Designation: A 437/A 437M – 99 An American National Standard

Standard Specification for

Alloy-Steel Turbine-Type Bolting Material Specially Heat
Treated for High-Temperature Service1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A 437/A 437M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year
of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.
A superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope TABLE 1 Tensile Requirements

1.1 This specification2 covers alloy-steel bolting material

Grade Diameter, in. [mm] Tensile Yield Elongation Reduction
specially heat treated for high-temperature service, such as Strength, Strength in 2 in. or of Area,
steam turbine, gas turbine, and similar uses. This material min, ksi (0.2 % 50 mm, min, %
requires special processing and should not be used in general- [MPa] offset) min, min, %
ksi [MPa]
purpose applications. The term “bolting material,” as used in
B4B ... 145 [1000] 105 [720] 13 30
this specification, covers rolled or forged bars, bolts, nuts, B4C ... 115 [790] 85 [585] 18 50
screws, washers, studs, and stud bolts. The bars shall be hot B4D 2 1 / 2 [65] and under 125 105 18 50
wrought. The material may be further processed by centerless [860] [720]
over 2 1 / 2 to 4 [65 to 110 95 17 45
grinding or by cold drawing. 100] [760] [655]
1.2 The high-temperature properties of the material covered over 4 to 7 [100 to 100 85 16 45
by this specification are dependent upon special heat treatment, 180] [690] [585]

which is required. Although the high-temperature properties

are not specified, they are implied by control of the chemistry,
heat treatment, and room-temperature properties of the mate-
rial. be used independently of the other. Combining values from the
two systems may result in nonconformance with the specifi-
NOTE 1—High-temperature tests shall not be required, unless made a cation.
matter of agreement between the manufacturer and the purchaser.
1.3 Three levels of bolting strength are covered, designated 2. Referenced Documents
Grades B4B, B4C, and B4D. Selection will depend on the 2.1 ASTM Standards:
design and the stresses and service for which the product is to A 962/A 962M Common Requirements for Steel Fasteners
be used. or Fastener Materials, or Both, Intended for Use at Any
Temperature from Cryogenic to the Creep Range3
NOTE 2—When ordering material under this specification, or when
incorporating this specification as a reference in any individual specifica- 3. Common Requirements
tion, the purchaser must designate the steel by identification symbol or
analysis, or both, and definitely specify the minimum mechanical prop- 3.1 Material and Fasteners supplied to this specification
erties required as selected from Table 1. shall conform to Specification A 962/A 962M. These require-
1.4 This specification is expressed in both inch-pound units ments include test methods, finish, thread dimensions, marking
and in SI units. However, unless the order specifies the certification, optional supplementary requirements, and others.
applicable“ M” specification designation (SI units), the mate- If the requirements of this specification are in conflict with
rial shall be furnished to inch-pound units. those of A 962/A 962M. then the requirements of this specifi-
1.5 The values stated in either inch-pound units or SI units cation shall prevail.
are to be regarded separately as standard. Within the text, the 4. Ordering Information
SI units are shown in brackets. The values stated in each
system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system must 4.1 The inquiry and order should indicate the following:
4.1.1 Specification designation, grade and class, issue date
and revision letter,
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A-1 on Steel,
4.1.2 Quantity (weight or number of pieces),
Stainless Steel, and Related Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee 4.1.3 Description (bars, bolts, nuts, etc.),
A01.22 on Steel Forgings and Wrought Fittings for Piping Applications and Bolting 4.1.4 Dimensions,
Materials for Piping and Special Purpose Applications. 4.1.5 Finish,
Current edition approved March 10, 1999. Published May 1999. Originally
published as A 437 – 59 T. Last previous edition A 437/A 437M – 98.
2
For ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code applications see related Specifi-
3
cation SA-437 in Section II of that code. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.01.

Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

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 A 437/A 437M
4.1.6 Impact testing of nuts, if required (see Section 9). 8.2 The longitudinal axis of the test specimen shall be
parallel to the direction of rolling.
5. Discard
5.1 A sufficient discard shall be made from each ingot to 9. Impact Requirements
ensure freedom from injurious piping and undue segregation.
9.1 The material Grades B4B, B4C, and B4D shall conform
6. Heat Treatment to the requirements as to impact properties prescribed in Table
3 at room temperature after heat treatment.
6.1 The material Grades B4B and B4C shall be heated to a
temperature range of 1875 to 1925°F [1025 to 1050°C] and
liquid quenched to below 600°F [316°C]. The material Grades 10. Hardness Tests
B4B and B4C shall then be uniformly reheated for tempering 10.1 The material Grades B4B, B4C, and B4D shall con-
at a tempering temperature at least 100°F [55°C] higher than form to the requirements as to hardness as prescribed in Table
the proposed operating temperature but not less than 1150°F 4 and Table 5 at room temperature after heat treatment.
[620°C], then air or furnace cooled to room temperature. The
material shall be at the tempering temperature for a minimum 11. Workmanship, Finish, and Appearance
of 2 h. Double tempering may be used to enhance properties. 11.1 Standard permissible variations of bars shall be as set
6.2 Material Grade B4D shall be heated to a temperature forth in Table 6.
range of 1700 to 1750°F [925 to 954°C] and oil quenched. The
material shall then be uniformly reheated or tempered at a 12. Nuts and Washers
temperature of 1200°F [650°C] minimum, followed by air or
furnace cooling to room temperature. 12.1 When specified by the purchaser, the nuts shall be
6.3 Stress relieving treatment of the bar material is required subject to the impact and tension requirements of this specifi-
after any stretcher, roller, or rotary-straightening or cold- cation. The tests shall be made on test specimens taken from
finishing operations performed after heat treatment for me- the bar or plate used in the manufacture of the nuts.
chanical properties. Local gagging or press straightening to
correct camber limitations in excess of 1/4 in. in any 5 ft [6 mm 13. Threads
in any 1.5 m] shall be followed by a stress relieving heat 13.1 All threads shall be formed after heat treatment.
treatment. The minimum stress relieving temperature shall be
100°F [55°C] below the minimum tempering temperature as 14. Nondestructive Inspection
shown in 6.1 for Grades B4B and B4C or in 6.2 for Grade
B4D. 14.1 Each bar of bolting material shall be subjected to NDE.
The method used shall be either the Eddy Current (EC), the
7. Chemical Composition Magnetic Particle (MPI) (wet or dry), the Liquid Penetrant
7.1 The material shall conform to the requirements as to (LPI), the Ultrasonic (UT), or the Visual Testing (VT), at the
chemical composition specified in Table 2. option of the producer. For LPI or MPI, linear indications
(those indications longer than 1⁄16 in. [1.5 mm] with a length
8. Tensile Requirements greater than three times their width) are unacceptable. For UT
8.1 The material shall conform to the requirements as to or ET, reject levels for linear indications shall be based on the
tensile properties prescribed in Table 1 at room temperature alarm response from a surface notch with a maximum depth of
after heat treatment. 0.012 in. [.30 mm] in a calibration bar. Product being subjected
to VT shall be pickled prior to inspection. VT indications
TABLE 2 Chemical RequirementsA longer than 1⁄8 in. are prohibited.

