TABLE OF CONTENTS This chapter covers the most commonly used materials of construction for piping systems within a process plant.
The two principal international codes used for the design and construction of a process plant are ASME B31.3, Process Piping, and the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Sections.
Generally, only materials recognized by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) can be used as the "materials of construction" for piping systems within process plants, because they meet the requirements set out by a recognized materials testing body, like the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM).
There are exceptions, however; the client or end user must be satisfied that the non-ASTM materials offered are equal or superior to the ASTM material specified for the project.
The Unified Numbering System (UNS) for identifying various alloys is also quoted. This is not a specification, but in most cases, it can be cross-referenced to a specific ASTM specification.
The American Society of Testing and Materials specifications cover materials for many industries, and they are not restricted to the process sector and associated industries. Therefore, many ASTM specifications are not relevant to this book and will never be referred to by the piping engineer.
We include passages from a number of the most commonly used ASTM specifications. This gives the piping engineer an overview of the specifications and scope in one book, rather than several ASTM books, which carry specifications a piping engineer will never use.
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