ASTM A178 Boiler Tube Technical Data sheet

Short Description:

Short Description:
Womic Steel manufactures ASTM A178 Carbon Steel Boiler Tubes fully customizable according to customer drawings and technical requirements. Production follows strict metallurgy specifications, approved drawings, and heat-treatment procedures to ensure high strength, excellent pressure resistance, and long service life.

Send email to us Product Specifications

Product Detail

Product Tags

Boiler Tube Products

ASTM A178 Carbon Steel Boiler Tubes, Seamless Boiler Tubes, High-Pressure Boiler Tubes, Heat-Resistant Carbon Steel Tubes, Pressure Vessel Tubes, Industrial Boiler Tubes, and OEM solutions for power plants, chemical industry, and energy equipment applications.

Manufacturing Process

Tubes are produced via seamless hot rolling, precision piercing, controlled heat treatment, and CNC finishing to guarantee high tensile strength, uniform wall thickness, and reliable performance under high-pressure boiler conditions.

Material Range

Carbon steel grades conforming to ASTM A178 standard, including custom metallurgical grades for high-pressure and high-temperature boiler applications.

Mechanical Advantages

High tensile and yield strength, excellent fatigue resistance, uniform dimensional accuracy, superior heat and pressure endurance, and long-term reliability for ASTM A178 Carbon Steel Boiler Tube in power plants, industrial boilers, and energy equipment systems.

ASTM A178 Carbon Steel Boiler Tube – Technical Standard Guide by Womic Steel

Womic Steel is a professional manufacturer and worldwide exporter of ASTM A178 ERW carbon steel boiler tubes, specializing in ASTM A178 Grade A, ASTM A178 Grade C, and ASTM A178 Grade D for industrial boilers, superheaters, economizers, HRSG systems, and heat exchangers.
This extended article provides a comprehensive, SEO-optimized overview of the ASTM A178 standard, covering chemical composition, mechanical properties, dimensional tolerances, heat treatment, production technologies, testing requirements, and global applications. It is designed to help EPC contractors, boiler manufacturers, distributors, and end-users select the correct ASTM A178 carbon steel boiler tubing for their projects.

What is ASTM A178? – Standard Overview

ASTM A178 / A178M is the internationally recognized specification for Electric-Resistance-Welded (ERW) carbon steel tubes used in:

• high-pressure steam boilers

• high-temperature superheaters

• economizers

• heat-recovery steam generators (HRSG)

• industrial heating systems

• petrochemical furnace tubes

• refinery boilers

The standard covers three distinct material grades, each tailored for different operating pressures and temperatures:

• ASTM A178 Grade A – low-carbon steel, excellent weldability

• ASTM A178 Grade C – medium-carbon steel, high-temperature strength

• ASTM A178 Grade D – carbon-manganese steel, best for high pressure

Womic Steel manufactures all ASTM A178 grades strictly according to ASTM, ASME SA178, EN 10216, PED, and ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code requirements.

Detailed Chemical Composition Comparison

Chemical composition directly affects weldability, creep strength, corrosion resistance, and long-term performance. Below are the required compositions per ASTM A178.

⭐ ASTM A178 Grade A – Low Carbon ERW Boiler Tube

• C: 0.06–0.18%

• Mn: 0.27–0.63%

• P ≤ 0.035%

• S ≤ 0.035%

Features:

Excellent weldability, best ductility, moderate temperature capability.Suitable for general boiler construction.

⭐ ASTM A178 Grade C – Medium Carbon ERW Superheater Tube

• C: 0.35–0.65%

• Mn: 0.80–1.20%

• P ≤ 0.035%

• S ≤ 0.035%

Features:

Higher carbon increases strength → better for high-temperature superheaters, economizers.

⭐ ASTM A178 Grade D – Carbon-Manganese High-Pressure Boiler Tube

• C ≤ 0.27%
• Mn: 0.80–1.20%
• P ≤ 0.035%
• S ≤ 0.035%

Features:

Balanced composition, enhanced strength & toughness.
Designed for high-pressure boiler tubes and power-plant steam lines.

Mechanical Properties – Grade A vs. C vs. D Comparison

ASTM A178 Grade A Mechanical Properties

• Tensile Strength: 380 MPa min

• Yield Strength: 205 MPa min

• Elongation: 30% min

• Best ductility → best formability

ASTM A178 Grade C Mechanical Properties

• Tensile Strength: 485 MPa min
• Yield Strength: 275 MPa min
• Elongation: 30% min
• Best high-temperature strength for superheaters

ASTM A178 Grade D Mechanical Properties

• Tensile Strength: 415 MPa min
• Yield Strength: 240 MPa min
• Elongation: 30% min
• Stronger than Grade A; excellent for high-pressure boilers

Dimensional Capabilities & Tolerances (ASTM A178 Requirements)

Womic Steel Production Range

Outer Diameter: 15.88–127 mm (5/8"–5")
Wall Thickness: 1.2–12 mm
Length: up to 24 m

⭐ OD (Outside Diameter) Tolerance

• OD ≤ 38.1 mm → ±0.40 mm

• 38.1–88.9 mm → ±1%

• OD > 88.9 mm → ±0.75%

Womic Steel controls OD within half of these tolerances, ensuring superior fit-up.

