Designation: A 437/A 437M – 06

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* 1.5 This specification is expressed in both inch-pound units

1.1 This specification2 covers alloy-steel bolting material and in SI units. However, unless the order specifies the
specially heat treated for high-temperature service, such as applicable “M” specification designation (SI units), the mate-
steam turbine, gas turbine, and similar uses. This material rial shall be furnished to inch-pound units.
requires special processing and should not be used in general- 1.6 The values stated in either inch-pound units or SI units
purpose applications. The term “bolting material,” as used in are to be regarded separately as standard. Within the text, the
this specification, covers rolled or forged bars, bolts, nuts, SI units are shown in brackets. The values stated in each
screws, washers, studs, and stud bolts. The bars shall be hot system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system must
wrought. The material may be further processed by centerless be used independently of the other. Combining values from the
grinding or by cold drawing. two systems may result in nonconformance with the specifi-
1.2 The high-temperature properties of the material covered cation.
by this specification are dependent upon special heat treatment, 2. Referenced Documents
which is required. Although the high-temperature properties
are not specified, they are implied by control of the chemistry, 2.1 ASTM Standards: 3
heat treatment, and room-temperature properties of the mate- A 962/A 962M Specification for Common Requirements
rial. for Steel Fasteners or Fastener Materials, or Both, Intended
for Use at Any Temperature from Cryogenic to the Creep
NOTE 1—High-temperature tests shall not be required, unless made a Range
matter of agreement between the manufacturer and the purchaser.
1.3 Three levels of bolting strength are covered, designated 3. Common Requirements
Grades B4B, B4C, and B4D. Selection will depend on the 3.1 Material and Fasteners supplied to this specification
design and the stresses and service for which the product is to shall conform to the requirements of Specification A 962/
be used. A 962M. These requirements include test methods, finish,
NOTE 2—When ordering material under this specification, or when
thread dimensions, marking, certification, optional supplemen-
tary requirements, and others. Failure to comply with the
--```,,`,`,``````,``,`,`,`,,``,-`-`,,`,,`,`,,`---

incorporating this specification as a reference in any individual specifica-

tion, the purchaser must designate the steel by identification symbol or requirements of Specification A 962/A 962M constitutes non-
analysis, or both, and definitely specify the minimum mechanical prop- conformance with this specification. In case of conflict be-
erties required as selected from Table 1. tween this specification and Specification A 962/A 962M, this
1.4 Supplementary requirements of an optional nature are specification shall prevail.
provided for use at the option of the purchaser. The supple-
4. Ordering Information
mentary requirements shall apply only when specified indi-
vidually by the purchaser in the purchase order or contract. 4.1 The inquiry and order should indicate the following:
4.1.1 Specification designation, grade and class, issue date
and revision letter,
1
4.1.2 Quantity (weight or number of pieces),
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A01 on Steel,
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
Materials for Piping and Special Purpose Applications.
3
Current edition approved March 1, 2006. Published March 2006. Originally For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
approved in 1959. Last previous edition approved in 2004 as A 437/A 437M – 04. contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
2
For ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code applications see related Specifi- Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
cation SA-437 in Section II of that code. the ASTM website.

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

Copyright ASTM International 1

Provided by IHS under license with ASTM Copyright by ASTM Int'l (all rights reserved); Licensee=Bechtel Corp Loc 1-19/9999056100, User=Ibanez, Efren
No reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS Not for Resale, 10/17/2006 20:25:12 MDT
Reproduction authorized per License Agreement with Monique Tyree (ASTMIHS Account); Mon Apr 3 16:20:37 EDT 2006
 A 437/A 437M – 06
TABLE 1 Tensile Requirements TABLE 2 Chemical RequirementsA
Element Grades B4B, B4CB Grade B4D
Grade Diameter, in. [mm] Tensile Yield Elongation
Strength, Strength in 2 in. or Reduction Range, % Product Range, % Product
min, ksi (0.2 % 50 mm, of Area, Variation, %, Variation, %,
[MPa] offset) min, min, % min, % Over or Over or
ksi [MPa] Under Under

