This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles

for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

Designation: A689 − 97 (Reapproved 2018)

Standard Specification for

Carbon and Alloy Steel Bars for Springs1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A689; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope 3.1.1 ASTM designation A689,

1.1 This specification covers hot-wrought steel bars to be 3.1.2 ASTM grade number indicating the chemical compo-
used for the manufacture of general-purpose springs such as sition (see 5.1), special chemistry required (see 5.2), or
coil, torsion, and leaf. hardenability (see 5.3),
3.1.3 Quantity (number of bars or weight),
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded 3.1.4 Cross section description and dimensions or drawings
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical of section,
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only 3.1.5 Bar lengths,
and are not considered standard. 3.1.6 When purchaser’s processing requires cold shearing,
1.3 This international standard was developed in accor- cold punching, and cold trimming, this should be noted.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- 3.1.7 When special straightness or machine-cut lengths are
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the required, reference on the purchase order should be made to
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- Tables A1.10 and A1.9 or Tables A2.10 and A2.9 for SI units
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical of Specification A29/A29M, and
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. 3.1.8 Weight limitations per shipping bundle.

2. Referenced Documents 4. Melting Practice

2.1 ASTM Standards:2 4.1 The steel shall be made by one or more of the following
A29/A29M Specification for General Requirements for Steel primary processes: basic-oxygen or electric-furnace. The pri-
Bars, Carbon and Alloy, Hot-Wrought mary melting may incorporate separate degassing or refining
A255 Test Methods for Determining Hardenability of Steel and may be followed by secondary melting using electroslag
A304 Specification for Carbon and Alloy Steel Bars Subject remelting or vacuum arc remelting. Where secondary melting
to End-Quench Hardenability Requirements is employed, the heat shall be defined as all of the ingots
A322 Specification for Steel Bars, Alloy, Standard Grades remelted from a single primary heat.
A576 Specification for Steel Bars, Carbon, Hot-Wrought, 5. Chemical Composition or Hardenability Requirements
Special Quality
5.1 When the steel is specified by chemical composition, the
E112 Test Methods for Determining Average Grain Size
standard steel grades are the ASTM series 1000, 4100, 5100,
3. Ordering Information 6100, 8600, and 9200, and those including Boron ASTM series
10B00, 15B00, 50B00, and 51B00. The specific grades are
3.1 Purchase orders for material to this specification shall listed in Specifications A322 and A576.
include the following information as required to describe the
desired material adequately: 5.2 Modifications may be made in the chemistry of the
standard ASTM grades to suit the hardenability required for a
particular bar size, spring shape, or other special requirements.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A01 on Steel, The steel supplier should be consulted on availability of any
Stainless Steel and Related Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee special chemical compositions.
A01.15 on Bars.
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2018. Published September 2018. Originally 5.2.1 A chemical analysis of each heat of steel purchased
approved in 1974. Last previous edition approved in 2013 as A689 –97 (2013)ɛ1. under 5.1 and 5.2 shall be made by the steel producer to
DOI: 10.1520/A0689-97R18.
2
determine the percentage of the elements, which percentages
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
shall conform to the requirements of the designated ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on grade or special chemistry. The chemical analysis thus deter-
the ASTM website. mined shall be reported to the purchaser.

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 A689 − 97 (2018)
TABLE 1 Rounded Corner Radii
Nominal Corner Radii,
Specified Sizes,A in. (mm)
in. (mm)
0.250 (6.35) to 0.375 (9.52) 0.031 (0.78)
0.375 (9.52) to 0.500 (12.70) 0.063 (1.60)
Over 0.500 (12.70) to 0.813 (20.65) 0.094 (2.38)
Over 0.813 (20.65) to 1.469 (37.31) 0.125 (3.18)
Over 1.469 (37.31) to 1.938 (49.23) 0.250 (6.35)
Over 1.938 (49.23) to 2.438 (61.93) 0.313 (7.94)
A
Sizes are distances between opposite sides of square bars and the thickness of
rectangular bars.

