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Designation: F 879 – 98

Standard Specification for

Stainless Steel Socket Button and Flat Countersunk Head
Cap Screws1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 879; 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.

This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.

1. Scope D 3951 Practice for Commercial Packaging4

1.1 This specification covers the chemical and mechanical E 353 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Stainless,
requirements for stainless steel inch hexagon socket button Heat-Resisting, Maraging, and Other Similar Chromium-
(SBHCS) and flat countersunk (SFHCS) head cap screws with Nickel-Iron Alloys5
nominal thread 0.060 through 0.625 in. intended for use in F 593 Specification for Stainless Steel Bolts, Hex Cap,
applications requiring general corrosion resistance. Screws, and Studs6
1.2 The following two conditions are covered: F 606 Test Methods for Determining the Mechanical Prop-
1.2.1 Austenitic alloy condition AF in an annealed condition erties of Externally and Internally Threaded Fasteners,
at 85 ksi maximum and Washers, and Rivets6
1.2.2 Austenitic alloy condition CW in a cold-worked F 788/F788M Specification for Surface Discontinuities of
condition at 95 ksi minimum. Bolts, Screws and Studs, Inch and Metric Series6
1.3 The following precautionary caveat pertains only to the F 1470 Guide for Fastener Sampling for Specified Mechani-
test method portion, Section 12, of this specification: This cal Properties and Performance Inspection6
standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, 2.2 ANSI/ASME Standard:
if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user B 18.3 Socket Cap, Shoulder and Set Screws-Inch Series7
of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health 3. Classification
practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limita-
tions prior to use. 3.1 The designation of the alloy group and condition of this
specification shall be consistent with the stainless steel desig-
2. Referenced Documents nations in Specification F 593.
2.1 ASTM Standards: 3.2 The austenitic stainless steel socket screw shall be
A 262 Practices for Detecting Susceptibility to Intergranu- designated F 879 Group 1 Condition AF or F 879 Group 1
lar Attack in Austenitic Stainless Steels2 Condition CW.
A 342 Test Methods for Permeability of Feebly Magnetic
4. Ordering Information
Materials3
A 380 Practice for Cleaning and Descaling Stainless Steel 4.1 Orders for material under this specification shall include
Parts, Equipment, and Systems2 the following information:
A 555/A555M Specification for General Requirements for 4.1.1 Quantity (number of pieces of each item).
Stainless and Heat-Resisting Steel Wire and Wire Rods2 4.1.2 Name of the screw, SBHCS or SFHCS.
A 751 Test Methods, Practices, and Terminology for 4.1.3 Dimensions, including nominal thread designation,
Chemical Analysis of Steel Products2 thread pitch, and nominal screw length (inches). A standard
A 967 Specification for Chemical Passivation Treatments part number may be used for this definition.
for Stainless Steel Parts2 4.1.4 Alloy group, and condition (Group 1 AF or Group 1
CW).
4.1.5 Certification, if required (see Section 15).
4.1.6 ASTM specification and year of issue.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F-16 on
Fasteners and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F16.04 on Nonferrous
4
Fasteners. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 15.09.
5
Current edition approved Oct. 10, 1998. Published December 1998. Originally Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.05.
6
published as F 879 – 86. Last previous edition F 879 – 91. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.08.
2 7
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.03. Available from American National Standards Institute, 11 West 42nd Street,
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.04. 13th Floor, New York, NY 10036.

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

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 F 879
4.1.7 Any special or supplemental requirements (see not be subject to tension tests, but shall conform to the
Supplementary Requirements S1 through S6). maximum and minimum hardness requirements of Table 1.

