SECTION 4

Fastener Materials and Heat Treatment

Fastener Materials
 Classification of Metals
• Ferrous metals refer to materials that the primary element is iron
Steel (iron and carbon)

• Non-ferrous Metals don’t contain iron as the main constituent, though

iron can be present as an impurity in some cases
Zinc and Bronze (copper and tin)
Ferrous vs Non-Ferrous Metals
Ferrous Metals Non- Ferrous Metals

Iron Aluminum

Low Carbon Steel Copper

Medium Carbon Steel Brass

High Carbon Steel Bronze

Cast Iron Zinc

Stainless Steel Lead

Tool Steels Nickel

Others Others
 Materials
Fastenal Sales by Volume
• Carbon and alloy steels

• Stainless Steels

• Nickel and Nickel Alloys

• Brass/Bronze
• Aluminum
• Others

Carbon and Alloy Steels Stainless Non-Ferrous and Other

 Numbering Systems
• Numbering systems allow us to dictate chemistry and proper mechanical
properties we expect out of fasteners
• SAE – Society of Automotive Engineers
• AISI – American Iron and Steel Institute
• ASTM – American Society of Testing and Materials
• UNS – Unified Numbering System
• ISO – International Standards Organization
• EN – European Standards
• DIN, JIS, UNI, BS, SCM – Country Specific

Equivalent? often similar or comparable, but likely not directly equivalent

 10XX Plain carbon, Mn 1.00% max

AISI/SAE System
11XX Resulfurized free machining
Carbon steels
12XX Resulfurized / rephosphorized free machining
15XX Plain carbon, Mn 1.00-1.65%
13XX Manganese steel Mn 1.75%

• 4 digit designation system 23XX

25XX
Nickel steels
Ni 3.50%
Ni 5.00%

• First 2 digits represent the alloy content

31XX Ni 1.25%, Cr 0.65-0.80%
32XX Ni 1.75%, Cr 1.07%
Nickel-chromium steels
33XX Ni 3.50%, Cr 1.50-1.57%
• 1stnumber = major alloying element 34XX Ni 3.00%, Cr 0.77%
40XX Mo 0.20-0.25%
• 2nd number = subgroup 44XX
Molybdenum steels
Mo 0.40-0.52%

• Last 2 digits represent the % weight of

41XX Chromium-molybdenum steels Cr 0.50-0.95%, Mo 0.12-0.30%
43XX Ni 1.82%, Cr 0.50-0.80%, Mo 0.25%
47XX Nickel-chromium-molybdenum steels Ni 1.05%, Cr 0.45%, Mo 0.20-0.35%

carbon multiplied by 100 46XX

48XX
Nickel-molybdenum steels
Ni 0.85-1.82%, Mo 0.20-0.25%
Ni 3.50%, Mo 0.25%
50XX Cr 0.27-0.65%
51XX Cr 0.80-1.05%
50XXX Chromium steels Cr 0.50%, C 1.00% min
Example 1018 steel 51XXX
52XXX
Cr 1.02%, C 1.00% min
Cr 1.45%, C 1.00% min

1 and 0 equate to plain carbon 61XX

72XX
Chromium-vanadium steels
Tungsten-chromium steels
Cr 0.60-0.95%, V 0.10-0.15%
W 1.75%, Cr 0.75%

18 =.18% carbon content 81XX

86XX
Nickel-chromium-molybdenum steels
Ni .30%, Cr 0.40%, Mo 0.12%
Ni .55%, Cr 0.50%, Mo 0.20%
87XX Ni .55%, Cr 0.50%, Mo 0.25%
88XX Ni .55%, Cr 0.50%, Mo 0.35%
92XX Silicon-manganese steels Si 1.40-2.00%, Mn 0.65-0.85%, Cr 0-0.65%
• An “L” or “B” can be inserted between the numbers 93XX
94XX
Ni 3.25%, Cr 1.20%, Mo 0.12%
Ni 0.45%, Cr 0.40%, Mo 0.12%
Nickel-chromium-molybdenum steels
to signify the addition of lead or boron (10B21) 97XX
98XX
Ni 0.55%, Cr 0.20%, Mo 0.20%
Ni 1.00%, Cr 0.80%, Mo 0.25%
 UNS – Unified Numbering System
This designation system establishes 18 series of designations for metals and alloys. Each UNS designation
consists of a single-letter prefix followed by five digits. In most cases the letter is suggestive of the
family of metals identified:
 Axxxxx: Aluminum & Aluminum Alloys  Nxxxxx: Nickel & Nickel Alloys
 Cxxxxx: Copper & Copper Alloys  Pxxxxx: Precious Metals & Alloys
 Dxxxxx: Specified Mechanical Properties  Rxxxxx: Reactive & Refractory
 Exxxxx: Rare Earth & Similar Metals/Alloys Metals & Alloys
 Fxxxxx: Cast Irons  Sxxxxx: Heat & Corrosion Resistant
 Gxxxxx: AISI & SAE Carbon & Alloy Steels Steels (incl. S/S), Valve Steels, and
 Hxxxxx: AISI & SAE H-Steels Iron Based Super Alloys
 Jxxxxx: Cast Steels (except tool steels)  Txxxxx: Tool Steels
 Kxxxxx: Misc. Steels & Ferrous Alloys  Wxxxxx: Welding Filler Metals
 Lxxxxx: Low Melting Metals & Alloys
 Zxxxxx: Zinc & Zinc Alloys
 Mxxxxx: Misc Nonferrous Metals & Alloys
 Comparison of Numbering Systems
AISI 1035 = UNS G10350 (medium carbon steel)
Also – JIS G3112 S35CM
AISI 4140 = UNS G41400 (chromium-molybdenum steel)
Also – JIS G3311 SCM440M

