Monthly Roundup: Metallurgy Standards from October 2025 (Part 2)

Looking back at October 2025, the metallurgy sector experienced another robust month of standardization, with four notable standards emerging to address vital quality, testing, and safety concerns across the industry. These standards—spanning powder metallurgy, rare earths, alloy requirements for pressure equipment, and metallographic analysis in stainless steels—reinforce industry-wide commitments to precision, safety, and international harmonization. For professionals dedicated to quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and materials engineering, this comprehensive overview distills the essential details and context you need to stay abreast of the latest developments and implementations in the field.

Monthly Overview: October 2025

October 2025 showcased a clear focus on advancing material characterization methods and industry-specific requirements within metallurgy. The month’s publications revealed:

• Renewed attention to accurate measurement methods for powders and rare earths, supporting reliable quality assessments and trade decisions.
• Strengthened technical conditions and harmonized safety practices for aluminium components in pressure equipment—a critical move for safety and compliance in high-risk applications.
• Advancements in microscopic and mineralogical analysis for stainless steels, reflecting the ongoing drive towards precision and reliability in alloy production and verification.

Compared to previous months, October’s output aligned with a trend toward bridging laboratory best practices (tap density, LOI, ferrite determination) with large-scale manufacturing and regulatory needs (pressure equipment materials). The breadth of sectors covered demonstrates a holistic approach to strengthening both upstream material testing and downstream product safety standards.

Standards Published This Month

ISO 3953:2025 - Metallic Powders — Determination of Tap Density

Metallic powders – Determination of tap density

This updated international standard specifies the laboratory procedure for determining the tap density of metallic powders—a measure critical in characterizing powders for additive manufacturing, sintering applications, and powder metallurgy at large. Tap density reflects the maximum bulk density achieved when powders are mechanically tapped under controlled conditions in a container.

Key requirements in ISO 3953:2025 include:

• Specific apparatus setup for controlled tapping
• Standardized procedures for sample preparation, tapping cycles, and measurement repeatability
• Clear expression and reporting of results, including a new precision statement that enhances reproducibility across labs

Who is affected?

• Powder manufacturers and suppliers
• Laboratories specializing in material testing and R&D
• Quality and process engineers in sintered components, additive manufacturing, and hardmetal production

Regulatory and industry context: This revision supersedes ISO 3953:2011 and solidifies the link between powder characterization and downstream product performance, especially with the inclusion of new precision data and method clarifications.

Key highlights:

• Emphasis on repeatability and inter-laboratory precision
• Enhanced reporting standards for test results
• Applicability across a wide range of powder metallurgical applications

Access the full standard:View ISO 3953:2025 on iTeh Standards

ISO 5976:2025 - Rare Earth — Determination of Loss on Ignition in Rare Earth Products — Gravimetric Method

Rare earth - Determination of loss on ignition in rare earth products - Gravimetric method

ISO 5976:2025 responds to the ongoing need for standardized loss on ignition (LOI) testing in rare earth production and trade. LOI measures the weight loss a sample undergoes when heated to a defined temperature, enabling detection of water, volatile contaminants, and compositional variations in rare earth oxides, carbonates, and oxalates.

Scope and method details:

• Applies gravimetric analysis to determine LOI in rare earth oxides (0.10–15%), carbonates (25–80%), and oxalates (35–75%)
• Crucial for producers, traders, quality inspectors, and laboratories involved in rare earth material supply and conversion
• Test accuracy is reinforced with procedural specifics on sampling, parallel testing, and statistical methodology (cross-referencing ISO 5725-2 on measurement accuracy)

Regulatory and broader context: This standard is a foundational tool for ensuring international comparability of rare earth samples—a critical need given global trade volumes and the strategic role of rare earths in high tech, energy, and electronics sectors. ISO 5976:2025 is positioned as the go-to reference for avoiding trade disputes and ensuring analytical transparency.

Key highlights:

• Reduces variability and disputes in global rare earth material trade
• Establishes robust health and safety reminders for laboratory personnel
• Supports fair practices for producers, traders, and consumers of rare earth elements

Access the full standard:View ISO 5976:2025 on iTeh Standards

EN 12392:2025 - Aluminium and Aluminium Alloys — Wrought Products and Cast Products — Special Requirements for Products Intended for the Production of Pressure Equipment

Aluminium and aluminium alloys – Wrought products and cast products – Special requirements for products intended for the production of pressure equipment

EN 12392:2025 establishes comprehensive normative requirements and testing procedures for wrought and cast aluminium and aluminium alloys manufactured for pressure equipment—a segment subject to stringent safety, mechanical property, and compliance demands.

