over 1.00 to 5.00,
Up to 0.10,
Up to 1.50,
Up to 0.02,
Over 0.02 to 0.19,
Over 0.19 to 0.25,
Over 0.25 to 0.35,
0.05
0.10
0.20
0.03
0.04
0.05
0.005
0.01
0.01
0.02
0.01
0.04
0.10
0.03
0.05
0.002
0.05
0.005
0.01
0.02
0.03
and NO88 1 shall conform to an average grain size of
ASTM No. 5 or coarser.
6.5 Hydrostatic Test:
Each tube with an outside diameter in. A00
(3.2 mm) and larger and tubes with wall thickness of
0.015 in. (0.38 mm) and over shall be tested by the
manufacturer to an internal hydrostatic pressure of 1,000
psi (6.9 provided that the fiber stress calculated
in accordance with the following equation does not
exceed the allowable fiber stress, indicated below.
The tube shall show no evidence of leakage.
P =
where:
P = hydrostatic test pressure, psi
= allowable fiber stress for material in the condi-
tion furnished, as follows:
psi- -
Annealed low-carbon nickel UNS NO2201 8,000 55.2
Stress-relieved low-carbon nickel UNS NO2201 15,000 103.4
Annealed nickel UNS NO2200 68.9
Stress-relieved nickel UNS NO2200 16,200 111.7
Annealed nickel-copper alloy UNS NO4400 17,500 120.6
Stress-relieved nickel-copper alloy UNS NO4400 21,200 146.2
Annealed nickel-chromium-iron alloy UNS NO6600 20,000 137.9
Annealed nickel-chromium-iron alloy UNS NO6601 20,000 137.9
Annealed nickel-chromium-iron alloy UNS NO6690 21,200 146
Annealed nickel-chromium-iron alloy UNS NO6045 22,500
Annealed nickel-chromium-iron alloy UNS NO6025 24,000 165
Annealed nickel-chromium-iron-aluminum alloy 24,000 165
NO6603
Annealed nickel-iron-chromium UNS NO8120 22,500 155
Annealed nickel-iron-chromium alloy UNS NO8800 18,700 128.9
Annealed nickel-iron-chromium alloy UNS NO8810 16,600 114.4
nickel-iron-chromium alloy UNS NO881 I 16,600 114.4
Annealed nickel-iron-chromium alloy 16,600 114.4
Annealed nickel-iron-chromium-molybdenum 21,000 144.8
per alloy UNS NO8825
Cold-worked nickel-iron-chromium alloy UNS
NO8800
20,700 142.7
= minimum wall thickness, in. (mm); equal to the
specified average wall minus the permissible
“minus” wall tolerance, Table 5, or the specified
minimum wall thickness, and
D = outside diameter of the tube, in. (mm).
6.5.2 When so agreed upon between the manufac-
turer and the purchaser, tube may be tested to
times the above allowable fiber stress.
6.5.3 When stress-relieved tubes with
ends are to be tested hydrostatically, such pressure
testing shall be done prior to annealing of the ends of
the tube.
151
T A B L E 5
PERMISSIBLE VARIATIONS IN OUTSIDE DIAMETER AN5 WALL THICKNESS OF CONDENSER
Permissible Variations
Wall Thickness, %
Minimum
Outside Diameter, in. Average Wail Wall
Nominal Outside Diameter,
Material in. + +
UNS N02200, UNS N02201, to (12.7 to 0.005 0 12.5 12.5 25.0 0
and UNS NO4400
to (15.9 to 0.005 0.005 10.0 10.0 20.0 0
Over to 3 (38.1 to 0.010 0.010 10.0 10.0 22.0 0
UNS N06600, UNS N06601, UNS N06690, to (12.7 to 0.005 (0.13) 0.005 12.5 12.5 25.0 0
UNS N06045, UNS N06025, UNS
UNS N08800, UNS N08810, UNS N08811,
UNS N08801, UNS N08825, and NO8120
to (15.9 to 0.0075 0.0075 10.0 10.0 20.0 0
Over to 3 (38.1 to 0.010 0.010 10.251 10.0 10.0 22.0 0
GENERAL NOTES:
The tolerances in the Table apply to individual measurements of outside diameter and include out-of-roundness and apply to all materials and
all conditions, except that for thin wall tubes having a nominal wall of 3% or less of the outside diameter, the mean outside diameter shall comply with
the permissible variations of the above Table and individual measurements (including ovality) shall conform to the plus and minus values of the Table with
the values increased by of the nominal outside diameter.
