ASTM B163 Standard Specification for Seamless Nickel and Nickel Alloy Condenser and Heat Exchanger Tubes
ASTM B163 Standard Technical Requirements
Seamless Nickel & Nickel Alloy Condenser and Heat Exchanger Tubes
ASTM B163 is the standard specification covering seamless nickel and nickel alloy tubes intended primarily for heat exchangers, condensers, and similar heat-transfer equipment. This specification is widely used in chemical processing, petrochemical, power generation, offshore, nuclear, and refinery industries,
ASTM B163 covers seamless tubes made from nickel and nickel alloys intended for condenser and heat exchanger service, including petrochemical, power generation, refinery, and marine applications.
Materials Covered by ASTM B163
ASTM B163 applies to a wide range of nickel and nickel-based alloys, including but not limited to:
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UNS N02200 / N02201 (Commercially Pure Nickel)
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UNS N04400 (Monel 400)
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UNS N06600 / N06625/N06601 / N06690 (Inconel series)
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UNS N06025, N06045
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UNS N06686 (Alloy 686)
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UNS N08120, N08800, N08801, N08810, N08811
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UNS N08825 (Incoloy 825)
Each alloy must meet the specific chemical and mechanical requirements defined in the standard.
Manufacturing Requirements
According to ASTM B163, tubes shall be:
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Seamless
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Manufactured by hot working and/or cold drawing
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Supplied in the specified heat-treated condition (typically solution annealed or annealed)
Tube Size Range
ASTM B163 applies to tubes with:
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Maximum outside diameter: 3 in (76.2 mm)
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Maximum minimum wall thickness: 0.148 in (3.76 mm)
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Maximum average wall thickness: 0.165 in (4.19 mm)
Special provisions exist for small-diameter and light-wall (converter) tubes..
Permissible Dimensional Variations
ASTM B163 specifies:
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OD tolerances by size range
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Average wall tolerance (±10–12.5%)
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Minimum wall tolerance (up to +25%)
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Eccentricity limited to ±10% of average wall
These controls ensure consistent heat transfer and pressure performance.
| Material | Nominal Outside Diameter, in. (mm) | Permissible Variations A | |||||
| Outside Diameter, in. (mm) | Wall Thickness, % | ||||||
| + | – | Average Wall + | Average Wall – | Minimum Wall + | Minimum Wall – | ||
| UNS N02200, UNS N02201, and UNS N04400 |
½ to ⅝ (12.7 to 15.9), excl | 0.005 (0.13) | 0 | 12.5 | 12.5 | 25.0 | 0 |
| ⅝ to 1½ (15.9 to 38.1), incl | 0.005 (0.13) | 0.005 (0.13) | 10.0 | 10.0 | 20.0 | 0 | |
| over 1½ to 3 (38.1 to 76.2), incl | 0.010 (0.25) | 0.010 (0.25) | 10.0 | 10.0 | 22.0 | 0 | |
| UNS N06600, UNS N06601, UNS N06690, UNS N06045, UNS N06025, UNS N06603, UNS N08800, UNS N08810, UNS N08811, UNS N08801, UNS N08825, and UNS N08120 UNS N06686 |
½ to ⅝ (12.7 to 15.9), excl | 0.005 (0.13) | 0.005 (0.13) | 12.5 | 12.5 | 25.0 | 0 |
| ⅝ to 1½ (15.9 to 38.1), incl | 0.0075 (0.19) | 0.0075 (0.19) | 10.0 | 10.0 | 20.0 | 0 | |
| over 1½ to 3 (38.1 to 76.2), incl | 0.010 (0.25) | 0.010 (0.25) | 10.0 | 10.0 | 22.0 | 0 | |
Chemical Composition Requirements
Each alloy must conform to precise chemical limits listed in Table 1, controlling elements such as:
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Nickel, Chromium, Molybdenum, Iron
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Carbon, Silicon, Sulfur, Phosphorus
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Aluminum, Titanium, Nitrogen (where applicable)
Chemical analysis follows ASTM E76 / E1473 methods.