B4B ... 145 [1000] 105 [720] 13 30 Carbon 0.20–0.25 0.02 0.36–0.44 0.02
B4C ... 115 [790] 85 [585] 18 50 Manganese 0.50–1.00 0.03 0.45–0.70 0.03
B4D 21⁄2 [65] and under 125 105 18 50 Phosphorus, max 0.025 0.005 over 0.04 0.005 over
[860] [720] Sulfur, max 0.025 0.005 over 0.04 0.005 over
over 21⁄2 to 4 [65 to 110 95 17 45 Silicon 0.20–0.50 0.05 0.20–0.35 0.02
100] [760] [655] Nickel 0.50–1.00 0.03 ... ...
over 4 to 7 [100 to 100 85 16 45 Chromium 11.0–12.5 0.15 0.80–1.15 0.05
180] [690] [585] Molybdenum 0.90–1.25 0.05 0.50–0.65 0.03
Vanadium 0.20–0.30 0.03 0.25–0.35 0.03
Tungsten 0.90–1.25 0.05 ... ...
Aluminum, maxC 0.05 ... 0.015 ...
Titanium, max 0.05 ... ... ...
4.1.4 Dimensions, Tin, max 0.04 ... ... ...
A
4.1.5 Finish, and Steel to which lead has been added shall not be used.
B
UNS S42200.
4.1.6 Impact testing of nuts, if required (see Section 9). C
Total, Soluble + Insoluble

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
to the requirements as to impact properties prescribed in Table
6. Heat Treatment 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 10. Hardness Tests
liquid quenched to below 600 °F [316 °C]. The material Grades 10.1 The material Grades B4B, B4C, and B4D shall con-
B4B and B4C shall then be uniformly reheated for tempering form to the requirements as to hardness as prescribed in Table
at a tempering temperature at least 100 °F [55 °C] higher than 4 and Table 5 at room temperature after heat treatment.
the proposed operating temperature but not less than 1150 °F
[620 °C], then air or furnace cooled to room temperature. The 11. Workmanship, Finish, and Appearance
material shall be at the tempering temperature for a minimum 11.1 Standard permissible variations of bars shall be as set
of 2 h. Double tempering may be used to enhance properties. forth in Table 6.
6.2 Material Grade B4D shall be heated to a temperature
range of 1700 to 1750 °F [925 to 954 °C] and oil quenched. 12. Nuts and Washers
The material shall then be uniformly reheated or tempered at a 12.1 When specified by the purchaser, the nuts shall be

--```,,`,`,``````,``,`,`,`,,``,-`-`,,`,,`,`,,`---
temperature of 1200 °F [650 °C] minimum, followed by air or subject to the impact and tension requirements of this specifi-
furnace cooling to room temperature. cation. The tests shall be made on test specimens taken from
6.3 Stress relieving treatment of the bar material is required the bar or plate used in the manufacture of the nuts.
after any stretcher, roller, or rotary-straightening or cold-
finishing operations performed after heat treatment for me- 13. Threads
chanical properties. Local gagging or press straightening to 13.1 All threads shall be formed after heat treatment.
correct camber limitations in excess of 1/4 in. in any 5 ft [6 mm
in any 1.5 m] shall be followed by a stress relieving heat 14. Nondestructive Inspection
treatment. The minimum stress relieving temperature shall be 14.1 Each bar or forged blank of starting material shall be
100 °F [55 °C] below the minimum tempering temperature as subjected to NDE following final heat treatment. The method
shown in 6.1 for Grades B4B and B4C or in 6.2 for Grade used shall be either the Eddy Current (EC), the Magnetic
B4D. Particle (MPI) (wet or dry), the Liquid Penetrant (LPI), the
Ultrasonic (UT), or the Visual Testing (VT), at the option of the
7. Chemical Composition producer. For LPI or MPI, linear indications (those indications
7.1 The material shall conform to the requirements as to longer than 1⁄16 in. [1.5 mm] with a length greater than three
chemical composition specified in Table 2.

8. Tensile Requirements TABLE 3 Impact Requirements

Grade Minimum Impact Value, ft·lbf [J]
8.1 The material shall conform to the requirements as to
B4B 10 [14]
tensile properties prescribed in Table 1 at room temperature B4C 25 [34]
after heat treatment. B4DA 25 [34]
8.2 The longitudinal axis of the test specimen shall be A
For bars over 5-in. [127-mm] diameter only.
parallel to the direction of rolling.

Copyright ASTM International 2

Copyright by ASTM Int'l (all rights reserved);
Provided by IHS under license with ASTM Licensee=Bechtel Corp Loc 1-19/9999056100, User=Ibanez, Efren
No reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS Not for Resale, 10/17/2006 20:25:12 MDT
Reproduction authorized per License Agreement with Monique Tyree (ASTMIHS Account); Mon Apr 3 16:20:37 EDT 2006
 A 437/A 437M – 06
TABLE 4 Hardness Requirements for Bolts and Studs TABLE 6 Permissible Variations in Size of Hot-Rolled Bars
Grade Brinell Hardness Number, max Specified Size, in. [mm] Permissible Variations Out of Round,
from Specified in. [mm]
B4B 331
Size, in. [mm]
B4C 277
B4D 302 Over Under
⁄ [8] and under
5 16 0.005 [0.13] 0.005 [0.13] 0.008 [0.20]
Over 5⁄16 to 7⁄16 [8 to 11] incl 0.006 [0.15] 0.006 [0.15] 0.009 [0.23]
TABLE 5 Hardness Requirements for Nuts and Washers 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]
Grade Brinell Hardness Number Rockwell Hardness Number Over 7⁄8 to 1 [22 to 25] incl 0.009 [0.23] 0.009 [0.23] 0.013 [0.33]
--```,,`,`,``````,``,`,`,`,,``,-`-`,,`,,`,`,,`---

