ASTM F136 gets most of the attention in medical titanium, but implant drawings regularly cite two adjacent specifications that buyers have far less material to read about: ASTM F1472, which covers standard-interstitial Ti-6Al-4V for surgical implants, and ASTM F620, which covers forgings made from implant-grade titanium stock. This guide sets out what each one covers, how F1472 differs from F136, and the detail that trips up purchase orders: the UNS number on a forging follows the specification chain it is made under. It is written for material sourcing; device qualification and regulatory approval sit with the device maker and are out of scope here.
What ASTM F1472 covers
ASTM F1472 is the surgical-implant specification for wrought Ti-6Al-4V at standard interstitial limits, UNS R56400, the same alloy and UNS number used for industrial Grade 5. The implant distinction is in the scope and acceptance requirements, not in a new alloy name: F1472 covers strip, sheet, plate, bar, forging bar and wire, produced by multiple melting, with implant-scope microstructure requirements that a general ASTM B348 Grade 5 certificate does not address.
| Spezifikation | Alloy | UNS | Interstitial level | Anwendungsbereich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASTM B348 Grade 5 | Ti-6Al-4V | R56400 | Norm | Industriestäbe und Vorblöcke |
| ASTM F1472 | Ti-6Al-4V | R56400 | Norm | Surgical implants, wrought forms |
| ASTM F136 | Ti-6Al-4V ELI | R56401 | Extra low | Surgical implants, wrought forms |
The practical reading is simple: F1472 and B348 share chemistry and UNS, but not scope; F1472 and F136 share implant scope, but not the interstitial ceiling or UNS. If the drawing calls for F1472, the certificate must cite F1472 rather than a general Grade 5 standard. For the buyer-side quick comparison between the alloy implant grades, see Beiyu’s F136 vs F67 quick reference.
F1472 versus F136: standard interstitial versus ELI
Both standards cover wrought Ti-6Al-4V for surgical implants. F136 is the ELI version, UNS R56401, with tighter caps on oxygen and the other interstitial elements, which trades a little peak strength for higher fracture toughness, ductility and damage tolerance. F1472 keeps the standard Grade 5 interstitial limits and the higher strength ceiling that goes with them. Which one belongs on a device is a design and regulatory decision made by the device manufacturer; the supplier’s job is to certify the metal to the standard named on the order. The deeper ELI supply detail is in our ASTM F136 ELI bar guide.
What ASTM F620 covers, and why the UNS number depends on the source spec
ASTM F620 is the specification for titanium alloy forgings for surgical implants in the alpha-beta condition. It does not define a new alloy. Instead, it covers forgings made from implant material that already conforms to one of the medical wrought specifications: F136 Ti-6Al-4V ELI (UNS R56401), F1472 Ti-6Al-4V (UNS R56400), F1295 Ti-6Al-7Nb (UNS R56700) or F2066 Ti-15Mo (UNS R58150). The forging is produced by hammering, pressing, extruding or upsetting the bar or wire, then annealed after hot forging and tested against the F620 requirement set.
The point that confuses orders is that an F620 forging keeps the UNS number of its source material specification. A forging made under F620 from F136 stock remains UNS R56401; a forging made under F620 from F1472 stock remains R56400. That is different from ASTM B381, where the industrial Grade F-23 forging uses UNS R56407. The numbers are not in conflict; they belong to different specification chains, and the certificate has to match the chain the drawing calls for. For the product-side forging route, see our Titan-Schmiedeteile für Hüftimplantate page.
What to put on an F1472 or F620 enquiry
The certificate and traceability carry as much weight as the metal on an implant-chain order. A clean RFQ should state the specification and grade, the source material specification for forgings, the form and dimensions with tolerances, the condition and surface, and any test or microstructure requirement that sits beyond the base standard. If the order must be sourced from a mill operating under a medical quality-system route, say so on the RFQ so the documentation chain is aligned before the quote is issued.
- Specification and grade: ASTM F1472 Ti-6Al-4V (UNS R56400), or ASTM F620 with the source material specification stated.
- Form and size: bar, plate, wire or forging stock to drawing, with tolerances stated.
- Condition and surface: annealed; descaled, ground, machined, peeled or polished as required.
- Test scope: chemistry including interstitials, tensile properties, and for forgings hardness, elongation and reduction of area when the drawing requires them.
- Traceability: heat number tied to one melt, with EN 10204 3.1 documentation.
Beiyu supplies implant-chain titanium bar, plate, wire and forging stock against the specification cited on the order, with EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificates and heat-number traceability by order scope. The generic field list is in our Checkliste für Titanstab-Anfragen, and the wider picture of how implant-grade titanium is specified and bought is in the titanium for medical implants guide.
FAQ
Is ASTM F1472 the same as Grade 5 titanium?
Chemically yes: F1472 covers Ti-6Al-4V at standard interstitial limits under UNS R56400, the same UNS number as industrial Grade 5. The difference is scope. F1472 is a surgical-implant specification with implant microstructure and inspection requirements that an industrial B348 Grade 5 certificate does not address.
What is the difference between ASTM F1472 and F136?
Both cover wrought Ti-6Al-4V for surgical implants. F136 is the ELI version, UNS R56401, with tighter interstitial limits for fracture toughness and damage tolerance. F1472 is the standard-interstitial version, UNS R56400, with the higher strength ceiling associated with Grade 5 chemistry.
What UNS number does an ASTM F620 forging have?
The UNS number of its source material specification. F620 forgings made from F136 stock keep R56401; forgings made from F1472 stock keep R56400. This differs from ASTM B381, where the industrial Grade F-23 forging uses R56407.
Can the same Ti-6Al-4V ELI forging be R56401 in one order and R56407 in another?
Two forgings of the same nominal ELI chemistry can carry different UNS numbers because the numbers belong to different standards chains: the medical chain F620 over F136 keeps R56401, while the industrial chain ASTM B381 Grade F-23 uses R56407. Match the certificate to the drawing’s specification chain.
Request a quote for implant-chain titanium
To quote titanium against ASTM F1472 or F620, Beiyu needs the specification and grade with the UNS number, the source material specification for forgings, the form and dimensions with tolerances, condition and surface, quantity, the test or microstructure scope, and the certificate type. Send the drawing or specification and we review each line against mill capability before quoting, with EN 10204 3.1 documentation and heat-number traceability by order scope. Kontaktieren Sie Beiyu Titanium für eine Anfrage.