---
title: ASTM Titanium Standards Explained: B348, B265, and When to Use Them
description: What ASTM actually certifies, the specific standards that apply to titanium bar and sheet, and how to reference them correctly in an RFQ.
pubDate: 2026-08-06
---

If you've seen "ASTM" on a titanium quote or spec sheet and weren't sure
exactly what it guarantees, you're not alone — it's one of the most-cited
and least-explained terms in metal sourcing. Here's what it actually means,
and which specific standard applies to what you're buying.

## What ASTM is

**ASTM International** (originally the American Society for Testing and
Materials) is a standards organization that publishes technical
specifications used across nearly every industry — not just titanium, not
just metals. When a supplier says material is "ASTM certified" or "meets
ASTM," that's actually not specific enough on its own — ASTM publishes
hundreds of separate standards, and titanium has several that cover
different product forms.

## The ASTM standards that actually apply to titanium mill products

| Standard | Covers |
|---|---|
| **ASTM B348** | Titanium and titanium alloy bar and billet |
| **ASTM B265** | Titanium and titanium alloy sheet, strip, and plate |
| **ASTM B337 / B338** | Titanium and titanium alloy seamless and welded pipe |

Each standard defines the same core things for its product form: allowable
chemical composition ranges by grade, required mechanical properties
(tensile strength, yield strength, elongation), and dimensional tolerances.

## Why this matters for your RFQ

"ASTM titanium bar" isn't a complete spec — **ASTM B348 titanium bar** is.
Naming the specific standard number, not just "ASTM," removes ambiguity
about which product form and which requirements apply. This is a small
detail that measurably speeds up getting an accurate quote — see our guide
on [writing a quotable RFQ](/guides/how-to-write-a-titanium-bar-rfq) for
the full list of what to include.

## ASTM vs. AMS — these are not the same thing

ASTM standards are the general commercial/industrial baseline. If your
application is aerospace, medical, or another high-reliability field, the
material may need to meet **AMS** (Aerospace Material Specification)
instead — a stricter, separate standard series. The two are not
interchangeable, and a supplier quoting "ASTM compliant" material when you
actually need AMS is a common and costly mismatch. See our
[AMS titanium standards guide](/guides/ams-titanium-specifications-explained)
for when you actually need it.

| | ASTM (commercial baseline) | AMS (aerospace) |
|---|---|---|
| Published by | ASTM International | SAE International |
| Typical use | General industrial, commercial | Aircraft, aerospace prime contractor supply chains |
| Testing rigor | Standard | Stricter, more documentation |
| Interchangeable with the other? | Not automatically | Not automatically |

## Grade + standard, together

A grade on its own (Gr2, Gr5) tells a supplier the target alloy — it
doesn't tell them which standard's tolerances and testing requirements to
build to. Always specify both, e.g. "Gr5 bar per ASTM B348," not just "Gr5
bar."

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