ASTM A967 and A380 2025 Editions: What to Confirm for Stainless Steel Passivation and Quality Verification

The 2025 editions: defining the information available

ASTM officially lists the 2025 editions ASTM A967/A967M-25 and ASTM A380/A380M-25. This article draws on the publicly available edition and scope information; it does not provide a clause-by-clause comparison with the 2017 editions.

A967 and A380 have different scopes

ASTM A967/A967M addresses chemical passivation treatments for stainless steel parts, including qualitative tests and acceptance criteria for assessing treatment effectiveness.

ASTM A380/A380M has a broader scope covering cleaning, descaling, pickling and passivation practices for stainless steel parts, equipment and systems. Establish the treatment objective and application before selecting a standard; their titles alone do not establish full equivalence.

Quality verification: document what needs to be agreed

Before processing, engineering, purchasing and quality teams should confirm the material and part condition, specified standard and edition, treatment method, applicable verification tests, sampling arrangements and acceptance documentation. These are suggested points for clarifying requirements, not claims of new requirements introduced in 2025.

The interpretation of tests on identification markings, visual assessment conditions, alternative sampling plans and test-water options requires consultation of the applicable full standard and purchasing documents. Details that could not be sufficiently verified from official public information are not presented here as confirmed revisions.

Surface contamination: read terminology in context

The publicly available scope of A380/A380M-25 uses the term Contaminant Iron. When interpreting requirements, distinguish external iron contamination on a surface from the iron that forms part of the stainless steel itself.

The public summary alone does not establish every terminology change from previous editions, nor does it demonstrate any relaxation of contamination limits or acceptance thresholds.

What should happen to existing drawings?

For existing orders, first check the editions identified in engineering drawings, purchasing documents, contracts and customer approvals. The responsible parties should then determine whether a change is needed. The appearance of a newer edition number is not a reason to change agreed processing or acceptance conditions unilaterally.

KUN-QI follows international developments in stainless steel surface engineering standards, with attention to the surface treatment quality of precision parts and customer technical requirements.

Official references

ASTM International: ASTM A967/A967M-25

ASTM International: ASTM A380/A380M-25

This overview of public information does not replace the full standards. Confirm actual processing, testing and acceptance against the applicable official editions, engineering drawings and customer-approved documents.