5. Materials and Manufacture 8. Corrosion Resistance Requirements

5.1 Screws shall be formed by upsetting or extruding, or 8.1 Carbide Precipitation:
both. 8.1.1 Rod, bar, and wire in the austenitic alloy group 1 used
5.2 Screws shall be roll threaded. to make fasteners in accordance with this specification shall be
5.3 Heat Treatment—Austenitic alloys Condition AF capable of passing the test for susceptibility to intergranular
screws, following manufacture, shall be annealed by heating to corrosion as specified in Practice E of Practices A 262.
1900 6 50°F to obtain maximum corrosion resistance and 8.1.2 As stated in Practices A 262, samples may be sub-
minimum permeability. The screws shall be held for a sufficient jected to the faster and more severe screening test in accor-
time at temperature, then cooled at a rate sufficient to prevent dance with Practice A. Failing Practice A, specimens shall be
precipitation of the carbide and provide the properties specified tested to Practice E and be considered satisfactory if passing
in Table 1. Practice E.
5.4 When Condition CW is specified, the austenitic alloys
shall be annealed as specified in 5.3, generally by the raw 9. Dimensions
material manufacturer, then cold worked to develop specific 9.1 Unless otherwise specified, the dimensions shall con-
properties. form to the requirements of ANSI B18.3.
6. Chemical Composition 10. Workmanship and Finish
6.1 It is the intent of this specification that screws shall be 10.1 Surface Treatment—Unless otherwise specified,
ordered by alloy condition. The chemical composition of the screws shall be cleaned, descaled and passivated in accordance
screws shall conform to the requirements of Table 2. with Practice A 380 or Specification A 967 at the option of the
6.2 Unless otherwise specified in the inquiry and purchase manufacturer.
order (see Supplementary Requirement S2) when CW or AF 10.2 Surface Discontinuities:
condition property class is specified, the choice of stainless 10.2.1 The surface discontinuities for these products shall
steel used shall be that of the fastener manufacturer as conform to Specification F 788/F 788M and the additional
determined by his fabrication methods and material availabil- limitations specified herein.
ity. The specific stainless steel used by the manufacturer shall 10.2.1.1 Forging defects that connect the socket to the
be clearly identified on all certification required in the purchase periphery of the head are not permissible. Defects originating
order and shall have a chemical composition conforming to the on the periphery and with a traverse indicating a potential to
limits specified in Table 2. intersect are not permissible. Other forging defects are permis-
6.3 When chemical analysis is performed by the purchaser sible provided those located in the bearing area, fillet, and top
using finished fasteners, the chemical composition obtained surfaces shall not have a depth exceeding 0.03 D or 0.005 in.
shall conform to the limits specified in Table 2 for the specific whichever is greater. For peripheral discontinuities, the maxi-
alloy. Chemical composition shall conform to the tolerances mum depth may be 0.06 D (see Fig. 1).
specified in Specification A 555. 10.2.1.2 Forging defects located in the socket wall within
6.3.1 In the event of a discrepancy, a referee analysis of the 0.1 times the actual key engagement, T, from the bottom of the
samples for each lot as specified in 12.1 shall be made in socket are not permissible. Discontinuities located elsewhere in
accordance with 11.3.1. the socket shall not have a length exceeding 0.25 T, or a
maximum depth of 0.03 D not to exceed 0.005 in. (see Fig. 2).
7. Mechanical Properties 10.2.1.3 Seams in the shank shall not exceed a depth of 0.03
7.1 The finished screws shall conform to the mechanical D or 0.008 in. whichever is greater.
requirements specified in Table 1. 10.2.1.4 No transverse discontinuities shall be permitted in
7.2 Screws having a nominal length equal to or greater than the head-to-shank fillet area.
three diameters shall be tensile tested full size and shall meet 10.2.1.5 Threads shall have no laps at the root or on the
the full size breaking strength requirements specified in Table flanks, as shown in Fig. 3. Laps are permitted at the crests (Fig.
3. Tensile failures through the head are acceptable providing 3(C)) that do not exceed 25 % of the basic thread depth, and on
the load requirements are satisfied. the flanks outside the pitch cylinder. Longitudinal seams rolled
7.3 Screws that are too short (lengths less than specified in beneath the root of the thread and across the crests of the
7.2 or that have insufficient threads for tension testing) shall threads are acceptable within the limits of 10.2.1.3.