Scope and applicability:

• Covers all major product forms (plates, sheets, rods, bars, tubes, profiles, forgings, castings)
• Specifies permissible working temperatures, grades, tempers, and mechanical property limits
• Outlines inspection and delivery conditions, dimensional tolerances, and required technical documentation
• Highlights additional requirements specific to pressure equipment, excluding the manufacturing process itself (fabrication methods)

Target users:

• Pressure equipment manufacturers and suppliers
• QA/QC professionals and compliance officers in energy, chemical processing, and pressure vessel fabrication
• Procurement specialists sourcing materials under the EU Pressure Equipment Directive (PED 2014/68/EU)

Notable aspects: This revision supersedes EN 12392:2016+A1:2022, addressing updated regulatory and technical expectations, and ensuring a harmonized approach with EU and international safety frameworks.

Key highlights:

• Integration with pan-European and international alloy/product standards (EN 573, EN 485, EN 1706, etc.)
• Annex on materials/application ranges, enabling informed selection of alloys
• Direct relationship with essential safety requirements under EU Directive 2014/68/EU

Access the full standard:View EN 12392:2025 on iTeh Standards

ISO/TS 5486:2025 - Metallographic Determination of Ferrite in an Austenitic Matrix of Stainless Steel

Metallographic determination of ferrite in an austenitic matrix of stainless steel

This Technical Specification addresses a recurring analytical challenge: quantifying the local ferrite content in austenitic stainless steels. Excessive or insufficient ferrite can significantly affect mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, and weldability of stainless articles, especially in high-performance or safety-critical applications.

ISO/TS 5486:2025 provides:

• A detailed guide to specimen sampling, preparation (grinding, polishing, etching), and selection protocols
• Alternative methods for quantification: the comparison, image analysis, and point counting approaches (with reference to ISO 9042)
• Minimum polished area and sampling guidelines to ensure representativeness
• Standard reporting requirements for test results

Applicable industries:

• Stainless steel production and fabrication
• Mechanical and civil engineering (pressure vessels, structural components)
• Laboratories conducting metallurgical and microstructural analysis

Context and significance: The Technical Specification standardizes test execution, helping organizations enhance reproducibility and align with product standard or contract-specific requirements. It supports material traceability for parts where ferrite content control is safety-critical.

Key highlights:

• Consistent, internationally recognized test methods for ferrite quantification
• Multiple procedural pathways (comparison, image analysis, point counting)
• Section on reporting, enabling robust documentation and traceability

Access the full standard:View ISO/TS 5486:2025 on iTeh Standards

Common Themes and Industry Trends

A strong commitment to standardized measurement and enhanced traceability runs through all four publications. Notably:

• Measurement Accuracy: All four standards provide robust, precise methodologies for quantifying material properties—tap density, loss on ignition, compositional and microstructural quality.
• Safety & Compliance: EN 12392:2025 and ISO/TS 5486:2025 in particular are closely tied to regulatory compliance for pressure equipment and safety-critical stainless steel products.
• Breadth of Materials: October saw coverage extending from metallic powders and rare earths (upstream manufacturing inputs) to finished and semi-finished aluminium and stainless steel products (downstream applications), illustrating an industry-wide effort to close the material verification loop.
• International Harmonization: The mix of ISO and EN standards ensures broad geographic applicability, enabling global trade and regulatory alignment.

Chemicals, energy, manufacturing, and high-technology industries are all impacted—particularly those sectors that depend on certified, repeatable testing protocols and strict documentation.

Compliance and Implementation Considerations

With these standards in effect, organizations are urged to:

1. Audit current laboratory and manufacturing procedures: Assess conformity to updated methods, especially for tap density (ISO 3953:2025), LOI (ISO 5976:2025), and ferrite measurement (ISO/TS 5486:2025).
2. Update technical documentation and training: Ensure staff are equipped with the new reporting, sampling, and testing protocols.
3. Engage supply chain partners: Collaborate with suppliers to enforce alloy and property requirements for pressure equipment (EN 12392:2025).
4. Align quality management systems: Integrate these standards into ISO 9001 or sector-specific quality frameworks.
5. Plan transition timelines: Some standards, like EN 12392:2025, replace previous editions—organizations should map out compliance cut-offs and phase-out older methods accordingly.

For implementation support:

• Leverage training from accredited laboratories
• Download the full standard texts for reference, available via iTeh Standards
• Consult with notified bodies and regulatory authorities for specific equipment or industry mandates

Conclusion: Key Takeaways from October 2025

October 2025 highlighted the importance of precision, safety, and harmonization in metallurgy. Amongst the four standards covered, significant attention was given to:

• Improving confidence in material testing (ISO 3953:2025, ISO 5976:2025, ISO/TS 5486:2025)
• Ensuring regulatory compatibility and mechanical reliability in high-pressure applications (EN 12392:2025)

For metallurgy sector professionals, staying current with these standards is not merely a matter of compliance—but of maintaining product integrity, market access, and competitive edge in an increasingly globalized and regulated environment.

Explore these standards in detail via iTeh Standards and plan your organization’s quality and compliance initiatives accordingly. Proactive engagement with these standards will position your teams to lead in technical excellence, safety, and international trade.