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ASTM A691 9Cr EFW Alloy Steel Pipe
Large-Diameter 9Cr-1Mo EFW Pipe for High-Temperature & High-Pressure Process Service
ASTM A691 9Cr EFW Alloy Steel Pipe is a large-diameter chromium-molybdenum alloy steel pipe manufactured from pressure-vessel-quality ASTM A387/A387M Grade 9 plate by electric fusion welding with filler metal.
The material belongs to the conventional 9Cr-1Mo alloy system, combining approximately 9% chromium with 1% molybdenum. ASTM A387 lists Grade 9 at nominally 9.00% Cr and 1.00% Mo, distinguishing it from Grade 91 despite their similar nominal Cr-Mo levels.
For refinery, petrochemical, process-heater and high-temperature piping projects requiring large outside diameters or heavy walls, ASTM A691 9Cr provides an engineered welded-pipe solution where seamless ASTM A335 P9 may be unavailable, uneconomical or outside the preferred dimensional range.
Xi'an Dongmeng Group Co., Ltd. supplies ASTM A691 9Cr EFW pipe according to project requirements for pipe class, dimensions, heat treatment, NDE, pressure testing, PMI, documentation and third-party inspection.
What Is ASTM A691 9Cr Pipe?
ASTM A691 covers carbon and alloy steel pipe manufactured from pressure-vessel-quality plate by an electric fusion welding process with filler metal added, intended for high-pressure service at elevated temperatures.
For Grade 9Cr, the basic material route is:
ASTM A387 Grade 9 Plate → Plate Forming → Longitudinal EFW Welding → Required Heat Treatment → Weld Examination → Pressure Testing → Final Inspection
ASTM A691 identifies the Grade according to the plate material used, while the Class indicates the heat-treatment and inspection condition of the finished pipe.
This distinction is particularly important for EPC contractors and piping engineers because specifying only:
"ASTM A691 9Cr Pipe"
is usually insufficient for a complete technical quotation.
ASTM A691 9Cr – Quick Specification
| Item | Specification |
| Product | EFW Alloy Steel Pipe |
| Standard | ASTM A691/A691M |
| ASME Reference | SA-691 |
| Grade | 9Cr |
| Alloy System | 9Cr-1Mo |
| Base Plate | ASTM A387/A387M Grade 9 |
| UNS Reference | S50400 |
| Manufacturing | Electric Fusion Welded with Filler Metal |
| Standard Scope | OD ≥ 16 in. [400 mm] |
| Wall Thickness | Up to 3 in. [75 mm] within nominal ASTM scope |
| Typical Pipe Classes | Class 22 / 32 / 42 and project-specified classes |
| Inspection | RT, pressure test, PMI, dimensional and mechanical testing as specified |
| Documentation | MTC, EN 10204 3.1, NDE reports, heat-treatment records |
| Typical Industries | Refinery, petrochemical, process heaters, high-temperature process piping |
Procurement Note:
9Cr is the material grade. Class 22, 32 or 42 is the ASTM A691 pipe manufacturing/inspection class. These are two completely different pieces of information and both should be included in an RFQ.
ASTM A691 9Cr Chemical Composition
ASTM A691 9Cr is manufactured from ASTM A387 Grade 9 chromium-molybdenum pressure-vessel plate.
ASTM A387 identifies Grade 9 as a nominal:
9% Chromium + 1% Molybdenum alloy steel.
Typical Grade 9 chemistry references include:
| Element | Typical Requirement |
| Carbon (C) | ≤ 0.15% |
| Manganese (Mn) | 0.30–0.60% |
| Silicon (Si) | ≤ 1.00% |
| Chromium (Cr) | 8.00–10.00% |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | 0.90–1.10% |
| Vanadium (V) | Low residual / controlled limit |
These chemistry ranges correspond to commonly published A387 Grade 9 data. Final acceptance should always be based on the ordered ASTM edition, project specification and actual mill certificate, rather than only a generic online chemistry table.
Why 9Cr-1Mo?
