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Steel A106 Grade B-CDS

Supply condition

ASTM A106 Grade B · UNS K03006

CDS = cold Drawn Seamless, stress relieved per A106

Tighter tolerances and smoother bore for hydraulic/instrument lines; A106 requires heat treatment after cold drawing, giving higher yield but lower ductility.

Budget cost $

Values for the CDS condition

Other A106 Grade B tempers and conditions

A106 Grade B is listed in 3 conditions; see the grade overview at A106 Grade B.

Compare all 3 conditionsHide
Condition · open for datasheetBest forYield MPaTensile MPaElong. %HardnessConductivity
Solution annealed
Softest condition — pick for heavy cold bending, flaring or subsequent machining of fittings from pipe.26544036131 HB10 % IACS
Normalized
Choose when uniform fine-grained structure and better low-temperature toughness are required (impact-tested / low-temp supplementary orders).30047034140 HB—
CDSThis page
Cold Drawn Seamless, stress relieved per A106
Tighter tolerances and smoother bore for hydraulic/instrument lines; A106 requires heat treatment after cold drawing, giving higher yield but lower ductility.42055020170 HB—

What is A106 Grade B-CDS?

A106 Grade B-CDS is A106 Grade B supplied in the CDS condition — tighter tolerances and smoother bore for hydraulic/instrument lines; A106 requires heat treatment after cold drawing, giving higher yield but lower ductility. A106 Grade B-CDS has a yield strength of 420 MPa (60.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) — weaker than 53% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 20% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi). A106 Grade B-CDS has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,470°C (2,678 °F).

Advantages

  • Readily welded — 92/100, better than 93% of steel grades
  • Conducts heat well — 51 W/m·K (29.5 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 92% of steel grades
  • High electrical conductivity — 10 % IACS, better than 83% of steel grades

Limitations

  • Hard to polish — 40/100, worse than 96% of steel grades

A106 Grade B-CDS properties

Typical room-temperature values for A106 Grade B-CDS; 10 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are A106 Grade B reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among steel grades.

Physical3

A106 Grade B-CDS has a density of 7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³), heavier than 56% of steel grades. It melts at 1,470°C (2,678 °F).

Density7.85 g/cm³0.28 lb/in³
Melting Point (Solidus)1,470°C2,678 °F
Liquidus Temperature1,520°C2,768 °F

Mechanical16

A106 Grade B-CDS has a yield strength of 420 MPa (60.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) — weaker than 53% of steel grades. Elongation at break is 20% and the elastic modulus is 200 GPa (29 Msi).

Elastic (Young's) Modulus200 GPa29 Msi
Shear Modulus79 GPa11.5 Msi
Bulk Modulus160 GPa23.2 Msi
Poisson's Ratio0.29
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)550 MPa79.8 ksi
Yield Strength (0.2% offset)420 MPa60.9 ksi
Elongation at Break20%
Reduction in Area45%
Compressive Strength290 MPa42.1 ksi
Shear Strength330 MPa47.9 ksi
Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)240 MPa34.8 ksi
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)85 MPa·√m77.4 ksi·√in
Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT)30 J22.1 ft·lbf
Hardness, Brinell170 HB
Hardness, Rockwell B87 HRB
Hardness, Vickers150 HV

Thermal6

A106 Grade B-CDS is rated for continuous service to 425°C (797 °F). It conducts heat at 51 W/m·K (29.5 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 92% of steel grades. Thermal expansion is 11.7 µm/m·K (6.5 µin/in·°F).

Thermal Conductivity51 W/m·K29.5 BTU/hr·ft·°F
Specific Heat Capacity470 J/kg·K0.11 BTU/lb·°F
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)11.7 µm/m·K6.5 µin/in·°F
Latent Heat of Fusion247 J/g106 BTU/lb
Max Service Temperature (continuous)425°C797 °F
Min Service Temperature-29°C-20 °F

Electrical3

A106 Grade B-CDS conducts electricity at 10 % IACS, better than 83% of steel grades.

Electrical Conductivity10 % IACS
Electrical Resistivity1.7×10⁻⁷ Ω·m6.69 µΩ·in
Magnetic Responseferromagnetic

Chemical & Environmental3

Corrosion resistance is not recommended (10/100), worse than 86% of steel grades.

Galvanic Potential (seawater, vs SCE)-0.65 V
Corrosion ResistanceNot recommended10/100
Chemical Resistance SummaryRusts freely in humid air, water and chlorides; acceptable in dry hydrocarbons, steam and caustic below 50 °C; attacked by all mineral acids and by wet CO₂/H₂S — needs coatings, inhibitors or corrosion allowance.

