This specification covers a group of common requirements that shall apply to carbon, alloy, and stainless steel fasteners or fastener materials, or both. These materials are intended for use at any temperature from cryogenic to the creep range. Requirements for the melting process and quality control procedures for ingot cast and strand cast products are detailed. Bars and fasteners shall be produced in accordance with the product specification. The chemical composition, as to heat and product analyses, shall conform to the limits of the product specification. Bars, fasteners, bolting materials, and specimen machined from fasteners shall meet the mechanical requirements which shall be determined by the following tests: (1) proof load test by mandrel/tension or compression methods, (2) cone proof load test, (3) impact test, and (4) hardness test. Assembly for the proof load and cone proof tests are illustrated. The depth of decarburization shall be determined by metallographic etching and if needed, microhardness testing.

1.1 This specification covers a group of common requirements that shall apply to carbon, alloy, stainless steel, and nickel alloy bolting under any of the following ASTM Specifications (or under any other ASTM Specifications that invoke this specification or portions thereof):

Title of Specifications

ASTM Designation

Alloy-Steel and Stainless Steel Bolting Materials
 for High-Temperature Service

A193/A193M

Carbon and Alloy Steel Nuts for Bolts for High
 Pressure and High-Temperature Service

A194/A194M

Alloy Steel Bolting Materials for Low-Temperature
 Service

A320/A320M

Alloy-Steel Turbine-Type Bolting Material
 Specially Heat Treated for High-Temperature
 Service

A437/A437M

High-Temperature Bolting Materials With Expansion
 Coefficients Comparable to Austenitic Stainless
 Steels

A453/A453M

Alloy-Steel Bolting Materials for Special Applications

A540/A540M

Precipitation-Hardening Bolting Material (UNS
 N07718) for High Temperature Service

A1014/A1014M

1.2 In case of conflict, the requirements of the individual product specification shall prevail over those of this specification.

1.3 Fasteners are a wide-ranging classification that includes screws, bolts, nuts, washers, stud bolts, rivets, powder-actuated studs, staples, tacks, and pins. Bolting, which is composed of bolting materials, such as rods, bars, flats, and forgings, which are subsequently manufactured into bolting components, are a special sub-group of fasteners. Bolting materials and components have designated compositions and specific properties intended for applications in aggressive service where commercial generic fasteners may not be suitable or have insufficient fitness for purpose under certain conditions. These conditions include cryogenic or high temperature service, or excessive vibration, impact, or shock. To further address any other special service conditions where bolting is intended for use, additional requirements may be specified by mutual agreement between the purchaser and supplier.

1.4 Supplementary requirements are provided for use at the option of the purchaser. The supplementary requirements only apply when specified individually by the purchaser in the purchase order or contract.

1.5 This specification is expressed in both inch-pound units and in SI units. Unless the purchase order or contract specifies the applicable “M” specification designation (SI units) the inch-pound units shall apply. The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. Within the text, the SI units are shown in brackets. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in nonconformance with the specification.