⭐ Wall Thickness (WT) Tolerance

+20% / −0% (as per ASTM A178)
Womic Steel typically offers +10% / −0% (stricter than standard).

⭐ Length Tolerance

Fixed length: ±10 mm
Random length: 5–7 m / 7–12 m

Advanced Production Process – Womic Steel ERW Boiler Tube Manufacturing

Our plant follows a fully automated ERW production line:

1. Raw Material Preparation

• Premium hot-rolled coil from Baosteel, Ansteel, HBIS

• Spectrometer verification for every coil

2. High-Frequency Electric Resistance Welding (HF-ERW)

• Precision welding with controlled heat input
• Laser weld seam monitoring
• Inline weld bead rolling

3. Normalizing Heat Treatment

• 900–950°C
• Essential for all ASTM A178 grades
• Ensures grain refinement & weld homogeneity

4. Cold Sizing & Straightening

• Guarantees exact OD/WT control
• Achieves superior surface finish

5. Full Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)

• Eddy Current (ET)
• Ultrasonic Testing (UT)
• Weld seam X-ray (optional)

6. Mechanical Testing
• Tensile test
• Flattening test
• Flaring test
• Hardness test

7. Hydrostatic Test

• 100% hydro testing per ASTM requirements
• All tubes come with full heat number traceability.

Heat Treatment Requirements per ASTM A178

Grade	Required Heat Treatment
A	Mandatory full-body normalizing
C	Mandatory full-body normalizing
D	Normalizing or stress relieving

Womic Steel uses continuous roller furnaces to ensure uniform heating.

Testing & Inspection (ASTM A178 Mandatory Tests)

Womic Steel performs:

• Hydrostatic testing (100%)
• Flattening test
• Flaring test
• Transverse tensile test
• Weld bend test
• Dimensional inspection
• NDT: UT, ET
• Metallographic examination
• Impact testing (optional)
• Hardness test

Third-party inspection available:SGS / BV / TUV etc

Certification & Documentation

Womic Steel can provide:

• EN 10204 3.1 / 3.2 certificates
• ASME SA178 certification
• ISO 9001 / ISO 14001 / ISO 45001
• PED 2014/68/EU
• Material traceability reports
• WPS / PQR for boiler fabrication

Applications of ASTM A178 Boiler Tubes

ASTM A178 ERW boiler tubes are widely used in:

Power Generation
• Coal-fired boilers
• Gas-fired boilers
• Biomass boilers
• HRSG waste heat boilers

Oil & Gas
• Refinery furnaces
• Steam generation units

Industrial Heating
• Textile dyeing boilers
• Food processing boilers
• Chemical reactor heating

Heat Exchangers & Economizers
• Air preheaters
• Flue gas heat recovery

Production Capacity & Delivery Time – Womic Steel Advantage

• Monthly capacity: 12,000–15,000 tons

• Lead time: 10–25 days

• Available stock: OD 19–76 mm

• Raw materials secured by annual contracts

• This ensures stable pricing + fast delivery.

Packaging & Export Shipping

Womic Steel provides export-grade packaging:

• Hexagonal bundles with steel straps
• Plastic end caps
• Waterproof plastic wrapping
• Optional wooden cases
• Customized markings (laser or stencil)

Shipping advantages:

• Tianjin, Qingdao, Shanghai direct export
• Specialized steel logistics team
• Reinforced loading to prevent seam deformation

Additional Processing Services

We offer complete value-added services:

• Black varnish coating
• Oil coating anti-corrosion
• Bending & U-bending
• Cutting & beveling
• CNC machining
• Pipe spool fabrication
• Internal cleaning / sandblasting

Why Choose Womic Steel as Your ASTM A178 Supplier?

✔ One of China’s leading manufacturers of ERW boiler tubes
✔ Advanced HF-ERW production lines with inline NDT
✔ Tolerances stricter than the ASTM A178 standard
✔ Fast production + stable raw material supply
✔ Full certification: ISO, PED, ASME
✔ Strong export capability and project experience
✔ Competitive pricing and stable quality
✔ Professional engineering support for boiler and power-plant tenders

We pride ourselves on our customization services, fast production cycles, and global delivery network, ensuring your specific needs are met with precision and excellence.

Website: www.womicsteel.com

Email: sales@womicsteel.com

Tel/WhatsApp/WeChat: Victor: +86-15575100681 or Jack: +86-18390957568

Previous: PH2800 XPC Electric Shovel Parts Track Shoe

Next: