ASTM Standard
ASTM B338 — Standard Specification for Seamless and Welded Titanium and Titanium Alloy Tubes for Condensers and Heat Exchangers
ASTM B338 covers 28 grades of seamless and welded titanium and titanium alloy tube for surface condensers, evaporators and heat exchangers. It is a tube specification: B861 covers seamless pipe and B862 covers welded pipe.
Scope
Covers seamless and welded titanium and titanium alloy tubes for surface condensers, evaporators, and heat exchangers.
B338 Coverage vs. Titanium Seller Supply Range
| Item | ASTM B338 (Public Scope) | Titanium Seller Supply Range |
|---|---|---|
| Product | Seamless and welded titanium and titanium alloy tube for surface condensers, evaporators and heat exchangers | Seamless and welded tube |
| Grades | 28 grades: Grade 1, 2, 2H, 3, 7, 7H, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 16H, 17, 18, 26, 26H, 27, 28, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 | Grades 1, 2, 7, 9, 12 (other B338 grades confirmed on quotation) |
| Seamless route | Made from hollow billet by cold reducing or cold drawing | Seamless tube |
| Welded route | Made from flat-rolled product by automatic arc welding, sufficiently cold worked to final size | Welded tube |
| Size | Dimensions and tolerances per the standard and the purchase order | OD 3.0–114.3 mm, wall 0.4–10 mm, round / square / rectangular, standard or cut-to-size length |
| Surface | — | Pickled, polished, bright annealed |
| Documents | — | A material test certificate (MTC), heat traceability |
Covered Product Forms
- Seamless tube: made from hollow billet by cold reducing or cold drawing
- Welded tube: made from flat-rolled product by automatic arc welding, sufficiently cold worked to final size
ASTM B338 vs. ASTM B861 vs. ASTM B862
| Item | ASTM B338 | ASTM B861 | ASTM B862 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product | Seamless and welded tube | Seamless pipe | Welded pipe |
| Service | Surface condensers, evaporators, heat exchangers | General corrosion-resisting and elevated-temperature service | General corrosion-resisting service |
| Size convention | Outside diameter and wall thickness | Nominal pipe size | Nominal pipe size; 8 in. NPS and above is often custom made |
| Route | Seamless, welded, or welded and cold-worked | Seamless | Welded from annealed flat-rolled product |
| Tests | Tensile, flattening, reverse flattening (welded), ultrasonic, electromagnetic, hydrostatic or pneumatic, by route | Tension, flattening, bend and hydrostatic tests; UT inspection | Hydrostatic test; weld repair limits |
| Our page | /specs/astm-b338/ | /specs/astm-b861/ | /specs/astm-b862/ |
ASME SB-338 and ASTM B338
ASME SB-338 is the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section II Part B adoption of ASTM B338. The ASME text states that it is identical with the ASTM specification except that product marking must also show the SB-338 designation. The Code adopts a specific ASTM edition, so state both the designation and the edition on your RFQ.
Key Requirements and Common Inspection Items
| Inspection item | What it checks | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical composition | Heat chemistry against the grade limits; reported on the MTC | All tube |
| Tensile test (ASTM E8) | Room-temperature tensile properties in the condition supplied | All tube |
| Flattening test | Tube withstands flattening to the required platen distance without cracking | All tube |
| Reverse flattening test | Weld integrity | Welded tube |
| Flare test | Ductility of the tube end | As specified |
| Ultrasonic examination (ASTM E213) | Internal and wall defects | Seamless and welded / cold-worked tube; welded tube |
| Electromagnetic examination | Surface and sub-surface flaws | Welded tube; seamless tube (alternative to a pressure test) |
| Hydrostatic or pneumatic test | Pressure integrity | Welded tube; seamless tube (alternative) |
| PMI and third-party inspection | Alloy identity check; independent witness | On request (PMI and third-party inspection available) |
Test Methods
- ASTM E8
- ASTM E213 (UT)
- ASTM E1409
ASTM B338 FAQ
Does an ASTM B338 callout mean the tube is seamless?
No. ASTM B338 covers both seamless and welded tube for surface condensers, evaporators and heat exchangers. State the route — seamless, welded, or welded and cold-worked — in the order, because the test package depends on it.
How is ASTM B338 different from B861 and B862?
B338 covers tubing for surface condensers, evaporators and heat exchangers, specified by outside diameter and wall thickness. B861 covers seamless titanium pipe and B862 covers welded titanium pipe, both for general corrosion-resisting service (B861 also for elevated-temperature service). They can share grades and nominal sizes but are not interchangeable.
Is ASME SB-338 the same as ASTM B338?
SB-338 is the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section II Part B adoption of ASTM B338. The ASME text states it is identical with the ASTM specification except that product marking must also show the SB-338 designation. The Code adopts a specific ASTM edition, so state both the designation and the edition on your RFQ.
Which tests apply to ASTM B338 tube?
Per ASTM's public abstract: tensile properties in the condition supplied; flattening for all tube and reverse flattening for welded tube; ultrasonic examination for seamless and welded/cold-worked tube; electromagnetic plus ultrasonic examination for welded tube; hydrostatic or pneumatic test for welded tube; and for seamless tube an electromagnetic, hydrostatic or pneumatic test. Acceptance limits are in the edition named in your contract.
Which grades does ASTM B338 cover, and which do you supply?
ASTM B338 covers 28 grades, from Grade 1, 2, 2H, 3, 7, 7H, 9, 11 and 12 up to Grade 38. Titanium Seller lists Grades 1, 2, 7, 9 and 12 for B338 supply; send your grade and we confirm availability in the quotation.
What should an ASTM B338 titanium tube RFQ include?
State the standard and edition, grade, route (seamless, welded or welded and cold-worked), OD × wall thickness × length, surface, required tests, certificate type (material test certificate), quantity and destination. We reply within 24 hours.
Related Specifications
Need titanium tube to ASTM B338?
Tell us route, grade and OD × wall thickness. We quote with a material test certificate (MTC); the applicable standard edition and approvals are stated on the quotation. Quote within 24 hours.