TABLE 1 Mechanical Property Requirements

Hardness
Full Size Product Tests Machined Specimen Tests
Alloy Vickers Rockwell
Condition Tensile Extension Tensile Yield Elongation
min max min max
Strength ksi min Strength ksi Strength ksi % min
AF 85 max 0.6D 80 max 50 max 40 ... 170 ... B85
CW 90 min 0.4D 85 min 58 min 20 220 330 B80 C33

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 F 879
TABLE 2 Alloy Group 1 Chemical Requirements
Composition, % maximum except as shown
UNS Designation Alloy Carbon Manganese Phosphorus Sulfur Silicon Chromium Nickel Copper
Austenitic Alloys
S30400 304 0.08 2.00 0.045 0.030 1.00 18.0 to 20.0 8.0 to 10.5 1.00
S30403 304L 0.030 2.00 0.045 0.030 1.00 18.0 to 20.0 8.0 to 12.0 1.00
S30500 305 0.12 2.00 0.045 0.030 1.00 17.0 to 19.0 10.5 to 13.0 1.00
S38400 384 0.08 2.00 0.045 0.030 1.00 15.0 to 17.0 17.0 to 19.0
S30430 XM7 0.10 2.00 0.045 0.030 1.00 17.0 to 19.0 8.0 to 10.0 3.0 to 4.0
S31600 316 0.08 2.00 0.045 0.030 1.00 16.0 to 18.0 10.0 to 14.0
S31603 316L 0.03 2.00 0.045 0.030 1.00 16.0 to 18.0 10.0 to 14.0

TABLE 3 Breaking Strength Values for Full Size Fasteners

NOTE 1—Breaking loads are based on tensile stress area and strengths
of 85 ksi max (AF) and 76 ksi min (CW). The minimum loads for CW
condition are based on the tensile properties of 95 ksi material strength,
reduced by 20 % to allow for the head critical nature of these configura-
tions.

Tensile Stress Alloy Condition

Nominal Size
Area, in.2 AF, lb, max CW, lb, min
0 0.060–80 0.00180 153 137
1 0.073–64 0.00263 224 200
2 0.086–56 0.00370 255 280
3 0.099–48 0.00487 414 370
4 0.112–40 0.00604 513 460
5 0.125–44 0.00796 676 600
6 0.138–32 0.00909 772 690
8 0.164–32 0.0140 1190 1060
10 0.190–24 0.0175 1487 1330
1/4 0.250–20 0.0318 2703 2420
5/16 0.312–18 0.0524 4454 3980
3/8 0.375–16 0.0775 6588 5890
1/2 0.500–13 0.1419 12061 10800
5/8 0.625–11 0.226 19210 17200

11. Number of Tests

11.1 The requirements of this specification shall be met in FIG. 1 Head Discontinuities (See 10.2.1)
continuous mass production for stock and the manufacturer
shall make sample inspections to ensure that the product
conforms to the specified requirements. Additional tests of
individual shipments of fasteners are not ordinarily necessary.
A record of the individual heat of steel in each lot shall be
maintained. The containers shall be coded to permit identifi-
cation of the lot.
11.2 When specified in the purchase order, the manufacturer
shall furnish a test report of the last complete set of chemical
analysis and mechanical tests for each stock size in each
shipment.
11.3 When tests of individual shipments are required, FIG. 2 Socket Discontinuities (See 10.2.1)
Supplementary Requirement S1 must be specified in the
Number of Pieces in Lot Number of Samples
inquiry and order. 800 and less 1
11.3.1 When the purchaser does not specify the sampling Over 800 to 8000, incl 2
plan and basis of acceptance, the following shall apply: Over 8000 to 22 000, incl 3
Over 22 000 5
11.3.1.1 The lot, for purposes of selecting samples, shall
consist of all products offered for inspection and testing at one 11.3.1.3 Should any sample fail to meet the requirements of
time that are of the same type, style, nominal diameter, thread a specified test, double the number of samples from the same
pitch, nominal length, material, condition, and surface finish. lot shall be retested for the requirement(s) in which it failed.
11.3.1.2 From each lot, samples shall be selected at random All of the additional samples shall conform to the specification
and tested for each requirement in accordance with the or the lot shall be rejected.
following: 11.3.1.4 If the failure of a test specimen is due to improper

