ASTM International Standard Specification for Steel Bars, Alloy, Standard Grades ASTM A322-13

This specification covers hot-wrought alloy steel bars. The steel shall be made by one or more of the following primary processes: open-hearth, basic-oxygen, or electric-furnace. The primary melting may incorporate separate degassing or refining and may be followed by secondary melting using electro-slag remelting or vacuum arc remelting. Where secondary remelting is employed, the heat shall be defined as all of the cast product remelted from a single primary heat. The steel shall be furnished as strand cast or ingot cast. Immediately after hot forming, the bars shall be allowed to cool to a temperature below the critical range under suitable conditions to prevent imperfections caused by too rapid cooling. The bars shall be free of pipe, cracks, and flakes. Within the limits of good manufacturing and inspection practices, the bars shall be free of injurious seams, laps, segregation, or other imperfections which are due to their nature, degree, or extent, will interfere with the use of the material in machining or fabrication of suitable parts.