Calling out 304 Stainless Steel - All of these could be acceptable:

AISI 304, T304, T 304, SUS304, SS304, 304SS, 304 SS, UNS S30400, AMS 5501, AMS 5513, AMS 5560,
AMS 5565, AMS 5566, AMS 5567, AMS 5639, AMS 5697, ASME SA182, ASME SA194 (8), ASME SA213,
ASME SA240, ASME SA249, ASME SA312, ASME SA320 (B8), ASME SA358, ASME SA376, ASME SA403,
ASME SA409, ASME SA430, ASME SA479, ASME SA688, ASTM A167, ASTM A182, ASTM A193, ASTM
A194, ASTM A666, FED QQ-S-763, MILSPEC MIL-S-5059, SAE 30304, DIN 1.4301, X5CrNi189, B.S. 304 S
15, EN 58E, PN 86020 (Poland), OH18N9, ISO 4954 X5CrNi189E, ISO 683/13 11
 Low Carbon Steel
• Contain less than .25% carbon
• Cannot be strengthened by quench and
temper heat treatment
Specification Material Size Min. Proof Min. Tensile Core Hardness Min. Yield Grade

• Additional strength can come from:

Range Strength Strength Rockw ell Strength Identification
(in.) (psi) (psi) Min. Max. (psi) Marking

• Work hardening SAE J429- Low or 1/4 - 1 1/2 60,000 B70 B100 36,000
• Case hardening (carburizing) Grade 1
SAE J429-
medium
carbon 1/4 - 3/4 74,000 B80 B100 57,000
Grade 2 steel 7/8 - 1 1/2 60,000 B70 B100 36,000

Most common AISI designations in this ASTM A307-

Low or
medium
1/4 - 4 60,000 B69 B100
category for fasteners: Grade A carbon
steel
1006, 1008, 1018, 1021, and 1022
Low or
ASTM A307- medium 60,000(min)
1/4 - 4 B69 B95
Grade B carbon 100,000(max)
Common low carbon specifications: steel

SAE J429 Grades 1 and 2

ASTM A307 Grades A and B
ISO 898-1 Property Class 4.8 and 4.6
 Medium Carbon Steel
• Carbon content between .25-
.6%
• Able to be hardened by Quench
Min. Proof Min. Tensile Core Hardness Min. Yield Grade
and Temper Specification Material
Size Range
Strength Strength Rockwell Strength Identification
Marking
• Common AISI designatinons: (in.)

1/4 - 1
(psi)

85,000
(psi)

120,000
Min.

C25
Max.

C34
(psi)

92,000
Carbon steel:
1030, 1035, 1038, and 1541 SAE J429-Grade 5 quenched &
tempered 1 1/8 - 1 1/2 74,000 105,000 C19 C30 81,000
• Common Fastener Specs:
SAE J429 Grade 5 AST M A325 - T ype
Medium carbon
steel: quenched
1/4 - 1 85,000 120,000 C25 C34 92,000

1
ASTM A325 & tempered 1 1/8 - 1 1/2 74,000 105,000 C19 C30 81,000

ISO 898-1 Property Class 8.8 Medium carbon

1/4 - 1 85,000 120,000 C25 C34 92,000

AST M A449-T ype1 steel: quenched 1 1/8 - 1 1/2 74,000 105,000 C19 C30 81,000
& tempered
1 3/4 - 3 55,000 90,000 B90 B99 58,000
 Medium Carbon Alloy Steel
• Alloy steel contains greater than1.65% manganese OR a specified
minimum content of alloying chromium, molybdenum, nickel, or other
alloying elements have been added to create a specific effect
• Common AISI designations:
4037, 4140, 4340, 8637, 8640
• Common fastener specifications:
SAE J429 Grade 8
ASTM A193 B7
ASTM A490
ASTM A574
ISO 898-1 Property Class 10.9 and 12.9
 Stainless Steel
• Stainless Steel is a family of iron based alloys that must contain at least
10.5% chromium
• Allows for an invisible surface film to develop that resists oxidation
which makes the material “passive” or corrosion resistant