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 F 879

FIG. 3 Thread Discontinuities

preparation of the specimen or an incorrect testing technique, L1, shall be measured within 60.005 in. The head-end refer-
the specimen shall be discarded and another test specimen ence surface for length measurement may be the bottom of the
submitted. hex socket for measuring purposes. The specimen shall be
11.4 Corrosion Resistance Tests: assembled into a threaded adapter to a depth of one nominal
11.4.1 Unless otherwise specified, inspection for corrosion diameter, then axial tensile tested in accordance with 12.2.1 to
resistance shall be in accordance with the manufacturer’s failure. The two broken pieces shall be fitted closely together
standard quality control practices. No specific method of and the overall length, L2, measured again. The total extension
inspection is required but the screws shall be produced from shall be computed by subtracting the original overall length
suitable raw material and manufactured by properly controlled from the following fracture (Fig. 4). The product is acceptable
practices to maintain resistance to corrosion. When corrosion when the extension equals or exceeds the minimum value for
tests are required, Supplementary Requirement S5 must be extension specified in Table 1.
specified in the inquiry and order, except as noted in 11.4.2. 12.3 Corrosion Resistance—When specified on the pur-
11.4.2 Products that have been hot worked shall be solution chase order or inquiry, corrosion tests to determine freedom
annealed and tested to determine freedom from precipitated
carbides. Not less than one corrosion test shall be made from
each lot. Corrosion tests shall be performed in accordance with
Practices A 262, Practices A or E as applicable.

12. Test Methods

12.1 Chemical Analysis—The chemical composition shall
be determined in accordance with Test Method A 751.
12.1.1 The fastener manufacturer may accept the chemical
analysis of each heat of raw material purchased and reported on
the raw material certification furnished by the raw material
producer. The fastener manufacturer is not required to do any
further chemical analysis testing provided that precise heat lot
traceability has been maintained throughout the manufacturing
process on each lot of fasteners produced and delivered.
12.2 Mechanical Tests:
12.2.1 Screws tested for axial strength, screw extension, or
hardness shall be tested in accordance with the methods
described in Test Methods F 606 and 12.2.3 of this specifica-
tion.
12.2.2 Machined test specimens tested for tensile strength,
yield strength at 0.2 % offset and elongation, shall be tested in
accordance with the methods described in Test Methods F 606.
12.2.3 Extension Test—An extension test is applicable only
to full size products. The overall length of the test specimen, FIG. 4 Test Specimen-Extension Test