The higher chromium content distinguishes Grade 9 from lower-alloy Cr-Mo materials such as 1¼Cr-½Mo, 2¼Cr-1Mo and 5Cr-½Mo steels.
For suitable process conditions, the 9Cr-1Mo system provides a combination of:
elevated-temperature capability;
improved oxidation resistance compared with lower-chromium Cr-Mo grades;
chromium-rich metallurgy for selected refinery environments;
suitability for engineered high-temperature process systems.
However, 9Cr does not mean universally corrosion resistant.
Material selection must still consider operating temperature, pressure, process fluid, sulfur activity, hydrogen partial pressure, corrosion allowance and the applicable design code.
ASTM A691 9Cr Class 22, 32 & 42 Explained
This is one of the most important sections for a professional ASTM A691 product page.
ASTM A691 Class does not represent the alloy grade.
It represents the combination of:
Pipe Heat Treatment + Radiographic Examination + Pressure Testing
ASTM publishes the class structure directly in the specification.
| Pipe Class | Heat Treatment | Radiography | Pressure Test |
| Class 20 | Stress Relieved | No | No |
| Class 21 | Stress Relieved | Yes | No |
| Class 22 | Stress Relieved | Yes | Yes |
| Class 23 | Stress Relieved | No | Yes |
| Class 30 | Normalized | No | No |
| Class 31 | Normalized | Yes | No |
| Class 32 | Normalized | Yes | Yes |
| Class 33 | Normalized | No | Yes |
| Class 40 | Normalized & Tempered | No | No |
| Class 41 | Normalized & Tempered | Yes | No |
| Class 42 | Normalized & Tempered | Yes | Yes |
| Class 43 | Normalized & Tempered | No | Yes |
| Class 50 | Quenched & Tempered | No | No |
| Class 52 | Quenched & Tempered | Yes | Yes |
ASTM A691 9Cr Class 22
Class 22 indicates:
Stress Relieved + Radiographically Examined + Pressure Tested
ASTM A691 9Cr Class 32
Class 32 indicates:
Normalized + Radiographically Examined + Pressure Tested
ASTM A691 9Cr Class 42
Class 42 indicates:
Normalized and Tempered + Radiographically Examined + Pressure Tested
The appropriate class should be defined by the piping specification, engineering design and project requirements.
Do Not Confuse A387 Plate Class with A691 Pipe Class
Another common supplier-page error is mixing ASTM A387 Grade 9 Class 1/Class 2 with ASTM A691 Class 22/Class 42.
They are different systems.
| Classification | Meaning |
| ASTM A387 Grade 9 | Base plate material / alloy grade |
| A387 Grade 9 Class 1 | Plate tensile-strength class |
| A387 Grade 9 Class 2 | Higher plate tensile-strength class |
| ASTM A691 9Cr | Finished EFW pipe grade |
| A691 Class 22 | Pipe heat treatment + RT + pressure test |
| A691 Class 42 | Pipe heat treatment + RT + pressure test |
Current ASTM A387 continues to provide Grade 9 in two tensile-strength classes, whereas Grade 91 has a different class arrangement.
Therefore:
A387 Grade 9 Class 2 ≠ ASTM A691 9Cr Class 22
This should be checked carefully during material requisition review.
ASTM A691 9Cr Is NOT Grade 91
This distinction deserves its own section because the two materials are frequently confused.
Both materials are generally described as members of the 9Cr-1Mo family, but they are metallurgically different.
| Item | A691 9Cr / A387 Grade 9 | Grade 91 |
| Nominal Cr | ~9% | ~9% |
| Nominal Mo | ~1% | ~1% |
| V Addition | Not the Grade 91 strengthening system | Controlled V addition |
| Nb/Cb Addition | No Grade 91 Nb strengthening system | Controlled Nb addition |
| Nitrogen Control | Conventional Grade 9 | Controlled |
| Material Concept | Conventional 9Cr-1Mo | Creep-strength-enhanced 9Cr steel |
| Interchangeable? | No | No |
ASTM A387 separately lists Grade 9 and Grade 91, despite both having nominal 9% chromium and 1% molybdenum. Grade 91 additionally uses controlled chemistry for creep-strength enhancement.