5.3 When the steel is specified by end-quench hardenability 6.3.2 For section tolerances see Table A1.3 or A2.3 for SI
requirements (alloy steels), the grade is identified by the suffix units (for rectangular bars) and Table A1.1 or A2.1 for SI units
letter “H.” The standard alloy steel grades are the ASTM series (for square bars) of Specification A29/A29M.
4100H, 5100H, 6100H, 8600H, and 9200H and those including 6.4 Round Bars—For section tolerances see Table A1.1 or
Boron ASTM series 50B00H and 51B00H. The specific grades A2.1 for SI units of Specification A29/A29M.
are listed in Specification A304.
5.3.1 Hardenability requirements (band limits) shall be 6.5 Special Cross Section Shapes, such as Keystone—A
shown on the purchase order as outlined in the applicable drawing of the cross section including the tolerances should
sections of Specification A304. accompany the purchase order. It is recommended that the steel
5.3.2 The end-quench hardenability tests from each heat of supplier be contacted concerning the availability of any special
steel shall be made in accordance with Test Methods A255, cross section.
with the exception that a cast hardenability test specimen may 6.6 Length and Straightness of Bars:
be acceptable. The test results shall conform within the 6.6.1 For straightness and length tolerances, see Tables
specified limits and shall be reported to the purchaser. A1.10 and A1.8, or Tables A2.10 and A2.8 for SI units of
Specification A29/A29M.
6. General Requirements 6.6.2 When special straightness or machine-cut length are
6.1 The hot-wrought bars shall be furnished in the as- required, this must be clearly noted on the purchase order and
wrought condition and shall conform to the general require- reference made to Tables A1.10 and A1.9 or Tables A2.10 and
ments as outlined in Specification A29/A29M, excepting that A2.9 for SI units of Specification A29/A29M.
the spring steel bars shall not be marked by hot- or cold- 6.7 The austenitic grain size shall be No. 5 or finer as
stamping unless specified by the purchaser. determined by Test Methods E112.
6.2 Flat bars for leaf springs unless otherwise specified shall 7. Workmanship, Finish, and Appearance
be round-edge flat steel having two flat surfaces and two round
(convex) edges. The cross section tolerances permit the two flat 7.1 The bars shall be free of injurious defects and shall have
surfaces to be slightly concave. When there is concavity, the a workmanlike finish consistent with good hot-rolling practices
radii of the arcs of the two concave surfaces shall be approxi- for bars intended for use in springs.
mately the same length. 8. Rejection and Rehearing
6.2.1 The round edges shall approximate circular arcs with
8.1 Steel that fails to conform to the requirements of this
a radius of curvature between 65 to 85 % of the thickness of the
specification or shows injurious defects after its receipt by the
bar.
purchaser, or both, shall be rejected and the supplier shall be
6.2.2 Round-edge flat bars shall conform to the cross
notified for disposition.
section tolerances specified in Table 2.
6.3 Flat (Rectangular and Including Square) Bars with 9. Product Marking
Rounded Corners: 9.1 The bars shall be properly bundled for shipment and
6.3.1 The rounded corner radii shall be in accordance with identified as to size, weight, heat number, grade designation,
Table 1. purchase order number, and name of supplier.

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TABLE 2 Cross Section Tolerances for Round-Edge Flat Bars
Tolerance in
Specified Width, in. (mm) ToleranceA in Thickness, in. (mm) Tolerance in ConcavityB of Flat Surfaces, in. (mm) Max Difference in Thickness,C in. (mm)
Width, in. (mm)
Over 0.375 Over 0.875 Over 0.375 Over 0.875 Over 0.375 Over 0.875
To and 0.375 (9.52) or 0.375 (9.52) or 0.375 (9.52) or
Over Minus 0.000 (9.52) to 0.875 (22.22) to 1.500 (9.52) to 0.875 (22.22) to 1.500 (9.52) to 0.875 (22.22) to 1.500
including Under Under Under
(22.22), incl (38.10), incl (22.22), incl (38.10), incl (22.22), incl (38.10), incl

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0.00 2.50 (63.5) +0.030 (0.76) ±0.005 (0.13) ±0.006 (0.15) ... 0.005 (0.13) 0.006 (0.15) ... 0.002 (0.05) 0.002 (0.05) ...

3
2.50 (63.5) 4.00 (101.6) +0.045 (1.14) ±0.006 (0.15) ±0.008 (0.20) ±0.012 (0.30) 0.006 (0.15) 0.008 (0.20) 0.012 (0.30) 0.003 (0.07) 0.004 (0.10) 0.006 (0.15)
4.00 (101.6) 5.00 (127.0) +0.065 (1.65) ±0.007 (0.18) ±0.010 (0.25) ±0.016 (0.40) 00.007 (0.18) 0.010 (0.25) 0.016 (0.40) 0.004 (0.10) 0.005 (0.13) 0.008 (0.20)
5.00 (127.0) 6.00 (152.4) +0.090 (2.28) ... ±0.012 (0.30) ±0.020 (0.51) ... 0.012 (0.30) 0.020 (0.51) ... 0.006 (0.15) 0.010 (0.25)
A
Thickness measurements are taken at the edges of the bar where the flat surfaces intersect the rounded edges.
B
Concavity is the difference between the thickness at the center of the bar and the thickness at the edges. The thickness at the center should not exceed the thickness at the edges.
C
Maximum difference in thickness between the two edges of each bar.
A689 − 97 (2018)

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