| Alloy | Nickel | Copper | Molybdenum | Iron | Manganese, max | Carbon A | Silicon A | Sulfur, max | Chromium | Aluminum | Titanium | Phosphorus | Cerium | Zirconium | Yttrium | Boron | Cobalt | Columbium (Nb) | Tungsten | Nitrogen |
| Nickel UNS N02200 Low-carbon Nickel |
99.0 min B | 0.25 max | … | 0.40 max | 0.35 | 0.15 max | 0.35 | 0.01 | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … |
| UNS N02201 Nickel-copper alloy |
99.0 min B | 0.25 max | … | 0.40 max | 0.35 | 0.02 max | 0.35 | 0.01 | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … |
| UNS N04400 Nickel-copper alloy |
63.0 min B | 28.0 to 34.0 | … | 2.5 max | 2.0 | 0.3 max | 0.5 | 0.024 | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … |
| UNS N06600 Nickel-chromium-iron alloy |
72.0 min B | 0.5 max | … | 6.0 to 10.0 | 1.0 | 0.15 max | 0.5 | 0.015 | 14.0 to 17.0 | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … |
| UNS N06601 Nickel-chromium-iron alloy |
58.0 to 63.0 | 1.0 max | … | remainder A | 1.0 | 0.10 | 0.5 | 0.015 | 21.0 to 25.0 | 1.0 to 1.7 | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … |
| UNS N06690 Nickel-chromium-iron alloy |
58.0 min B | 0.5 max | … | 7.0 to 11.0 | 0.5 | 0.05 max | 0.5 | 0.015 | 27.0 to 31.0 | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … |
| UNS N06025 Nickel-chromium-iron alloy |
remainder B | 0.1 max | … | 8.0 to 11.0 | 0.15 | 0.15 to 0.25 | 0.5 | 0.010 | 24.0 to 26.0 | 1.8 to 2.4 | 0.1 to 0.2 | 0.020 max | … | 0.01 to 0.10 | 0.05 to 0.12 | … | … | … | … | … |
| UNS N06045 Alloy UNS N06045 |
45.0 min | 0.3 max | … | 21.0 to 25.0 | 1.0 | 0.05 to 0.12 | 2.5 to 3.0 | 0.010 | 26.0 to 29.0 | … | … | 0.020 max | 0.03 to 0.09 | … | … | … | … | … | … | … |
| UNS N06603 Nickel-chromium-iron-aluminum alloy |
remainder B | 0.5 max | … | 8.0 to 11.0 | 15.0 | 0.20 to 0.40 | 0.5 max | 0.010 | 24.0 to 26.0 | 2.4 to 3.0 | 0.01 to 0.25 | 0.02 max | … | 0.01 to 0.10 | 0.01 to 0.15 | … | … | … | … | … |
| UNS N06686 Low-carbon nickel-chromium-molybdenum-tungsten alloy |
remainder B | … | 15.0 to 17.0 | 5.0 max | 0.75 | 0.010 | 0.08 | 0.02 | 19.0 to 23.0 | … | 0.02 to 0.25 | 0.04 max | … | … | … | … | … | … | 3.0 to 4.4 | … |
| UNS N08120 Nickel-iron-chromium alloy |
35.0 to 39.0 | 0.50 max | 2.50 max | remainder B | 1.5 max | 0.02 to 0.10 | 1.0 max | 0.03 max | 23.0 to 27.0 | 0.40 max | 0.20 max | 0.04 max | … | … | … | 0.010 max | 3.0 max | 0.4 to 0.9 | 2.50 max | 0.13 to 0.30 |
| UNS N08800 Nickel-iron-chromium alloy |
30.0 to 35.0 | 0.75 max | … | 39.5 min B | 1.5 | 0.10 max | 1.0 | 0.015 | 19.0 to 23.0 | 0.15 to 0.60 | 0.15 to 0.60 | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … |
| UNS N08810 Nickel-iron-chromium alloy |
30.0 to 35.0 | 0.75 max | … | 39.5 min B | 1.5 | 0.05 to 0.10 | 1.0 | 0.015 | 19.0 to 23.0 | 0.15 to 0.60 | 0.15 to 0.60 | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … |
| UNS N08811 Nickel-iron-chromium alloy |
30.0 to 35.0 | 0.75 max | … | 39.5 min B | 1.5 | 0.06 to 0.10 | 1.0 | 0.015 | 19.0 to 23.0 | 0.15 to 0.60 C | 0.15 to 0.60 C | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … |
| UNS N08801 Nickel-iron-chromium alloy |
30.0 to 34.0 | 0.50 max | … | 39.5 min B | 1.50 | 0.10 max | 1.00 | 0.015 | 19.0 to 22.0 | … | 0.75 to 1.5 | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … |
| UNS N08825 Nickel-iron-chromium-molybdenum-copper alloy |
38.0 to 46.0 | 1.5 to 3.0 | 2.5 to 3.5 | 22.0 min B | 1.0 | 0.05 max | 0.5 | 0.03 | 19.5 to 23.5 | 0.2 max | 0.6 to 1.2 | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … |
Heat Treatment & Delivery Condition
Tubes are supplied in conditions such as:
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Annealed
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Stress-relieved
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Stress-relieved with annealed ends (optional)
Condition requirements vary by alloy and service temperature.
