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An American National Standard
Designation: A 437/A 437M – 01

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 system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system must
1.1 This specification2 covers alloy-steel bolting material be used independently of the other. Combining values from the
specially heat treated for high-temperature service, such as two systems may result in nonconformance with the specifi-
steam turbine, gas turbine, and similar uses. This material cation.
requires special processing and should not be used in general- 2. Referenced Documents
purpose applications. The term “bolting material,” as used in
this specification, covers rolled or forged bars, bolts, nuts, 2.1 ASTM Standards:
screws, washers, studs, and stud bolts. The bars shall be hot A 962/A 962M Specification for Common Requirements
wrought. The material may be further processed by centerless for Steel Fasteners or Fastener Materials, or Both, Intended
grinding or by cold drawing. for Use at Any Temperature from Cryogenic to the Creep
1.2 The high-temperature properties of the material covered Range3
by this specification are dependent upon special heat treatment, E 381 Method of Macroetch Testing Steel Bars, Billets,
which is required. Although the high-temperature properties Blooms, and Forgings4
are not specified, they are implied by control of the chemistry, 3. Common Requirements
heat treatment, and room-temperature properties of the mate-
rial. 3.1 Material and Fasteners supplied to this specification
shall conform to Specification A 962/A 962M. These require-
NOTE 1—High-temperature tests shall not be required, unless made a ments include test methods, finish, thread dimensions, marking
matter of agreement between the manufacturer and the purchaser. certification, optional supplementary requirements, and others.
1.3 Three levels of bolting strength are covered, designated If the requirements of this specification are in conflict with
Grades B4B, B4C, and B4D. Selection will depend on the those of A 962/A 962M, then the requirements of this specifi-
design and the stresses and service for which the product is to cation shall prevail.
be used.
4. Ordering Information
NOTE 2—When ordering material under this specification, or when
incorporating this specification as a reference in any individual specifica- 4.1 The inquiry and order should indicate the following:
tion, the purchaser must designate the steel by identification symbol or 4.1.1 Specification designation, grade and class, issue date
analysis, or both, and definitely specify the minimum mechanical prop- and revision letter,
erties required as selected from Table 1. 4.1.2 Quantity (weight or number of pieces),
1.4 This specification is expressed in both inch-pound units 4.1.3 Description (bars, bolts, nuts, etc.),
and in SI units. However, unless the order specifies the 4.1.4 Dimensions,
applicable “M” specification designation (SI units), the mate- 4.1.5 Finish, and
rial shall be furnished to inch-pound units. 4.1.6 Impact testing of nuts, if required (see Section 9).
1.5 The values stated in either inch-pound units or SI units
5. Discard
are to be regarded separately as standard. Within the text, the
SI units are shown in brackets. The values stated in each 5.1 A sufficient discard shall be made from each ingot to
ensure freedom from injurious piping and undue segregation.
5.2 Quality—To ensure soundness, bars and wire shall be
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A01 on Steel, tested in accordance with Method E 381 or other suitable
Stainless Steel, and Related Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee method as agreed upon between the purchaser and the pro-
A01.22 on Steel Forgings and Wrought Fittings for Piping Applications and Bolting ducer. When bar or wire is supplied, the bar or wire producer
Materials for Piping and Special Purpose Applications.
Current edition approved Mar. 10, 2001. Published May 2001. Originally
published as A 437 – 59 T. Last previous edition A 437/A 437M – 00a.
2 3
For ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code applications see related Specifi- Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.01.
4
cation SA-437 in Section II of that code. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.01.

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

1
 A 437/A 437M
TABLE 1 Tensile Requirements TABLE 2 Chemical RequirementsA
Element Grades B4B, B4CB Grade B4D
Grade Diameter, in. [mm] Tensile Yield Elongation
Range, % Product Range, % Product
Strength, Strength in 2 in. or Reduction
Variation, %, Variation, %,
min, ksi (0.2 % 50 mm, of Area,
Over or Over or
[MPa] offset) min, min, % min, %
Under Under
ksi [MPa]
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 ... ... ...
shall perform the test. When fasteners are supplied, either the Tin, max 0.04 ... ... ...
bar or wire producer or the fastener producer, as agreed upon A
Steel to which lead has been added shall not be used.
between them, shall perform the test. Quality control proce- B
UNS S42200.
C
Total, Soluble + Insoluble
dures shall be sufficient to demonstrate the testing was per-
formed and the results were acceptable. Each heat shall be
represented by a minimum of one macroetch. The macroetch tensile properties prescribed in Table 1 at room temperature
examination shall be made on representative billets from which after heat treatment.
the material will be produced or on samples cut from the ends 8.2 The longitudinal axis of the test specimen shall be
of the bars. Visual examination of transverse sections shall parallel to the direction of rolling.
show no imperfections worse than the macrographs of Method
E 381 S2–R2–C3 or equivalent as agreed upon. Distinct zones 9. Impact Requirements
of solidification shall not be present. 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. The 12. Nuts and Washers
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.
TABLE 3 Impact Requirements
7. Chemical Composition
Grade Minimum Impact Value, ft·lbf [J]
7.1 The material shall conform to the requirements as to
B4B 10 [14]
chemical composition specified in Table 2. B4C 25 [34]
B4DA 25 [34]
8. Tensile Requirements A
For bars over 5-in. [127-mm] diameter only.
8.1 The material shall conform to the requirements as to

2
 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 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]
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]
Over 41⁄2 to 51⁄2 [115 to 140], incl 5⁄64 [2.0] 0 0.058 [1.47]
Particle (MPI) (wet or dry), the Liquid Penetrant (LPI), the Over 51⁄2 to 61⁄2 [140 to 165], incl 1⁄8 [3.2] 0 0.070 [1.78]
Ultrasonic (UT), or the Visual Testing (VT), at the option of the Over 61⁄2 to 71⁄2 [165 to 190], incl 5⁄32 [4.0] 0 0.085 [2.16]

producer. For LPI or MPI, linear indications (those indications

longer than 1⁄16 in. [1.5 mm] with a length greater than three
times their width) are unacceptable. For UT or ET, reject levels
for linear indications shall be based on the alarm response from
a surface notch with a maximum depth of 0.012 in. [.30 mm]
in a calibration bar. Product being subjected to VT shall be
pickled prior to inspection. VT indications longer than 1⁄8 in.
are prohibited.

15. Keywords
15.1 bolts—steel; chromium alloy steel; fasteners—steel;
marking on fasteners; nuts—steel; steel bars—alloy; steel
bolting material; temperature service applications—high; tur-
bine materials

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