Sustainability4

Producing a kilogram of A106 Grade B-CDS takes about 25 MJ of energy and emits 2 kg of CO₂ — less than 82% of steel grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.

Embodied Energy (primary production)25 MJ/kg10,748 BTU/lb
Embodied Carbon (primary production)2 kg CO₂/kg
Embodied Water45 L/kg5.4 gal/lb
Typical Recycled Content25%

Manufacturability7

A106 Grade B-CDS's machinability is good (60/100, better than 83% of steel grades); weldability excellent (92/100); formability fair (45/100).

MachinabilityGood60/100
Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %)70%
WeldabilityExcellent92/100
Formability (cold)Fair45/100
Brazeability / SolderabilityGood60/100
PolishabilityFair40/100
Anodizing Responsen/a — ferrous alloy; use zinc coating, phosphating or paint instead

Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.

Working with A106 Grade B-CDS

Is A106 Grade B easy to machine?

Machines like 1020/1025 — free-machining ratings ~65 % of AISI 1212; use sharp tooling and generous feed to avoid built-up edge on the softer as-rolled pipe.

Can A106 Grade B be welded?

Excellent weldability (CE ≈ 0.40); SMAW E7018 / GTAW ER70S-2 root, no preheat under ~25 mm wall, PWHT per ASME B31 above 19 mm.

Can A106 Grade B be formed, bent or molded?

Hot or cold bends to 3D–5D radius are routine; cold bends over 5 % strain should be normalized or stress relieved for code piping.

What surface finishes work on A106 Grade B?

No corrosion resistance of its own — specify shot blast plus epoxy/zinc primer, hot-dip galvanizing or internal lining for wet service.

A106 Grade B chemical composition (wt %)

Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.

ElementSpec limit (wt %)Nominal
C0.30 max per ASTM A106 Gr B≤ 0.30.22
Mn0.29 – 1.060.75
P≤ 0.040.02
S≤ 0.040.01
Sikilled steel, 0.10 min≥ 0.10.25
Cr≤ 0.40.08
Cu≤ 0.40.1
Mo≤ 0.150.02
Ni≤ 0.40.08
VCr+Cu+Mo+Ni+V ≤ 1.00 total≤ 0.080.01
Febalance—

A106 Grade B-CDS — frequently asked

What is A106 Grade B-CDS used for?

A106 Grade B-CDS is typically used for high-temperature piping, power plants, refineries and steam lines. In short: seamless high-temperature pipe; code piping standard; stronger than A53 service.

What is the yield strength of A106 Grade B-CDS?

A106 Grade B-CDS has a typical yield strength of 420 MPa (60.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) — weaker than 53% of steel grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.

Is A106 Grade B-CDS easy to machine?

Reasonably — machinability is rated good (60/100, better than 83% of steel grades). Machines like 1020/1025 — free-machining ratings ~65 % of AISI 1212; use sharp tooling and generous feed to avoid built-up edge on the softer as-rolled pipe.

Can A106 Grade B-CDS be welded?

Yes — weldability is rated excellent (92/100). Excellent weldability (CE ≈ 0.40); SMAW E7018 / GTAW ER70S-2 root, no preheat under ~25 mm wall, PWHT per ASME B31 above 19 mm.

What surface finishes work on A106 Grade B-CDS?

No corrosion resistance of its own — specify shot blast plus epoxy/zinc primer, hot-dip galvanizing or internal lining for wet service.

Can A106 Grade B-CDS be formed, bent or molded?

Hot or cold bends to 3D–5D radius are routine; cold bends over 5 % strain should be normalized or stress relieved for code piping.

What is the maximum service temperature of A106 Grade B-CDS?

A106 Grade B-CDS is rated for continuous use to about 425°C (797 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.

Sources

  1. ASTM A106/A106M — Seamless Carbon Steel Pipe for High-Temperature Service — ASTM International (2019)
  2. ASME BPVC Section II Part D — Material Properties — ASME (2023)
  3. ASME B31.3 Process Piping — ASME (2022)
  4. ASM Handbook Vol.1 — Properties and Selection: Irons, Steels — ASM International (1990)
  5. GB/T 8163 / GB/T 8162 (20 ) — SAC (2018)
  6. NACE MR0175 / ISO 15156-2 — NACE/ISO (2020)

Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.