ASTM B708-25 PDF

Full title and description

St ASTM B708-25 — proposed designation for a 2025 revision of ASTM B708, "Standard Specification for Tantalum and Tantalum Alloy Plate, Sheet, and Strip." This product-page summary describes the current ASTM B708 specification (latest published edition B708-12(2019)) and the known revision activity toward an updated edition.

Abstract

ASTM B708 defines chemical, mechanical, and manufacturing requirements for tantalum and tantalum-alloy mill products in plate, sheet, and strip forms. Covered grades include commercially pure tantalum and several wrought or powder-metallurgy consolidated alloys; requirements address melt practice, composition limits, tensile properties, heat treatment and furnishing condition, and required test methods. The current published edition is B708-12(2019); a revision project to update the standard is recorded (WK85470).

General information

• Status: No published edition explicitly numbered B708-25 found. Current active published edition: ASTM B708-12(2019).
• Publication date: Current edition published 1 November 2019 (designated B708-12(2019)). Proposed 2025 revision is recorded as work in progress (no published 2025 text located).
• Publisher: ASTM International (American Society for Testing and Materials), West Conshohocken, PA, USA.
• ICS / categories: Non-ferrous metals / products of non-ferrous metals (commonly catalogued under ICS 77.150.99 or equivalent material-product classification).
• Edition / version: Current: B708-12(2019). Revision activity logged as WK85470 (initiated Feb 28, 2023) to update the standard toward a later edition (candidate 2025 revision designation would be B708-25 if published in 2025).
• Number of pages: Published edition (B708-12(2019)): 7 pages.

Scope

This specification applies to unalloyed and alloyed tantalum in plate, sheet, and strip forms. Typical covered grades include R05200 (commercially pure tantalum by EB or VAM melt), R05400 (powder metallurgy consolidated tantalum), R05255 (90% Ta–10% W), R05252 (97.5% Ta–2.5% W), and R05240 (60% Ta–40% Nb). The standard sets unit conventions, required tests, and the responsibility of the user for safety and regulatory matters.

Key topics and requirements

• Covered product forms: plate, sheet, strip (dimensions, tolerances, edge conditions, surface finish requirements).
• Specified grades and UNS/R-series designations (R05200, R05400, R05255, R05252, R05240) with compositional limits for Ta and alloying/impurity elements.
• Permitted melting and consolidation practices: electron-beam melting, vacuum-arc melting, and powder-metallurgy consolidation where specified.
• Mechanical property requirements (tensile strength, yield, elongation) and required test methods (longitudinal/transverse tension tests).
• Acceptance criteria for chemical analysis (oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, carbon, iron, etc.), nondestructive evaluation where applicable, and documentation/marking at delivery.
• Heat-treatment/conditioning states: typical furnished conditions are annealed or stress-relieved as specified by purchaser requirements.

Typical use and users

Users include manufacturers and fabricators of corrosion‑resistant equipment, suppliers of high‑purity metal mill products, and OEMs in chemical processing, electronics (notably capacitor and thin‑film component manufacture), aerospace, medical devices, and energy/nuclear technology. Tantalum sheet and strip are selected where chemical inertness, high melting point, and good ductility are required. Commercial suppliers and mills reference ASTM B708 for purchase specifications and material acceptance.

Related standards

Commonly referenced or equivalent documents and series: ASME SB708 (the ASME counterpart designation for tantalum plate/sheet/strip), related ASTM material and testing standards for refractory/rare‑metal products, and specific procurement specifications (mill or purchaser specifications) for tantalum alloys and forms. Work item pages and standards catalogs should be checked for cross‑references when drafting procurement documents.

Keywords

tantalum; tantalum alloy; plate; sheet; strip; R05200; R05400; R05255; R05252; R05240; electron‑beam melt; vacuum‑arc melt; powder metallurgy; chemical composition; tensile properties; ASME SB708.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ASTM B708 is the ASTM International standard specification that prescribes requirements for tantalum and tantalum‑alloy plate, sheet, and strip. The currently published edition is B708-12(2019).

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers product forms, grades (including R05200, R05400, R05255, R05252, R05240), compositional and mechanical property limits, permitted melting/consolidation methods, testing, and furnishing conditions for tantalum mill products.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Material specifiers, mills, distributors, fabricators, and OEM engineers in chemical processing, electronics, aerospace, medical, and energy sectors use ASTM B708 to define and accept tantalum sheet/plate/strip for critical applications.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: As of the latest available public records, the current published edition is ASTM B708-12(2019) (published 1 November 2019). A revision project (WK85470) was recorded to update the standard (work item initiated Feb 28, 2023); there is no confirmed published B708-25 text located at the time of this summary. If you require the absolute latest published edition or a 2025 revision, consult ASTM International or an official standards distributor for final publication status and text.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It is part of ASTM Committee B10's coverage of reactive and refractory metals and alloys; equivalent or companion designations (such as ASME SB708) and other ASTM/ASME mill specifications are commonly associated for procurement of tantalum products.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Tantalum, tantalum alloy, plate, sheet, strip, R05200, R05400, R05255, electron‑beam, vacuum‑arc, powder metallurgy, chemical composition, tensile testing, ASME SB708.