MAY 5 - 1969

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS REPORT

10 026

EXAMINATION OF STEEL TRANSFER

PLATE SAMPLE NO. 604

To

Electrolytic Section

Bureau of Engraving and Printing

<t5b|>

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS
NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

The National Bureau of Standards1 was established by an act of Congress March 3, 1901. Today, in addition to serving as the Nation’s central measurement laboratory,

the Bureau is a principal focal point in the Federal Government for assuring maximum application of the physical and engineering sciences to the advancement of technology in industry and commerce. To this end the Bureau conducts research and

provides central national services in three broad program areas and provides central national services in a fourth. These are: (1) basic measurements and standards,

(2) materials measurements and standards, (3) technological measurements and

standards, and (4) transfer of technology.

The Bureau comprises the Institute for Basic Standards, the Institute for Materials

Research, the Institute for Applied Technology, and the Center for Radiation Research.

THE INSTITUTE FOR BASIC STANDARDS provides the central basis within the

United States of a complete and consistent system of physical measurement, coor- dinates that system with the measurement systems of other nations, and furnishes

essential services leading to accurate and uniform physical measurements throughout

the Nation’s scientific community, industry, and commerce. The Institute consists

of an Office of Standard Reference Data and a group of divisions organized by the

following areas of science and engineering:

Applied Mathematics—Electricity—Metrology—Mechanics—Heat—Atomic Physics—Cryogenics2—Radio Physics2—Radio Engineering2—Astrophysics2—Time

and Frequency.2 THE INSTITUTE FOR MATERIALS RESEARCH conducts materials research leading to methods, standards of measurement, and data needed by industry, commerce,

educational institutions, and government. The Institute also provides advisory and

research services to other government agencies. The Institute consists of an Office of

Standard Reference Materials and a group of divisions organized by the following areas of materials research:

Analytical Chemistry—Polymers—Metallurgy — Inorganic Materials — Physical

Chemistry.

THE INSTITUTE FOR APPLIED TECHNOLOGY provides for the creation of appropriate opportunities for the use and application of technology within the Federal Government and within the civilian sector of American industry. The primary functions

of the Institute may be broadly classified as programs relating to technological meas- urements and standards and techniques for the transfer of technology. The Institute

consists of a Clearinghouse for Scientific and Technical Information,3 a Center for

Computer Sciences and Technology, and a group of technical divisions and offices organized by the following fields of technology:

Building Research—Electronic Instrumentation — Technical Analysis — Product

Evaluation—Invention and Innovation— Weights and Measures — Engineering

Standards—Vehicle Systems Research.

THE CENTER FOR RADIATION RESEARCH engages in research, measurement,

and application of radiation to the solution of Bureau mission problems and the

problems of other agencies and institutions. The Center for Radiation Research consists of the following divisions:

Reactor Radiation—Linac Radiation—Applied Radiation—Nuclear Radiation.

1 Headquarters and Laboratories at Gaithersburg, Maryland, unless otherwise noted; mailing address Washington, D. C. 20234.

2 Located at Boulder, Colorado 80302.

3 Located at 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, Virginia 22151.
NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS REPORT

NBS PROJECT MAY 5 - 1369 NBS REPORT

3120641 10 026

EXAMINATION OF STEEL TRANSFER

PLATE SAMPLE NO. 604

By

I. J. Feinberg

Engineering Metallurgy Section

Metallurgy Division

To

Electrolytic Section

Bureau of Engraving and Printing

IMPORTANT NOTICE NATIONAL BUREAU OF ST

for use within the Government, and review. For this reason, th whole or in part, is not autho Bureau of Standards, Washingt

the Report has been specifically

Approved for public release by the

Director of the National Institute of

Standards and Technology (NIST)

on October 9, 2015.

ss accounting documents intended

subjected to additional evaluation

1 listing of this Report, either in

e Office of the Director, National

by the Government agency for which

:opies for its own use. <NBS>

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

Examination of Steel Transfer Plate Sample No. 604

Reference : Specification for Steel Engraving Plates, Bureau of

Engraving and Printing, January 19, 19^1 .

