Astm

American Association of State
Highway and Transportation
Officials Standard
AASHTO No: M120-77

Designation: B 6 – 03

Standard Specification for

Zinc1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B 6; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of original
adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicatesthe year of last reapproval. A superscript
epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.

B 899 Terminology Relating to Non-ferrous Metals and
Alloys
B 914 Practice for Color Codes on Zinc and Zinc Alloy
Ingot for Use in Hot-Dip Galvanizing of Steel
E 29 Practice for UsingSignificant Digits in Test Data to
Determine Conformance with Specifications
E 47 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Zinc DieCasting Alloys3
E 88 Practice for Sampling Nonferrous Metals and Alloys
in Cast Form for Determination of Chemical Composition
E 527 Practice for Numbering Metals and Alloys (UNS)
E 536 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Zinc and Zinc
Alloys

1. Scope*
1.1This specification covers zinc metal made from ore or
other material by a process of distillation or by electrolysis in
three grades as follows:
1.1.1 Special High Grade,
1.1.2 High Grade,
1.1.3 Prime Western.
NOTE 1—Certain continuous galvanizing grades are specified in Specification B 852. Other continuous galvanizing and controlled lead grades
are not included in this specification but arecovered by specific user
purchasing specifications.

1.2 This specification does not cover zinc produced by
“sweating” or remelting of secondary zinc.
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for
information only.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. Itis the
responsibility of the user of this standard to become familiar
with all hazards including those identified in the appropriate
Material Data Sheet for this product/material as provided by
the manufacturer, to establish appropriate safety and health
practices, and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

3. Terminology
3.1 Terms shall be defined inaccordance with Terminology
B 899.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 Special High Grade, n—a high purity grade of zinc
containing a minimum of 99.990 % zinc, with controlled
impurity levels, as specified in Table 1.
3.2.2 High Grade, n—a grade of zinc containing a minimum of 99.90 % zinc, with controlled impurity levels, as
specified in Table 1.
3.2.3 Prime Western, n—a gradeof zinc containing
0.5–1.4 % lead, a minimum of 98.0 % zinc, with controlled
impurity levels, as specified in Table 1.
3.3 Abbreviations:
3.3.1 SHG—Special High Grade Zinc
3.3.2 HG—High Grade Zinc
3.3.3 PW—Prime Western Zinc

2. Referenced Documents
2.1 The following documents of the issue in effect on the
date of material purchase form a part of this specification to the
extentreferenced herein.
2.2 ASTM Standards: 2
B 852 Specification for Continuous Galvanizing Grade
(CGG) Zinc Alloys for Hot-Dip Galvanizing of Sheet Steel

4. Ordering Information
4.1 Orders for zinc metal under this specification shall
include the following information:
4.1.1 ASTM designation and year of issue,
4.1.2 Quantity (weight),
4.1.3 Name of material (zinc metal),
4.1.4 Size (see Section7), and

1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B02 on
Nonferrous Metals and Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
B02.04 on Zinc and Cadmium.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2003. Published November 2003. Originally
approved in 1911. Last previous edition approved in 2000 as B 6 – 00.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website,...