---
code: "ASTM E21"
title: "Standard test methods for elevated temperature tension tests of metallic materials"
institution: "ASTM"
category: "material-testing"
revision: "2020"
scope: "Establishes tension testing of metallic materials at elevated temperature to determine yield strength, tensile strength, and ductility indicators, serving as the ASTM counterpart to ISO 6892-2 in many North American specifications."
testMethod: "Heated specimens are pulled while measuring force and extension; procedures define crosshead or strain-rate limits before and through yield (for example ±0.005 in./in./min near yield), thermocouple placement, and reporting in customary ASTM formats."
specimenRequirements: "Specimen dimensions and tolerances follow ASTM practice (inch and SI variants); gauge-section temperature mapping and allowable gradients are specified. High-temperature furnaces, alignment, and extensometry are required; grip heating and soak times must be controlled."
url: "https://vectorbtc.com.tr/resources/standards/astm-e21/"
---

ASTM E21 covers the same elevated-temperature tensile problem as [ISO 6892-2](/resources/standards/iso-6892-2/) but follows ASTM International conventions for specimen geometry, thermocouple layout, and speed control wording. Projects that cite E21 expect reports compatible with other ASTM metals methods such as [ASTM E8/E8M](/resources/standards/astm-e8/).

Key differences from ISO 6892-2 include explicit strain-rate limits approaching yield, inch-pound reporting options, and ASTM tolerance tables for specimen preparation. Method A/B naming in ISO is replaced by ASTM procedural clauses tied to crosshead or strain control.

Hardware mirrors ISO elevated-temperature setups: a universal testing machine, furnace, temperature control, and high-temperature extensometer. Vector integrates these elements on frames with environmental chambers so elevated-temperature programmes remain traceable alongside room-temperature [ISO 6892-1](/resources/standards/iso-6892-1/) workflows.