B4B 293–341 C 31–37 Over 1 to 11⁄8 [25 to 29] incl 0.010 [0.25] 0.010 [0.25] 0.015 [0.38]
B4C 229–277 C 21–29 Over 11⁄8 to 11⁄4 [29 to 32], incl 0.011 [0.28] 0.011 [0.28] 0.016 [0.41]
B4D 263–311 C 27–33 Over 11⁄4 to 13⁄8 [32 to 35], incl 0.012 [0.30] 0.012 [0.30] 0.018 [0.46]
Over 13⁄8 to 11⁄2 [35 to 38], incl 0.014 [0.36] 0.014 [0.36] 0.021 [0.53]
Over 11⁄2 to 2 [38 to 50], incl 1⁄64 [0.4] 1⁄64 [0.4] 0.023 [0.58]
Over 2 to 21⁄2 [50 to 65], incl 1⁄32 [0.8] 0 0.023 [0.58]
times their width) are unacceptable. For UT or ET, reject levels Over 21⁄2 to 31⁄2 [65 to 90], incl 3⁄64 [1.2] 0 0.035 [0.89]
Over 31⁄2 to 41⁄2 [90 to 115], incl 1⁄16 [1.6] 0 0.046 [1.17]
for linear indications shall be based on the alarm response from Over 41⁄2 to 51⁄2 [115 to 140], incl 5⁄64 [2.0] 0 0.058 [1.47]
a surface notch with a maximum depth of 0.012 in. [.30 mm] Over 51⁄2 to 61⁄2 [140 to 165], incl 1⁄8 [3.2] 0 0.070 [1.78]
in a calibration bar. Product being subjected to VT shall be Over 61⁄2 to 71⁄2 [165 to 190], incl 5⁄32 [4.0] 0 0.085 [2.16]
pickled prior to inspection. VT indications longer than 1⁄8 in.
are prohibited.
15. Keywords bolting material; temperature service applications—high; tur-
15.1 bolts—steel; chromium alloy steel; fasteners—steel; bine materials
marking on fasteners; nuts—steel; steel bars—alloy; steel

SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENTS

One or more of the following supplementary requirements shall be applied only when specified by
the purchaser in the inquiry, contract, or order; in which event the specified tests shall be made before
shipment of the product.

S1. Non-Destructive Examination

S1.1 NDE is required following all machining and thread-
ing. The acceptance criteria of 14.1 shall apply.

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

Committee A01 has identified the location of selected changes to this specification since the last issue,
A 437/A 437M – 04, that may impact the use of this specification. (Approved March 1, 2006)

(1) Revised paragraph 3.1.

ASTM International takes no position respecting the validity of any patent rights asserted in connection with any item mentioned
in this standard. Users of this standard are expressly advised that determination of the validity of any such patent rights, and the risk
of infringement of such rights, are entirely their own responsibility.

This standard is subject to revision at any time by the responsible technical committee and must be reviewed every five years and
if not revised, either reapproved or withdrawn. Your comments are invited either for revision of this standard or for additional standards
and should be addressed to ASTM International Headquarters. Your comments will receive careful consideration at a meeting of the
responsible technical committee, which you may attend. If you feel that your comments have not received a fair hearing you should
make your views known to the ASTM Committee on Standards, at the address shown below.

This standard is copyrighted by ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959,
United States. Individual reprints (single or multiple copies) of this standard may be obtained by contacting ASTM at the above
address or at 610-832-9585 (phone), 610-832-9555 (fax), or service@astm.org (e-mail); or through the ASTM website
(www.astm.org).

Copyright ASTM International 3

Provided by IHS under license with ASTM Copyright by ASTM Int'l (all rights reserved); Licensee=Bechtel Corp Loc 1-19/9999056100, User=Ibanez, Efren
No reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS Not for Resale, 10/17/2006 20:25:12 MDT
Reproduction authorized per License Agreement with Monique Tyree (ASTMIHS Account); Mon Apr 3 16:20:37 EDT 2006