ASTM B960-18(2022)

Overview

ASTM B960-18(2022) - Standard Specification for Prime Western Grade-Recycled (PWG-R) Zinc sets requirements for the production, quality, and identification of prime western grade-recycled zinc. PWG-R zinc is manufactured by recycling zinc secondary materials, such as drosses and skimmings. Developed under the guidance of ASTM International and aligned with World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) principles, this standard ensures consistency and reliability in recycled zinc products. It is an essential reference for manufacturers, suppliers, and users involved in zinc-based industries.

Key Topics

• Definition & Composition: PWG-R zinc is defined as a grade containing 98.5% minimum zinc and 0.5% to 1.4% lead, with controlled amounts of other elements including iron, cadmium, aluminum, copper, and trace elements such as bismuth, nickel, and tin.

• Material Sources: The standard covers zinc manufactured from secondary sources, primarily recycling zinc drosses and skimmings.

• Product Forms: PWG-R zinc is supplied in various forms, including slabs, jumbos, blocks, or other shapes as agreed between buyer and supplier, provided they meet the specified chemical requirements.

• Quality & Appearance: Zinc produced under this standard must be uniform in quality and free from surface corrosion and foreign materials.

• Sampling & Testing: Procedures for sampling and chemical analysis reference established ASTM and ISO methods to ensure accurate and consistent quality assessments.

• Units of Measurement: Inch-pound units are regarded as standard; SI conversions are provided for reference but are not considered official standards.

Applications

PWG-R zinc specified under ASTM B960-18(2022) is widely used for its sustainable profile in applications requiring non-ferrous metals with controlled chemical composition. Key applications include:

• Galvanizing Industry: Used in the hot-dip galvanizing of steel to provide corrosion protection, leveraging the recycled content of PWG-R zinc.

• Zinc Alloy Production: Acts as a raw material in the manufacture of zinc alloys for automotive, construction, and electrical industries.

• General Metal Manufacturing: Suitable for producers and fabricators seeking to incorporate recycled zinc with guaranteed chemical requirements in their products.

• Sustainability Initiatives: Supports circular economy models by promoting the reuse of zinc-rich secondary materials, reducing dependency on primary raw zinc extraction.

Related Standards

The implementation and use of ASTM B960-18(2022) are supported by several other key standards:

• ASTM B6: Specification for Zinc.
• ASTM B897: Specification for the configuration of zinc and zinc alloy ingots, including jumbos, blocks, and slabs.
• ASTM B899: Terminology relating to non-ferrous metals and alloys.
• ASTM B914: Practice for color codes on zinc and zinc-alloy ingots for use in galvanizing.
• ASTM B949: Specification for general requirements for zinc and zinc alloy products.
• ASTM E29, E88, E527, E536: Various practices and methods for sampling, chemical analysis, and numbering of metals and alloys.
• ISO 3815-1 & ISO 3815-2: Analytical methods for zinc and zinc alloys.

These supporting documents ensure a comprehensive framework for the production, testing, and use of recycled zinc products.

Keywords: ASTM B960, prime western grade-recycled zinc, PWG-R zinc, recycled zinc specification, zinc alloys, secondary zinc, zinc standards, galvanizing zinc, non-ferrous metals, sustainable zinc production.