Mechanical Property Requirements
Mechanical properties must meet Table 3, including:
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Tensile strength
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Yield strength (0.2% offset)
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Elongation
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Hardness limits (where applicable)
Properties are verified by tensile testing per ASTM E8.
| Material and Condition | Tensile Strength, min, ksi (MPa) | Yield Strength (0.2% Offset), min, ksi (MPa) | Elongation in 2 in. or 50 mm (or 4D) min, % | Rockwell Hardness (annealed ends) |
| Nickel UNS N02200 – Annealed | 55 (379) | 15 (103) | 40 | … |
| Nickel UNS N02200 – Stress-relieved | 65 (448) | 40 (276) | 15 | B65 max |
| Low-carbon nickel UNS N02201 – Annealed | 50 (345) | 12 (83) | 40 | … |
| Low-carbon nickel UNS N02201 – Stress-relieved | 60 (414) | 30 (207) | 15 | B62 max |
| Nickel-copper alloy UNS N04400 – Annealed | 70 (483) | 28 (193) | 35 | … |
| Nickel-copper alloy UNS N04400 – Stress-relieved | 85 (586) | 55 (379) | 15 | B75 max |
| Nickel-chromium-iron alloy UNS N06600 – Annealed | 80 (552) | 35 (241) | 30 | … |
| Nickel-chromium-iron alloy UNS N06601 – Annealed | 80 (552) | 30 (207) | 30 | … |
| Nickel-chromium-iron alloy UNS N06690 – Annealed | 85 (586) | 35 (241) | 30 | … |
| Nickel-chromium-iron alloy UNS N06045 – Annealed | 90 (620) | 35 (240) | 35 | … |
| Nickel-chromium-iron alloy UNS N06025 – Annealed | 98 (680) | 39 (270) | 30 | … |
| Nickel-chromium-iron alloy UNS N06603 – Annealed | 94 (650) | 43 (300) | 25 | … |
| Low-carbon nickel-chromium-molybdenum-tungsten alloy UNS N06686 – Annealed | 100 (690) | 45 (310) | 45 | … |
| Nickel-iron-chromium alloy UNS N08120 – Annealed | 90 (620) | 40 (276) | 30 | … |
| Nickel-iron-chromium alloy UNS N08800 – Annealed | 75 (517) | 30 (207) | 30 | … |
| Nickel-iron-chromium alloy UNS N08801 – Annealed | 65 (448) | 25 (172) | 30 | … |
| Nickel-iron-chromium alloy UNS N08800 – Cold-worked | 83 (572) | 47 (324) | 30 | … |
| Nickel-iron-chromium alloy UNS N08810 – Annealed | 65 (448) | 25 (172) | 30 | … |
| Nickel-iron-chromium alloy UNS N08811 – Annealed | 65 (448) | 25 (172) | 30 | … |
| Nickel-iron-chromium-molybdenum-copper alloy UNS N08825 – Annealed | 85 (586) | 35 (241) | 30 | … |
Inspection, Certification & Marking
ASTM B163 requires:
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Lot-based inspection and sampling
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Manufacturer test certification upon request
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Marking with alloy, condition, size, specification, and heat traceability
Supplementary Requirements (Optional)
The standard includes optional supplements for:
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U-bent tubes (heat exchangers)
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High yield strength (HYS) tubes
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Coiled or unstraightened tubing
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U.S. Government / Military procurement
ASTM B163 vs ASME SB163
| Item | ASTM B163 | ASME SB163 |
|---|---|---|
| Organization | ASTM | ASME |
| Technical Content | Same | Same |
| Typical Use | Industrial | ASME BPVC projects |
Download ASTM B163 Standard in PDF