Eccentricity The variation in wall thickness in any one cross section of any one tube shall not exceed plus or minus 10% of the actual (measured)
average wall of that section. The actual average wall is defined as the average of the thickest and thinnest walls of that section.
NOTE:
Wall variations as indicated above are applicable only to the wall as ordered, for instance, to minimum or to average wall, but not to both.
PART B MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS SB-163
7. Dimensions and Permissible Variations
7.1 Outside Diameter and Wall Thickness The
permissible variations in the outside diameter and wall
thickness of tube shall not exceed those prescribed in
Table 5, as applicable.
7.2 Length When tube is ordered cut-to-length,
the length shall not be less than that specified, but a
variation of plus in. (3.2 mm) will be permitted,
except that for lengths over 30 ft (9.1 m), a variation
of plus in. (6.4 mm) will be permitted.
7.3 Straightness Material shall be reasonably
straight and free of bends or kinks.
8. Workmanship, Finish, and Appearance
8.1 The material shall be uniform in quality
temper, smooth, commercially straight, and free of
injurious imperfections.
9. Sampling
9.1 Lot Definition:
9.1.1 A lot for chemical analysis shall consist of
one heat.
9.1.2 A lot for mechanical properties, hardness,
and grain size testing shall consist of all material from
the same heat, nominal size (excepting length), and
condition (temper).
9.1.2.1 Where material cannot be identified by
heat, a lot shall consist of not more than lb (230
kg) of material in the same condition (temper) and size.
9.2 Test Material Selection.:
9.2.1 Chemical Analysis Representative samples
shall be taken during pouring or subsequent processing.
9.2.1.1 Product (check) analysis shall be wholly
the responsibility of the purchaser.
9.2.2 Mechanical Properties, Hardness, and Grain
Size Samples of the material to provide test specimens
for mechanical properties, hardness, and grain size shall
be taken from such locations in each lot as to be
representative of that lot.
10. Number of Tests
10.1 Chemical Analysis One test per lot.
10.2 Mechanical Properties One test per lot.
10.3 Hardness A representative sample consisting
of 3% of each lot of tubes with ends (see
9.1.2).
10.4 Grain Size One test per lot.
10.5 Flare One end of each random length tube.
11. Specimen Preparation
11.1 Tension Test:
11.1.1 Tension test specimens shall be taken from
material in the final condition (temper) and tested in
the direction of fabrication.
11.1.2 Whenever possible, all tubes shall be tested
in full tubular size. When testing in tubular size
is not possible, longitudinal strip specimens, or the
largest possible round specimen, shall be used. In the
event of disagreement when full tubular testing is not
possible, a longitudinal strip specimen with reduced
gage length as contained in Test Methods E 8 shall
be used.
11.1.3 In the case of stress-relieved tubes furnished
with annealed ends, the tension test shall be made on
the stress-relieved tubes prior to annealing the ends.
11.2 Hardness Test:
11.2.1 Stress-Relieved Tubing with Annealed
Ends The hardness test may be made on the inside
of the tube near the end or on a specimen cut from
the end, at the option of the manufacturer. The test
shall be made on the inside of the specimen.
12. Test Methods
12.1 The chemical composition, mechanical, and
other properties of the material as enumerated in this
specification shall be determined, in case of disagree-
ment, in accordance with the following methods:
Test
Chemical Analysis
Tension
Rounding
Rockwell Hardness
Grain Size
Hardness Conversion
ASTM Designation
E 76, E 1473
E 8
E 29
E 18
E 112
E 140
153
SB-163 1998 SECTION II
12.2 The measurement of average grain size may 14.2 Samples tested in accordance with this specifica-
be carried out by the planimetric method, the comparison tion that represent rejected material shall be preserved
method, or the intercept method described in Test for not less than three weeks from the date of the test
Methods E 112. In case of dispute the “referee” method report. In case of dissatisfaction with the results of the
for determining average grain size shall be the tests, the manufacturer may make claim for a rehearing
method. within that time.
12.3 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 below,
in accordance with the rounding method of Practice
E 29:
15. Certification
Rounded Unit for Observ