Element Grades B4B, B4C Grade B4D 15. Keywords

Range, % Product Range, % Product 15.1 bolts—steel; chromium alloy steel; fasteners—steel;
Variation, %, Variation, %,
Over or Over or marking on fasteners; nuts—steel; steel bars—alloy; steel
Under Under bolting material; temperature service applications—high; tur-
Carbon 0.20–0.25 0.02 0.36–0.44 0.02 bine materials
Manganese 0.50–1.00 0.03 0.45–0.70 0.03
Phosphorus, max 0.025 0.005 over 0.04 0.005 over
Sulfur, max 0.025 0.005 over 0.04 0.005 over
Silicon 0.20–0.50 0.05 0.20–0.35 0.02 TABLE 3 Impact Requirements
Nickel 0.50–1.00 0.03 ... ...
Chromium 11.0–12.5 0.15 0.80–1.15 0.05
Grade Minimum Impact Value,
Molybdenum 0.90–1.25 0.05 0.50–0.65 0.03
ft·lbf[J]
Vanadium 0.20–0.30 0.03 0.25–0.35 0.03
Tungsten 0.90–1.25 0.05 ... ...
Aluminum, maxB 0.05 ... 0.015 ... B4B 10 [14]
Titanium, max 0.05 ... ... ... B4C 25 [34]
Tin, max 0.04 ... ... ... B4DA 25 [34]
A A
Steel to which lead has been added shall not be used. For bars over 5-in. [127-mm] diameter only.
B
Total, Soluble + Insoluble

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 A 437/A 437M
TABLE 4 Hardness Requirements for Bolts and Studs TABLE 6 Permissible Variations in Size of Hot-Rolled Bars

Grade Brinell Hardness Specified Size, in. [mm] Permissible Variations from Out of Round,
Number, max Specified Size, in. [mm] in. [mm]
Over Under
B4B 331
5 / 16 [8] and under 0.005 [0.13] 0.005 [0.13] 0.008 [0.20]
B4C 277
Over 5 / 16 to 7 / 16 [8 to 11] incl 0.006 [0.15] 0.006 [0.15] 0.009 [0.23]
B4D 302
Over 7 / 16 to 5 / 8 [11 to 16] incl 0.007 [0.18] 0.007 [0.18] 0.010 [0.25]
Over 5 / 8 to 7 / 8 [16 to 22] incl 0.008 [0.20] 0.008 [0.20] 0.012 [0.30]
Over 7 / 8 to 1 [22 to 25] incl 0.009 [0.23] 0.009 [0.23] 0.013 [0.33]
TABLE 5 Hardness Requirements for Nuts and Washers Over 1 to 1 1 / 8 [25 to 29] incl 0.010 [0.25] 0.010 [0.25] 0.015 [0.38]
Over 1 1 / 8 to 1 1 / 4 [29 to 32], 0.011 [0.28] 0.011 [0.28] 0.016 [0.41]
incl
Grade Brinell Hardness Number Rockwell Hardness Number Over 1 1 / 4 to 1 3 / 8 [32 to 35], 0.012 [0.30] 0.012 [0.30] 0.018 [0.46]
B4B 293–341 C 31–37 incl
B4C 229–277 C 21–29 Over 1 3 / 8 to 1 1 / 2 [35 to 38], 0.014 [0.36] 0.014 [0.36] 0.021 [0.53]
B4D 263–311 C 27–33 incl
Over 1 1 / 2 to 2 [38 to 50], incl 1 / 64 [0.4] 1 / 64 [0.4] 0.023 [0.58]
Over 2 to 2 1 / 2 [50 to 65], incl 1 / 32 [0.8] 0 0.023 [0.58]
Over 2 1 / 2 to 3 1 / 2 [65 to 90], 3 / 64 [1.2] 0 0.035 [0.89]
incl
Over 3 1 / 2 to 4 1 / 2 [90 to 1 / 16 [1.6] 0 0.046 [1.17]
115], incl
Over 4 1 / 2 to 5 1 / 2 [115 to 5 / 64 [2.0] 0 0.058 [1.47]
140], incl
Over 5 1 / 2 to 6 1 / 2 [140 to 1 / 8 [3.2] 0 0.070 [1.78]
165], incl
Over 6 1 / 2 to 7 1 / 2 [165 to 5 / 32 [4.0] 0 0.085 [2.16]
190], incl

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