Material ; One O.I 83 in. x 2.0 in. x 4.0 in. x 4.0 in. steel plate

sample, identified as No. 604 and representative of material procured

for transfer plates, was examined to determine whether the material

complied with specifications. The sample examined was in the hot

rolled condition and was polished on one face and ground on the other.

Chemical Analysis : A conventional chemical analysis was conducted on

the sample. A copy of the report is included as addendum 1. The

composition of the sample, except for a slightly higher than specified

manganese content, complied with the composition detailed for AiSI

C1031 in the referenced specification. It is noteworthy that the

carbon content of the sample, 0.33 percent, is close to the upper

limit of the 0.28 - 0.3^- percent carbon range permitted.

Hardness : The average hardness of 72 Rockwell B obtained on the

polished surface of the sample complies with that specified in the

Bureau of Engraving and Printing Specification.

Meta 1 lographi c Examination ; A section of the sample was examined to

determine the inclusion content. Uniformly distributed thin inclusions,

probably manganese sulfide were found. These are shown in Figure 1. The inclusion rating using ASTM Designation E-45 as a reference is A-2

No evidence of ferrite banding was observed in the examination of

a longitudinal section, Figure 2a. Figure 2b shows no decarbur i zat ion

adjacent to the front (polished) surface of this material. No decarburization was found adjacent to the back surface. The microstructure

of the sample is composed essentially of partially spheroidized

carbides in a ferrite matrix, Figure 3-

Discussion and Conclusions : The plate sample complied with composition

requirements except for a manganese content that is slightly higher

than that specified. However, the composition is considered to be

acceptable for the intended material use.

The carbon and manganese contents of the sample approximate the

upper limits of acceptability. Therefore, this plate material may

exhibit greater hardenabi 1 i ty than that experienced with previously

procured material with a lower carbon and/or manganese content. The 72

Rockwell B hardness obtained on the polished surface of this hot rolled

sample complies with that specified in the Bureau of Engraving and

Printing specification. Inclusion contents were low and no detrimental

banding was found in examination of the hot rolled structure. This

structure consisting essentially of partially spheroidized carbides in a ferrite matrix is acceptable for the intended material application.

Figure 1. Thin inclusions, probably manganese sulfide,

found in longitudinal section of plate

sample No. 6o4. Unetched. X 100.

Po 1 i shed

surface

Figure 2. Microstructures of hot rolled plate sample

No . 6o4.

a. Shows no evidence of ferrite banding in

longitudinal section. Etched with 2

p i c r a 1 . X 100.

b. Shows no decarbur i zat i on adjacent to

front (polished) surface. Etched with

2°jo pi era 1 . X 200.

Figure 3 . Hi crost ructure observed in hot rolled plate

sample No. 6o4. Ferrite (white) and

partially spheroidized carbides. Etched

with 2'jo picral. X 500.

Addendum 1

VALUE ENGINEERING COMPANY

Materials Evaluation Laboratory

2316 Jefferson Davis Highway

Alexandria, Virginia 22301

CERTIFICATE OF TEST RESULTS

.... No. of Samples . .1 . . . Date Submitted3/l4/6.9

Material . .Steel Sgmple. "604." Submitted By . . National Bureau pf Standards

Tests Performed . Chemicgl Analysis.

CHEMICAL ANALYSIS

A1 . C . Cr.

Cu.

Fe.

.0,33

Mg

Mn

Mo

Ni

P

0,65

P,QU

Pb

s .Q.0J8.

Si .Q.2D. . Sn

Ti

Zn

Analysis Performed By In accordance with

r_

Sample No. Yield Strength,

psi

r- TENSILE TEST

Tensile Strength,

psi

Per Cent

Elongati on

in. . . Inches

Per Cent

Reduction

In Area

Test Conducted By In accordance with

Sample or Position No.

HARI

Hardne s s

3NESS -i

Sample or Position No.

] Ha rdne s

s

i

Test Conducted By In accordance with

Comments

Approved By. . . . M' P:

H*. Weinberg . . Laboratory. Director . . ML- 1 Date . . . Mar«?h 2J5, .1.96? USCOMM.NBS-DC