Therefore, a customer specification calling for Grade 91 must never be substituted with conventional 9Cr Grade 9 material solely because both are described as 9Cr-1Mo.
ASTM A691 9Cr Size Range
ASTM A691 nominally covers:
| Dimension | ASTM Scope |
| Outside Diameter | 16 in. [400 mm] and larger |
| Wall Thickness | Up to 3 in. [75 mm] inclusive |
| Other Sizes | Permitted when other specification requirements are satisfied |
ASTM explicitly states that pipe outside this nominal dimensional range may also be furnished provided it meets all other applicable specification requirements.
For non-standard large-diameter or heavy-wall projects, feasibility should be reviewed against:
Plate availability → forming capacity → welding procedure → heat-treatment furnace capacity → NDE capability → transportation limits
before final quotation.
Manufacturing Process of ASTM A691 9Cr EFW Pipe
1. A387 Grade 9 Plate Verification
Raw material is verified against the purchase specification, including:
heat number, grade, plate class, chemistry, mechanical properties and traceability.
2. Plate Cutting & Edge Preparation
Plate dimensions are prepared according to finished pipe diameter and forming allowance. Weld edges are machined according to the qualified welding procedure.
3. Pipe Forming
The plate is progressively formed into cylindrical shape while controlling roundness, alignment and forming strain.
4. Electric Fusion Welding
The longitudinal seam is fusion welded with filler metal added.
This is an important difference between ASTM A691 EFW pipe and conventional electric-resistance-welded pipe.
5. Weld Examination
The weld seam is examined according to the ordered A691 class and additional project requirements.
6. Heat Treatment
Depending on class, finished pipe may be:
stress relieved, normalized, normalized and tempered, or quenched and tempered.
7. Mechanical Testing
Applicable tensile, bend and other mechanical tests are performed according to the specification and purchase requirements.
8. Pressure Test
Pressure testing is carried out when required by the selected A691 class.
9. Dimensional Inspection
OD, wall thickness, ovality, straightness, length, bevel and weld profile are checked.
10. Marking & Documentation
Final pipe markings are correlated with heat number, pipe identification and inspection documentation to maintain traceability.
ASTM A691 9Cr Inspection & Quality Control
For high-temperature refinery piping, procurement decisions should not be based solely on nominal grade and dimensions.
A project-quality inspection package can include:
| Inspection | Procurement Purpose |
| MTC Review | Verify original material properties |
| Chemical Analysis | Verify 9Cr-1Mo chemistry |
| PMI | Confirm alloy identity |
| Tensile Testing | Verify mechanical performance |
| Bend Testing | Assess weld/joint integrity |
| Radiographic Testing | Examine longitudinal EFW seam |
| Ultrasonic Testing | Additional volumetric examination where specified |
| Pressure Test | Verify pressure integrity |
| Hardness Testing | Confirm heat-treatment/weld condition where required |
| Dimensional Inspection | OD, WT, ovality, straightness, length |
| Visual Inspection | Surface and weld condition |
| Third-Party Inspection | Independent project verification |
Additional NDE and acceptance criteria should be agreed before manufacturing when the EPC specification exceeds basic ASTM requirements.
Full Material Traceability
For critical high-temperature piping projects, Dongmeng Group can coordinate documentation linking the finished pipe back to the original pressure-vessel plate.
Traceability documentation may include:
Plate MTC → Heat Number → Pipe Number → Welding Records → Heat-Treatment Records → RT/NDE Report → Pressure Test → Dimensional Report → Final MTC
For projects requiring EN 10204 documentation, 3.1 certification can be specified at the purchasing stage.
Third-party inspection from organizations such as SGS, BV, TÜV or another nominated inspection agency can also be coordinated subject to contract requirements.
ASTM A691 9Cr vs ASTM A335 P9
This comparison is particularly valuable for buyers searching for "9Cr pipe."
