ASME SA210 Gr.A-1 & Gr.C Seamless Boiler Tubes for High-Pressure - Seamless Medium-Carbon Steel Boiler & Superheater Tubes for Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger, Power Generation, Refinery and Petrochemical Boiler Systems
Yuhong Group Co., Ltd. - Complete Thermal Equipment & Boiler Tube Solutions
Yuhong Group Co., Ltd. manufactures and supplies a comprehensive range of seamless boiler tubes and heat exchanger tubing—ASME SA210 boiler tubes, SA213 alloy tubes, SA179 heat exchanger tubes, finned tubes, U-tubes, and complete tube bundles—alongside pressure vessels, shell and tube heat exchangers, and air coolers. With three ASME-certified facilities spanning 184,000 m² and an annual capacity exceeding 3,600 units, we deliver code-compliant tubular products to global power generation, oil & gas, and petrochemical markets, with particular expertise in Central Asian project requirements.
Product Overview
The ASME SA210 Gr.A-1 and Gr.C Seamless Boiler Tubes are medium-carbon steel seamless tubes manufactured in full compliance with ASME SA-210/SA-210M (identical to ASTM A210/A210M), the standard specification for seamless medium-carbon steel boiler and superheater tubes. These tubes are designed for minimum-wall-thickness service in boiler flues, including safe ends (non-welded), arch tubes, stay tubes, and superheater tubes—critical pressure-bearing components operating under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions.
Available in outside diameters from 12.7 mm to 127 mm (½" to 5") and wall thicknesses from 0.9 mm to 12.7 mm (0.035" to 0.500"). Both grades are supplied in hot-finished or cold-finished conditions, with cold-finished tubes receiving subcritical anneal, full anneal, or normalizing heat treatment per standard requirements.
Grade Comparison - Chemical Composition & Mechanical Properties
| Property |
ASME SA210 Gr.A-1 |
ASME SA210 Gr.C |
| Carbon (C), max % |
0.27 |
0.35 |
| Manganese (Mn), % |
≤ 0.93 |
0.29 - 1.06 |
| Silicon (Si), min % |
0.10 |
0.10 |
| Phosphorus (P), max % |
0.035 |
0.035 |
| Sulfur (S), max % |
0.035 |
0.035 |
| Tensile Strength, min MPa (ksi) |
415 (60) |
485 (70) |
| Yield Strength, min MPa (ksi) |
255 (37) |
275 (40) |
| Elongation (50mm gage), min % |
30 |
30 |
| Hardness, max |
79 HRBW / 143 HBW |
89 HRBW / 179 HBW |
Source: ASME SA-210/SA-210M
Key Distinction:
Grade C, with higher carbon content (0.35% max vs. 0.27% max) and controlled manganese range (0.29-1.06%), delivers superior tensile and yield strength—making it the preferred choice for higher steam pressure applications. Grade A-1 offers an excellent balance of strength, ductility, and cost-effectiveness for general boiler tube service.
Carbon-Manganese Substitution Allowance: Per ASME SA-210, for each 0.01% reduction below the specified carbon maximum, manganese content may be increased by 0.06% above the specified maximum, up to a maximum of 1.35%.
International Equivalent Grades & Cross-Standard Comparison
For Central Asian markets where GOST, GB, and EN standards are frequently referenced, the following table provides equivalent or closest-matching grades across major international specifications:
| ASME SA210 Grade |
China GB/T 5310 |
Russia GOST |
Europe EN 10216-2 |
Key Differences & Substitution Notes |
| Gr.A-1 |
20MnG |
Ст. 20 / 20Г |
P235GH |
Gr.A-1 has higher Mn (≤0.93%) than 20G, closer to 20MnG. |
| Gr.C |
25MnG |
Ст. 20 / 20ПВ |
P265GH |
Gr.C matches 25MnG in GB/T 5310. |
Critical Cross-Standard Differences for Central Asian Procurement
| Aspect |
ASME SA210 |
GB/T 5310 |
GOST 8731 |
EN 10216-2 |
| Design Code Basis |
ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code |
Chinese boiler code |
GOST pressure vessel standards |
PED / EN pressure equipment |
| Inspection & Testing |
ASME Section V (RT/UT/PT/MT) |
GB/T 5777 (ultrasonic) |
GOST testing methods |
EN 10246 (NDE methods) |
| Heat Treatment |
Cold-finished must be heat-treated; hot-finished optional |
Normalizing required |
Normalizing or tempering per GOST |
Normalizing required for most grades |
| Hydrostatic Test |
Per ASME UG-99 |
Per GB/T 5310 |
Per GOST 3845 |
Per EN 10216-2 |
| Documentation |
MTRs + ASME data reports |
MTRs + GB compliance certs |
GOST 2.5 certification |
EN 10204 Type 3.1/3.2 |
Substitution Warning:
While grade equivalences exist, direct material substitution without technical review is not recommended for code-stamped pressure parts. Each standard employs different design factors, safety margins, inspection frequencies, and acceptance criteria. For ASME-stamped boiler components, only ASME SA-210 material with full traceability and ASME Section IX-compliant welding procedures should be used.