4
 F 879
from precipitated carbides shall be performed in accordance manufacturer shall maintain on file for a period of five (5)
with Practices A 262, Practice A or E as applicable. years, a certificate indicating that the lot of fasteners was
manufactured and tested in accordance with this specification
13. Inspection and conforms to all specified requirements.
13.1 If the inspection described in 13.2 is required by the 15.3 When requested by the purchaser, submission of copies
purchaser, it shall be specified in the inquiry, order, or contract. of the test report, manufacturer’s certificate or an extension of
13.2 The inspector representing the purchaser shall have the five (5) year document retention period shall be performed
free entry to all parts of the manufacturer’s works that concern as agreed between the manufacturer and the purchaser at the
the manufacture of the material ordered. The manufacturer time of the inquiry or order.
shall afford the inspector all reasonable facilities to satisfy that
the material is being furnished in accordance with this speci- 16. Packaging and Package Marking
fication. All tests and inspection required by the specification 16.1 Packaging:
that are requested by the purchaser’s representative and pur- 16.1.1 The manufacturer shall employ such methods of
chase order shall be made prior to shipment, and shall be so packaging the screws as may be reasonably required to ensure
conducted as not to interfere unnecessarily with the operation their receipt by the purchaser in a satisfactory condition.
of the work. Unless otherwise specified, packaging shall be in accordance
14. Rejection and Rehearing with Practice D 3951.
16.1.2 When special packaging requirements are required
14.1 Screws that fail to conform to the requirements of this
by the purchaser, they shall be defined at the time of inquiry
specification may be rejected by the purchaser. Rejection shall
and order.
be reported to the supplier promptly and in writing. In case of
16.2 Package Marking—Each shipping unit shall include or
dissatisfaction with the results of tests or inspection authorized
be plainly marked with the following information:
by the purchaser, the supplier may make claim for a rehearing.
16.2.1 ASTM specification,
15. Certification 16.2.2 Alloy condition,
15.1 Test Report— The manufacturer shall maintain on file 16.2.3 Alloy number,
for a period of five (5) years, the original test report, including 16.2.4 Size,
a copy of the certified chemical analysis of the heat of material 16.2.5 Name and brand or trademark of the manufacturer,
used and the results of the required testing for the lot of 16.2.6 Country of origin,
fasteners. 16.2.7 Number of pieces, and
15.2 Manufacturer’s Certificate of Conformance—The 16.2.8 Purchase order number.

SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENTS

One or more of the following supplementary requirements shall apply only when specified by the
purchaser in the inquiry and order (see 4.1.7). Supplementary requirements shall in no way negate any
requirement of the specification itself.

S1. Shipment Lot Testing S2. Alloy Control

S1.1 When Supplementary Requirement S1 is specified on S2.1 When Supplementary Requirement S2 is specified on
the order, the manufacturer shall make sample tests on the the inquiry and order, the manufacturer shall supply that
individual lots for shipment to ensure that the product con- stainless steel specified on the customer’s order with no
forms to the specified requirements. substitutions permitted without written permission by the
purchaser.
S1.2 The manufacturer shall make an analysis of a ran-
domly selected finished fastener from each lot of product to be S3. Permeability
shipped. Heat or lot control shall be maintained. The analysis S3.1 When Supplementary Requirement S3 is specified on
of the starting material from which the fasteners have been the inquiry and order, the permeability of screws of Condition
manufactured may be reported in place of the product analysis. AF shall not exceed 1.05 at 100 Oe when determined by Test
S1.3 The manufacturer shall perform mechanical property Method A 342. Screws in Condition CW may not be capable of
tests in accordance with this specification and Guide F 1470 on meeting permeability and strength requirements simulta-
the individual lots for shipment. neously.
S1.4 The manufacturer shall furnish a test report for each lot S4. Identification
in the shipment showing the actual results of the chemical S4.1 When Supplementary Requirement S4 is specified on
analysis and mechanical property tests performed in accor- the inquiry and order for nominal sizes 1⁄4 (0.250) in. and
dance with Supplementary Requirement S1. larger, the fasteners shall be marked with the manufacturer’s

5
 F 879
insignia. The manufacturer’s identification insignia shall be of agreed between the manufacturer and the purchaser at the time
the design, placed on the side or top of the head and known and of the inquiry or order.
recognizable to the purchaser. The insignia shall be readable at
no greater than 103 magnification. S6. Passivation
S5. Corrosion Resistance Tests S6.1 When Supplementary Requirement S6 is specified on
S5.1 When Supplementary Requirement S5 is specified on the inquiry and order, the finished product shall be passivated
the inquiry and order, corrosion test(s) shall be performed as in accordance with Specification A 380.

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