Review ASTM A 751 or ASME SA 751, if you have access. If not, the explanation below for heat analysis and product analysis are excerpts from SA 751 SPECIFICATION FOR TEST METHODS, PRACTICES, AND TERMINOLOGY FOR CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF STEEL PRODUCTS
3.1.1.1 cast or heat (formerly ladle) analysis —
applies to chemical analyses representative of a heat of steel
as reported to the purchaser and determined by analyzing a
test sample, preferably obtained during the pouring of the
steel, for the elements designated in a specification.
3.1.1.2 product, check or verification analysis —
a chemical analysis of the semifinished or finished product,
usually for the purpose of determining conformance to
the specification requirements. The range of the specified
composition applicable to product analysis is normally
greater than that applicable to heat analysis in order to take
into account deviations associated with analytical reproducibility
(Note 1) and the heterogeneity of the steel.
I am not familiar with a stand-alone standard from ASTM International that covers steel product analysis. Can you share the standard number? I have seen product analysis covered in individual standards like ASTM A29/A29M–12 Standard Specification for Steel Bars, Carbon and Alloy, Hot-Wrought, General Requirements for.
I am not familiar with a stand-alone Aerospace Material Standard from SAE International that covers product analysis. SAE International does have the stand-alone standard J409 Product Analysis-Permissible Variations From Specified Chemical Analysis of a Heat Or Cast of Steel , but that is part of the Surface Vehicle Standards.
AMS 2248 is the analysis one for SS and Ni alloys, I don't recall the one for steels.
And you are correct about ASTM, each group of products has their own. There is one for SS strip and sheet (I believe that it is in A240) and so on. So whatever product you are working with look in the general spec.
There was talk about consolidating these, but not so far.