Testing & Inspection Requirements (ASME SA-210/SA-210M)
Every lot of ASME SA210 seamless boiler tubes undergoes the following inspection and testing protocol:
| Test / Inspection |
Method / Standard |
Acceptance Criteria |
| Tension Test |
ASME SA-210 / ASTM A370 |
Per grade requirements above |
| Flattening Test |
ASME SA-450 Annex A2 |
No cracks (6/12 o'clock crack exemption for small-diameter Grade C) |
| Flaring Test |
60° tapered tool expansion |
No cracking at specified expansion rate |
| Hardness Test |
Brinell or Rockwell |
Per grade limits above |
| Hydrostatic Test |
Per ASME SA-210 |
No leakage; or NDE alternative (E213 ultrasonic / E309 eddy current) with buyer consent |
| Dimensional Inspection |
Per ASME SA-450 |
OD and wall thickness tolerances per standard |
| Positive Material Identification (PMI) |
XRF spectrometer |
100% verification of alloy chemistry |
All test reports, material test certificates (MTRs), and heat treatment records are compiled into comprehensive documentation packages, available with EN 10204 Type 3.1 or 3.2 certification upon request.
Application Scenarios - Power Generation, Refining & Petrochemical
ASME SA210 seamless boiler tubes are deployed across high-temperature, high-pressure boiler systems:
- Power Generation: Water wall tubes, economizer tubes, superheater tubes, reheater tubes in subcritical and supercritical boiler units
- Refining & Petrochemical: Process heater tubes, waste heat boiler tubes, reformer tubes, cracking furnace tubes
- Industrial Boilers: Fire-tube and water-tube boiler tubes, steam generator tubes
- Heat Exchangers: Shell and tube heat exchanger tubes (when specified)
Grade Selection Guide
| Grade |
Recommended Service |
Max. Operating Temperature |
| Gr.A-1 |
Economizers, low-temperature superheaters, water walls |
≤ 450°C |
| Gr.C |
High-pressure superheaters, reheaters, high-temperature water walls |
≤ 450°C (with higher pressure capability) |
Technical Advantages, Manufacturing Highlights & Customization
Manufacturing Process: Tubes are produced by the seamless process—either hot-finished or cold-finished as specified. Cold-finished tubes offer superior dimensional accuracy and surface finish, essential for precision boiler tube installations.
Dimensional Tolerances: Per ASME SA-450, hot-finished tubes allow OD tolerances of +0.4/-0.8 mm for OD ≤ 101.6 mm; cold-drawn tubes offer tighter tolerances down to ±0.10 mm for OD < 25.4 mm.
Surface Treatment: Acid pickling or shot blasting available upon request. Internal surface cleanliness critical for high-pressure steam service—available with internal bore cleaning and end finishing.
Customization Options
- Dimensions: Custom OD, wall thickness, and length per project requirements
- End Finishing: Beveled ends, plain ends, or threaded ends
- Surface Coating: Rust-preventive oil, varnish coating, or galvanizing
- Packaging: Hexagonal bundles, wooden crates, or shrink-wrapped for export
- Documentation: Full traceability with EN 10204 Type 3.1/3.2, Russian GOST certification upon request
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can ASME SA210 Gr.A-1 be substituted with GOST 20 or GB 20G for boiler tubes?
While chemical compositions and mechanical properties are similar, direct substitution is not automatically permitted for ASME-code stamped components. GOST 20 and GB 5310 20G have different manganese specifications and are governed by different design codes. For new fabrication under ASME Section I (power boilers) or Section VIII (pressure vessels), only ASME SA-210 material with full code compliance should be used. For non-code replacement or repair, technical review of all properties is required.
Q: What is the difference between ASME SA210 and ASTM A210?
ASME SA-210 and ASTM A210 are identical in technical content. ASME adopts the ASTM standard into the Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (Section II, Part A) with the "SA" designation. ASTM A210 is the original standard issued by ASTM International; ASME SA-210 is the code-approved version for ASME-stamped construction. Both reference the same chemical, mechanical, and testing requirements.
Q: Which grade should I choose —Gr.A-1 or Gr.C?
Select Gr.A-1 for general boiler tube service where tensile strength ≥415 MPa is sufficient and cost optimization is a priority. Select Gr.C when higher strength (≥485 MPa tensile) is required for elevated steam pressures, or when the boiler design specifies Grade C for higher pressure circuits.
Q: What is the maximum operating temperature for SA210 tubes?
The maximum recommended operating temperature for both Gr.A-1 and Gr.C is approximately 450 °C under typical boiler service conditions. Above this temperature, creep resistance diminishes significantly; ASME SA213 alloy grades (T11, T22, T91) are recommended for elevated-temperature service above 450°C.
