What is ASTM?
ASTM is the common designation for the ASTM International (formerly known as American Society for Testing and Materials). ASTM International is an American based standard organisation that oversees the development and curation of technical standards. One of these technical standards is A53.
What is A53?
The ASTM A53 (A53M is the equivalent metric version of A53) is a technical product specification covering the requirements for carbon steel pipes. The standard outlines the requirements enabling suitable use for mechanical and pressure applications. The standard includes various manufacture methods for the pipes, methods such as: electric resistance welded (Type E), furnace-butt welded (Type F), and seamless (Type S). There are about five combinations of pipes within the standard, based on the material grades and manufacturing methods. ASTM A53 equivalent materials in other standards (JIS, EN, DIN, GOST etc.) may be found by investigating the individual materials.
Material Grades of A53
The naming convention for the specific pipes:
Type X Grade Y*
X - Represents the manfucaturing Method.
E - Electric resistance welded.
S - Seamless
F - Furnace-Butt Welded
Y - Material Grade Composition Code.
A/B - Assigned to differentiate the chemical compositions used for the given manufacturing method. *Note: The chemical compostion for Grade A for Type F is simular to Type E and Type S Grade B, not A.
See material pages of ASTM A53 for greater details on the material properties and equivalent materials: