ALLOY PIPE A335

How to define alloy pipes?

Alloy pipes are tubular with higher percentages, than standard carbon steel pipes, of alloying
elements as Molybdenum (Mo), Chromium (Cr), Nickel, etc. Actually, the ASTM A335 covers “low-
alloy” steel pipes, i.e. pipes that have a total amount of alloying elements below 5%. The addition of
higher percentages of alloying elements (example Nickel and Chromium) transforms the steel into
higher alloys, like stainless steel, duplex, up to super-alloyed materials like Inconel, Hastelloy, Monel,
etc.

Alloy steel pipes are used in the energy industry for high temperature and very low-temperature
service (cryogenic), or for applications with very high pressures.

ASTM A335 alloy steel pipes fit ASTM A234 WPx series buttweld fittings (WP5, WP9, WP91) and
A182 Fx forged fittings and flanges (A182 F5, F9, F11, F22, F91). All these materials have similar
chemical and mechanical properties and can be joined or welded.

Alloying elements

The addition of Molybdenum (“Moly”) increases the strength of the steel and its elastic limit, enhance
the steel resistance to wear, its impact qualities, and the hardenability. It also improves the resistance
to softening, makes chromium steel less prone to embrittlement and prevents pitting.

Chromium, a key element also for stainless steel alloys, prevents steel oxidation at elevated
temperatures and increases the resistance of steel to corrosion. It enhances the tensile, yield, and
hardness properties of low-alloy pipes at room temperatures.
Other alloying elements, present in various degrees in pipes of all grades are:
 Aluminum: decreases oxygen from steelmaking
 Boron: used to produce fine grain size and enhance steel hardness
 Cobalt: used to enhance the steel’s heat and wear-resistance
 Manganese: gives better steel hardenability
 Nickel: Enhances toughness, hardenability and impact strength at low temperatures
 Silicon: decreases oxygen, enhances hardenability and toughness
  Titanium: prevents precipitation of chromium carbide
 Tungsten: refines steel grain size and enhance the steel hardness, especially at high
temperatures
 Vanadium: gives steel enhanced fatigue resistance
As mentioned, low-alloy steels have a total amount of alloying elements below 5%; high alloy steel
has a higher percentage of these elements.

A335 PROPERTIES

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION

The types of alloy steel covered by the ASTM A335 – ASME SA335 specification are designed with a
“P” prefix, from P5 to P92. Grades P11/P22 and P91/92 are typically found in power stations,
whereas grade P5 and P9 are more common for application in the petrochemical industry. Grades
P9, P91 are, in the list, the more expensive (a P91 seamless pipe may cost approx 5€ per kg.).

ASTM UNS C≤ Mn P≤ S≤ Si≤ Cr Mo

A335 equivalen
Low- t
Alloy
Steel
(Grades
)

P1 K11522 0.10~0.2 0.30~0.8 0.02 0.02 0.10~0.5 – 0.44~0.6

0 0 5 5 0 5

P2 K11547 0.10~0.2 0.30~0.6 0.02 0.02 0.10~0.3 0.50~0.81 0.44~0.6

0 1 5 5 0 5

P5 K41545 0.15 0.30~0.6 0.02 0.02 0.5 4.00~6.00 0.44~0.6

0 5 5 5

P5b K51545 0.15 0.30~0.6 0.02 0.02 1.00~2.0 4.00~6.00 0.44~0.6

0 5 5 0 5

P5c K41245 0.12 0.30~0.6 0.02 0.02 0.5 4.00~6.00 0.44~0.6

0 5 5 5
 P9 S50400 0.15 0.30~0.6 0.02 0.02 0.50~1.0 8.00~10.0 0.44~0.6
0 5 5 0 0 5

P11 K11597 0.05~0.1 0.30~0.6 0.02 0.02 0.50~1.0 1.00~1.50 0.44~0.6

5 1 5 5 0 5

P12 K11562 0.05~0.1 0.30~0.6 0.02 0.02 0.5 0.80~1.25 0.44~0.6

5 0 5 5 5

P15 K11578 0.05~0.1 0.30~0.6 0.02 0.02 1.15~1.6 – 0.44~0.6

5 0 5 5 5 5

P21 K31545 0.05~0.1 0.30~0.6 0.02 0.02 0.5 2.65~3.35 0.80~1.6

5 0 5 5 0

P22 K21590 0.05~0.1 0.30~0.6 0.02 0.02 0.5 1.90~2.60 0.87~1.1

5 0 5 5 3

P91 K91560 0.08~0.1 0.30~0.6 0.02 0.01 0.20~0.5 8.00~9.50 0.85~1.0

2 0 0 5

P92 K92460 0.07~0.1 0.30~0.6 0.02 0.01 0.5 8.50~9.50 0.30~0.6

3 0 0

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

Hardness

A335 Low- UNS Yield Tensile Elongation Rockwell Brinell

Alloy Pipe Number Strength ksi Strength ksi %

P1 K11522 30 55 30 – –
 P2 K11547 30 55 30 – –

P5 K41545 40 70 30 – 207 max

P9 S50400 30 60 30 – –

P11 K11597 30 60 20 – –

P12 K11562 32 60 30 – 174 max

P22 K21590 30 60 30 – –

P91 K91560 60 85 20 – –

TESTING REQUIREMENTS
 Transverse/longitudinal: tension and flattening, hardness, bend tests- for material which has
been heat-treated in batch furnaces, these tests shall be made on the 5% of the pipes from
each heat lot number. For smaller lots, one pipe at a minimum has to be tested
 ASTM A335 Gr. P91 shall have a hardness of 250 HB / 265 HV (25 HRC)
 Hydro testing: shall be applied to every length of pipe
 The non-destructive electric test is optional

TOLERANCES

DIAMETER

A335 Pipe Over Under

 NPS [DN] in. mm in. mm

1/8 to 1 1/2 / DN 6 1/64 (0.015) 0.4 1/64 (0.015) 0.4

to 40

Over 1 1/2 to 4 / 1/32 (0.031) 0.79 1/32 (0.031) 0.79

DN 40 to 100

Over 4 to 8 / DN 1/16 (0.062) 1.59 1/32 (0.031) 0.79

100 to 200

Over 8 to 12 / DN 3/32 (0.093) 2.38 1/32 (0.031) 0.79

200 to 300

Over 12 / > DN 300 +/- 1% of the specified outside diameter

WALL THICKNESS

The tolerances in WT, in %, from specified are:

 1/8 to 2 1/2 [6 to 65] incl., all t/D ratios: over 20%, under 12.5%
 Above 2 1/2 [65], t/D < or = 5%: over 22.5%, under 12.5%
 Above 2 1/2 [65], t/D > 5%: over 15%, under 12.5%
t = Specified Wall Thickness; D = Specified Outside Diameter)

ALLOY PIPE CROSS REFERENCE TABLE ASTM vs. EN

GRADES

Chrome Moly Pipes: Werkstoff vs EN vs ASTM

Werkstoff /DIN EN ASTM

1.5415 16Mo3 A335 Grade P1

1.7335 13CrMo4-5 A335 Grade P11, P12

1.7380 10CrMo9-10 A335 Grade P22

1.7362 X11CrMo5 A335 Grade P5

A335 Grade P9

1.4903 X10CrMoVNb9-1 A335 Grade P91