ASTM A691 9Cr and ASTM A335 P9 are chemically related, but they are not the same product specification.
| Item | ASTM A691 9Cr | ASTM A335 P9 |
| Product Type | Welded pipe | Seamless pipe |
| Alloy Family | 9Cr-1Mo | 9Cr-1Mo |
| Manufacturing | EFW with filler metal | Seamless |
| Starting Material | A387 Grade 9 Plate | Seamless steel pipe route |
| Weld Seam | Yes | No |
| Typical Size Positioning | Large diameter / heavy wall | Seamless piping dimensions |
| Pipe Class System | Yes | No |
| Main Selection Driver | Large OD engineered EFW piping | Seamless high-temperature piping |
ASTM A335 itself defines P9 within its ferritic seamless high-temperature pipe specification, with Cr typically 8.00–10.00% and Mo 0.90–1.10%.
When Is A691 9Cr More Practical?
A691 9Cr is worth considering when the project requires:
large outside diameter;
heavy wall thickness;
conventional 9Cr-1Mo metallurgy;
EFW construction accepted by the piping specification;
project-specific heat treatment;
documented longitudinal weld examination;
pressure testing and full traceability.
When May A335 P9 Be Preferred?
ASTM A335 P9 may be preferred where:
seamless construction is mandatory;
the required size is commercially available as seamless pipe;
the piping material specification specifically calls for ASTM A335 P9.
The two should not be substituted solely on chemistry without engineering approval.
A691 5Cr vs A691 9Cr
| Item | A691 5Cr | A691 9Cr |
| Base Plate | A387 Grade 5 | A387 Grade 9 |
| Nominal Cr | ~5% | ~9% |
| Nominal Mo | ~0.5% | ~1% |
| Chromium Level | Medium-high | Higher |
| Typical Positioning | Refinery/process service | Higher-Cr refinery/process service |
| Manufacturing | EFW | EFW |
9Cr should not automatically be considered a "better" replacement for 5Cr.
Material selection depends on engineering design, temperature, process chemistry, allowable stress, weldability, heat treatment and project piping specifications.
Typical Applications
ASTM A691 9Cr EFW pipe is primarily considered for large-diameter, high-temperature pressure piping where conventional 9Cr-1Mo metallurgy has been specified.
Typical project areas include petroleum refineries, petrochemical units, process heaters, high-temperature process lines, pressure-equipment interconnections and engineered Cr-Mo piping systems.
Actual service suitability must be confirmed against the governing piping code and process environment.
Welding & Fabrication Considerations
9Cr-1Mo alloy steel requires substantially greater welding control than ordinary carbon steel.
The fabrication specification should address qualified WPS/PQR, filler-metal selection, preheat, interpass-temperature control, hydrogen control, heat input, PWHT, hardness limits, NDE and repair procedures.
Exact welding and PWHT temperatures should not be selected from a generic supplier website.
They should be established from:
material condition + wall thickness + applicable construction code + project specification + qualified WPS/PQR.
This is particularly important for heavy-wall large-diameter 9Cr pipe.
What Information Should Be Included in an RFQ?
For a technically accurate ASTM A691 9Cr quotation, buyers should provide:
Standard: ASTM A691 / ASME SA-691
Grade: 9Cr
A691 Pipe Class: e.g. 22 / 32 / 42
OD or NPS
Wall Thickness
Pipe Length
Quantity / Total Tonnage
Required A387 Plate Class
Design Temperature
Design Pressure
Process Medium
Applicable Design Code
RT / UT / NDE Requirements
PMI / Hardness Requirements
Impact Testing if Required
MTC / EN 10204 Documentation
Third-Party Inspection
End Preparation
Packing Requirements
Better RFQ Format
Instead of:
"Please quote ASTM A691 9Cr pipe."
Send:
ASTM A691 9Cr Class 42 | OD 914 mm × WT 25.4 mm | 12 m Length | 120 MT | RT + Pressure Test + PMI | EN 10204 3.1
This significantly reduces technical clarification time and improves quotation accuracy.
Why Choose Dongmeng Group?
