DISCUSSION ON ASTM STANDARD E2973 – 15
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) is an international standards organization that develops and publishes voluntary consensus technical standards for a wide range of materials, products, systems, and services. ASTM creates standards to enhance safety and improve the quality of consumer and industrial products. ASTM E2973 – 15 is the standard for digital reference images for inspection of Aluminum and Magnesium Alloy Die Castings. They are intended to provide a guide, enabling recognition of discontinuities and their differentiation both as to type and severity level through digital radiographic imaging.
NOMENCLATURE – ASTM E2973 – 15
The Nine digital reference images, previously only available as film reference radiographs (ASTM E505), are now available in a digitized format in the form of ASTM E2973.
E = miscellaneous subjects. 2973 = assigned sequential number. 15 = year of original adoption (2015) (or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision).
WHAT IS PROVIDED IN ASTM E2973?
E2973 provides digital radiography reference images that illustrate the types and degrees of discontinuities in aluminum and magnesium alloy die castings. The nine reference images illustrate eight sets of graded discontinuities and one category of ungraded discontinuities.
Two kinds of illustration categories are covered as follows:
The below images clearly illustrate three discontinuity categories for aluminum die castings in four levels having thicknesses of 1/8 inch (3.2 mm) and 5/8 inch (15.9 mm). The image represents progressively increasing severity.
Reference image Aluminium Category A porosity 5/8 inch (15.9mm). This reference image is used for Aluminium casting of thickness starting from 3/8 inch (9.5mm) going up to and including 1inch (25.4mm).
Reference image Aluminium Category B Cold fill 1/8 inch (3.2 mm). This reference image is to be used for Aluminium casting of thickness up to and including 3/8 inch (9.5mm).
In Category C shrinkage has been illustrated for 5/8 inch (15.9 mm) thick aluminum castings. This reference image is used for Aluminium casting of thickness starting from 3/8 inch (9.5mm) going up to and including1inch (25.4mm).
Reference image Aluminium Category C Shrinkage 5/8 inch (15.9mm). This reference image is used for Aluminium casting of thickness starting from 3/8 inch (9.5mm) going up to and including 1inch (25.4mm).
The reference image in category D illustrates the foreign material present in Aluminium and Magnesium die casting.
Reference image Category D Foreign Material in Aluminium and Magnesium
These digital reference images are not intended to illustrate the types and degrees of discontinuities found in aluminum and magnesium die castings when performing film radiography.
We at Karma Innovations have developed a reporting software based on ASTM guidelines for Digital Radiography Reference Standards. The software can be used for any (Aluminum, magnesium, steel, ferrous castings) of ASTM Digital Radiography Reference Standards. This software has calibration and conjoint zoom among other features so that our clients can use Digital Radiography reference standards as per ASTM’s expectations.
SUMMARY:
The Film radiography reference images available under E505 are now available in the digital format as E2973. Being in digital format the standard is convenient to use for high volume digital radiography inspection. This standard is specifically for die castings of Aluminum and Magnesium alloys. This standard can be used only for casting thickness of maximum 1 inch(25.4mm). Karma Innovations has developed software for using the digital radiography standards for the benefit of their customers.