GOST 859-78 PDF

Full title and description

GOST 859-78 — "Медь. Марки" (English: "Copper. Grades"). National standard of the USSR that defines the official grade (mark) designations for copper, their intended forms (cathodes, ingots, wirebars and semi-finished products), and the accompanying requirements for chemical composition and marking.

Abstract

This standard specifies the system of copper grades (marks), the minimum copper content and maximum permissible impurities for each grade, and the forms in which the copper is produced and traded (cathodes, cast ingots including wirebars, and semifinished products). GOST 859-78 was later replaced by a modernized edition (GOST 859-2001).

General information

• Status: Replaced / withdrawn (superseded by GOST 859-2001).
• Publication date: Approved 10 February 1978; introduced 1 January 1979; withdrawn (end of validity) recorded as 1 March 2002.
• Publisher: State Committee for Standards of the Council of Ministers of the USSR (Gosstandart); official print editions published by the Publishing House of Standards (IPK).
• ICS / categories: Metallurgy — copper and copper alloys; classification group related to non‑ferrous metals (classification entry often shown as 77.120.30).
• Edition / version: Original 1978 standard (GOST 859-78); contains later amendments in reprints and was formally replaced by GOST 859-2001.
• Number of pages: Typical official text length — 7 pages (standard reprints and PDF distributions commonly show 7 pages).

Scope

Applies to refined and crude copper produced in the forms of cathodes, cast ingots (including wirebars) and semifinished products. The standard assigns grade marks and lists chemical-composition limits (minimum copper content and maximum amounts of specified impurities) for each mark; it is intended for use by producers, processors, testing laboratories and procurement organizations involved with industrial copper.

Key topics and requirements

• Grade/mark designations for copper (series of marks such as M0, M1, M2, M3 and variants for production method and form).
• Minimum copper content specified by grade (expressed as mass fraction or percentage) and maximum permissible impurity levels for elements such as silver, bismuth, antimony, arsenic, iron, nickel, lead, sulfur and others.
• Classification by method of production where relevant (electrolytic refining, fire refining, remelting of cathodes, deoxidized remelting, etc.).
• Requirements for the forms covered (cathodes, ingots/wirebars, and semifinished products) and their marking/labeling conventions.
• Normative references to test and analysis methods used for verifying composition (references to analytical GOSTs and test procedures appear in the normative annexes and reference list).

Typical use and users

Used by copper producers and refiners, metal traders and distributors, metallurgical quality-control and analytical laboratories, procurement and specification engineers (industrial buyers of copper feedstock and semifinished products), and national/regional standards bodies referencing historical grade definitions. The standard is primarily of interest when working with legacy documentation, historical product specifications, or legacy batch certificates that reference ГОСТ 859-78 marks.

Related standards

Directly related and/or subsequent documents include GOST 859-2001 (which replaced GOST 859-78) and later revisions of the "Copper. Grades" family; related analytical and test-method standards (for chemical analysis of copper and determination of impurity levels) include the GOST series referenced in the standard (for example, methods in the GOST 9717 and GOST 13938 series among others). For up-to-date grade or testing requirements, consult the replacing documents (e.g., GOST 859-2001 and later revisions).

Keywords

GOST 859-78, ГОСТ 859-78, copper, copper grades, copper marks, медь, марки, cathodes, ingots, wirebars, semifinished products, chemical composition, metallurgy, Gosstandart.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: GOST 859-78 is the 1978 USSR national standard titled "Медь. Марки" (Copper. Grades) that defined the official grade designations and compositional limits for commercially produced copper forms.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers grade names (marks), minimum copper content and maximum impurity limits for each grade, the product forms covered (cathodes, ingots/wirebars and semifinished products), and marking/labeling conventions; the standard references applicable test methods for chemical analysis.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Producers and refiners of copper, metal traders, quality-control and analytical labs, procurement/specification engineers, and standards/technical libraries—especially when dealing with legacy specifications or historical certification that cites ГОСТ 859-78.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: It is superseded — GOST 859-78 was replaced by GOST 859-2001 (the replacement and later revisions provide updated grade definitions and requirements). The 1978 text is retained only for historical/reference purposes.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it belongs to the family of standards governing copper and copper alloys and is cross-referenced with analytical/test-method standards (for example, GOST documents that describe chemical analysis procedures and related metallurgical specifications).

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Copper; grades; marks; медь; марки; cathode; ingot; wirebar; semifinished; purity; impurities; chemical composition; ГОСТ 859-78.