Metals and Alloys in the Unified Numbering System (UNS) has been updated. The new 2017 13th Edition is scheduled for release in mid-May. The publication is co-numbered SAE HSJ1086 and ASTM DS-56. You can pre-order your copy of the new revision right now from Document Center Inc. (www.document-center.com).
What is the Metals and Alloys in the Unified Numbering System? This is a book that lists the various UNS numbers and the corresponding metallic material. For each UNS number, a chemical composition is defined. Any relevant specifications and standards are also noted. These related publications can used for additional information on identical or similar materials. They can also define specific requirements for products like bars, sheets, and strips.
The UNS system was developed to minimize numeric duplication of numbering schemes for metals and alloys. So even though the publication itself is sponsored by ASTM and SAE, it actually includes standards from the DoD, GSA, Aluminum Association, Steel Founders Society of America, American Iron and Steel Institute, ASME International, and the American Welding Society.
All materials in the UNS system (and by extension in the Metals and Alloys in the Unified Numbering System) have to be registered. However, there is no published UNS standard or specification for any material. Only those government and industry documents issued by the publishers above are available for your use.
The book is arranged in sections. After the Introduction and Index by Base Elements, you’ll find a listing of the UNS items by number according to material type. The data on each page is arranged in columns. The first is for the number itself, then the common description, chemical composition, and cross-reference specifications. Since the UNS numbers are assigned for like metals and alloys using an alpha designator, they are naturally broken out in this way. The first pages are for Aluminum (Axxxxx), next for Copper (Cxxxxx), and so on.
Of course, sometimes you’re being asked to meet a specification and you don’t know what material it actually is for. The next Section allows you to look up a standard number by Association. Each standard is listed one or more times, each with the corresponding UNS number to the right. Problem solved!
There’s one more useful index in this publication. The Metals and Alloys in the Unified Numbering System book also has a listing of common trade designations and the UNS number that directly relates to it. So if A-2 Tool Steel is called out in your contract, you can look up the UNS reference (T30102). Still not sure? Go to the Tool Steels section, and viola, you’ll get the chemical composition and a list of 4 different applicable standards for T30102. Nice.
And as an added bonus, the SAE J1086/ASTM E527 is also printed in the back of the book. This explains the UNS system and includes information on submitting a new material for inclusion in the listing.
Metals and Alloys in the Unified Numbering System is a wonderful reference book for those of you working with metals and alloys. Here at Document Center Inc., we’ve often reached for it to help our customers when they have questions about what specs they should be using when there’s a reference to an UNS number in a contract.
If you use this publication, you’ll want a copy of the new 13th Edition as soon as it’s released. Get in touch with our staff by phone (650-591-7600) or email (info@document-center.com) to place your pre-order now. Or go ahead and order it at our webstore, www.document-center.com. Here’s a direct link to the order page for Metals and Alloys in the Unified Numbering System.
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