Xi'an Dongmeng Group Co., Ltd. supports project-based procurement of carbon and alloy steel piping rather than supplying only commodity pipe dimensions.
For ASTM A691 9Cr projects, our supply scope can include:
| Capability | B2B Procurement Value |
| Specification Review | Reduce grade/class ordering errors |
| Plate Traceability | Verify A387 Grade 9 source material |
| Large-Diameter Supply | Support project-specific OD and WT |
| Heat Treatment | According to selected A691 class |
| RT / NDE | Weld quality verification |
| PMI | Alloy identification |
| Pressure Testing | According to ordered class/project |
| MTC | Material traceability |
| Third-Party Inspection | Support EPC/client inspection plans |
| Export Packing | Suitable for international shipment |
For critical alloy piping, we recommend completing the technical specification review before price confirmation, especially for Class 22/32/42, heavy-wall dimensions and project-specific NDE.
FAQ – ASTM A691 9Cr EFW Alloy Steel Pipe
1. What is ASTM A691 9Cr pipe?
ASTM A691 9Cr is an electric-fusion-welded alloy steel pipe manufactured from pressure-vessel-quality A387 Grade 9 plate for high-pressure service at elevated temperatures.
2. What is the alloy composition of A691 9Cr?
It belongs to the conventional 9Cr-1Mo family, with nominally approximately 9% chromium and 1% molybdenum.
3. What plate is used for A691 9Cr pipe?
The corresponding base material is ASTM A387/A387M Grade 9 chromium-molybdenum pressure-vessel plate.
4. Is ASTM A691 9Cr seamless?
No. ASTM A691 pipe is manufactured by electric fusion welding with filler metal.
5. What is the seamless alternative to A691 9Cr?
ASTM A335 P9 is a related 9Cr-1Mo seamless high-temperature pipe specification, subject to project approval.
6. Is A691 9Cr the same as Grade 91?
No. Conventional Grade 9 and Grade 91 are separate ASTM material grades. Grade 91 contains additional controlled strengthening elements and chemistry designed for enhanced creep performance.
7. What does A691 9Cr Class 22 mean?
Class 22 means the pipe is stress relieved, radiographically examined and pressure tested according to the ASTM A691 class system.
8. What does Class 32 mean?
Class 32 indicates normalized pipe with radiographic examination and pressure testing.
9. What does Class 42 mean?
Class 42 indicates normalized-and-tempered pipe with radiographic examination and pressure testing.
10. Is A387 Grade 9 Class 2 the same as A691 Class 22?
No. A387 Class 2 refers to the strength class of the base plate, while A691 Class 22 describes finished-pipe heat treatment and inspection.
11. What size range does ASTM A691 cover?
Its nominal scope starts at OD 16 in. [400 mm] with wall thickness up to 3 in. [75 mm], although other dimensions may be supplied when specification requirements are met.
12. Can A691 9Cr pipe be supplied with PMI?
Yes. PMI can be specified as an additional project inspection requirement.
13. Can you provide EN 10204 3.1 MTC?
Yes, EN 10204 3.1 documentation can be specified subject to the purchase contract and manufacturing documentation arrangement.
14. Can third-party inspection be arranged?
Yes. Third-party inspection can be coordinated according to the agreed inspection and test plan.
15. Is A691 9Cr suitable for sour or hydrogen service?
The grade alone does not establish suitability. Operating environment, hydrogen partial pressure, H₂S, hardness limits, heat treatment, welding and the applicable NACE/ISO or project requirements must be reviewed.
Request a Quote for ASTM A691 9Cr EFW Pipe
For faster technical review, send:
ASTM A691 9Cr + Class + OD + WT + Length + Quantity + Design Temperature + Design Pressure + Service Medium + NDE + Documentation Requirements
Xi'an Dongmeng Group Co., Ltd.
Email: office@dongmjd.com
Phone: +86 157 6921 4734
WhatsApp: +86 157 6921 4734
Our team can review your specification before quotation and identify missing information related to material grade, A691 class, dimensions, inspection or documentation.
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