ASTM Spec A380 and A967

+++

Did ASTM A380 [link is to spec at TechStreet] -96 go away? And A967 [link is to spec at TechStreet] -96 replace it.

My customer wants to put A380-96 on his print for standard passivation but my plater tells me that he passivates to A967-96. What should I tell my customer?
2nd question, if I ask for standard passivation on import product what astm spec do you think i will get?

Thank you

Gene Prehatney
- Champlin, Minnesota

+++

First question: The current ASTM versions are A380-99e1 Standard Practice for Cleaning, Descaling, and Passivation of Stainless Steel Parts, Equipment, and Systems and A967-01e1 Standard Specification for Chemical Passivation Treatments for Stainless Steel Parts.

It is relatively easy to modify a passivation process to satisfy A380, A967, QQ-P-35C [link is to spec at TechStreet] and AMS 2700 (primarily, a little paperwork). Have the plater do so, and then certify to multiple standards. Lee Kremer has pointed out that A380 is not a Specification, only a Practice. Second question: A guessing game? Standard passivation’ is meaningless unless the standard is specified.

Ken Vlach
- Goleta, California

+++

As Ken says, ASTM A380 should not be used as a passivation specification, and QQ-P-35 has been canceled. The 3 consensus specifications used at this time, and that should be used for all specifications of passivation are:

ASTM F86 [link is to spec at TechStreet] for Orthopedic implants
AMS-2700 [link is to spec at TechStreet]for Aerospace
ASTM A967 [link is to spec at TechStreet] 01e for all other applications
There are other in-house specifications for some companies.

A-380 has a lot of excellent recommendations on general cleaning etc. of stainless steel, but should never be used as a passivation spec.

AMS QQ-P-35 is being canceled in favor of AMS 2700B (at the moment it is version B)

You should never ask for "standard passivation" on imports. Always specify exactly what you want-- e.g. ASTM A967 01e, Citric 4 or AMS 2700B Nitric 1. If you do not specify, they can use whatever they want, even ways that are not in any of the specifications! What is standard to you may not be standard to them.

Lee Kremer
Stellar Solutions, Inc.

McHenry, Illinois