• Stainless steels can be divided into 5 families based on the microstructure

• Austenitic
• Martensitic
• Ferritic
• Duplex
• Precipitate-Hardened
 Crystal Structure
Details on the Five Classes of Stainless Steel
Classes Non/Magnetic Crystal Common Examples
Structure
Ferritic Magnetic BCC 405, 430, 442
Austenitic Nonmagnetic FCC 201, 301, 302, 303, 304, 316
BCC –Body Centered Cubic
Martensitic Magnetic BCT 403, 410, 416
Duplex Magnetic Combination 2205, Alloy 255
Precipitate-Hardened Magnetic Combination 17-4PH, PH 17-7

• Martensitic BCT = Body Centered Tetragonal

• Essentially a cubic structure that is stretched into a rectangular prism
• Duplex and PH Combination = Contains both BCC and FCC structure
• Best of both worlds!
• Comes with a cost

FCC –Face Centered Cubic

• Cold Worked
Stainless Condition- CW
• Most common condition for fasteners, means additional strength has
been added by the cold heading and roll threading processes
• Will add some magnetism into the fastener
• Because strength is added in the head and threads the weak point can
actually become the body of the fastener
• Annealed Stainless Condition- A
• A heat treatment process that will soften previously cold worked
material.
• Exposed to heat and slowly cooled to relieve stress, soften, or produce
a slightly different microstructure that will further reduce magnetism
and retain mechanical properties at elevated temperatures
• Think ASTM A193 B8 and B8M
Specification Size Range Min. Min. Yield Core Description Grade
& Grade Tensile Strength Hardness Identification
Strength Rockwell Marking
(in.) (psi) (psi) (max)

A 304 Stainless Steel used for high temperature

AST M A193
All 75,000 30,000 B96 applications. T his material has been carbide
B8 Class 1
solution treated.

A 304 Stainless Steel used for high temperature

AST M A193
All 75,000 30,000 B90 applications. T his material has been carbide
B8A Class 1A
solution treated in the finished condition.

A 316 Stainless Steel used for high temperature

AST M A193
All 75,000 30,000 B96 applications. T his material has been carbide
B8M Class 1
solution treated.

A 316 Stainless Steel used for high temperature

AST M A193
All 75,000 30,000 B90 applications. T his material has been carbide
B8MA Class 1A
solution treated in the finished condition.

A 347 stainless steel (columbium/tantulum

stabized) is an "18-8" type stainless with
AST M A193
 Stainless Condition- SH
• Strain Hardened
• Processed by cold working a larger diameter into a smaller diameter bar or
wire
• Produces a part with about the same mechanical properties as G5
• Retains good corrosion resistance
• ASTM A193 B8 Class II
Specification Size Range Min. Min. Yield Core Description Grade
& Grade Tensile Strength Hardness Identification
Strength Rockwell Marking
(in.) (psi) (psi) (max)
3/4 & under 125,000 100,000
over 3/4 to 1 A 304 Stainless Steel similar to the Class 1, but
AST M A193 115,000 80,000
over 1 to 1-1/4 C35 has been carbide solution treated and strain-
B8 Class 2 105,000 65,000
over 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hardened.
100,000 50,000
3/4 & under 110,000 95,000
A 316 Stainless Steel similar to the Class 1, but
AST M A193 over 3/4 to 1 100,000 80,000
C35 has been carbide solution treated and strain-
B8M Class 2 over 1 to 1-1/4 95,000 65,000
hardened.
over 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 90,000 50,000
 Passivation of Stainless
• Passivation is the removal of iron or iron compounds
from the surface of a stainless steel by means of a
chemical dissolution (typically acid)
• This enhances the spontaneous formation of the
protective passive film
• We specify “Clean and Descaled per ASTM A380”
Heat Treatment
 Heat Treatment
• Simple definition: Heating or cooling a metal to change the physical
properties

• Why Heat Treat?

• Increase:
• Hardness
• Tensile and yield strength
• Toughness
• Wear resistance
• Decrease:
• Ductility
 Crystal Structure of Carbon and Alloy Steels
The structure of steel has 2 primary variables
1. Grain Structure
• Arrangement of atoms in a metal
2. Grain Size
• The size of individual crystals of metal, large grains are associated with low strength,
ductile metals

BCC –Body Centered Cubic Common Crystal (grain) Structures:

• Body Centered Cubic (BCC)
• Face Centered Cubic (FCC)
FCC allows higher amounts of carbon to sit between the atoms

Heat treating allows alloying elements like carbon to be introduced and change the structure
to add strength, changing the structure happens around 1,333⁰F

FCC –Face Centered Cubic

Alloying Elements
 Quench and Temper
1. Heat material above the austinizing
temperature and hold it (soaking)
2. Quench (cool the part rapidly)
• Oil
• Water
• Cold Air
Part is now very strong, but very brittle
1. Temper (add heat and cool slowly)
4140 Steel can be tempered to make many fasteners:
This brings ductility back into the fastener
ASTM A193 B7: 1,100⁰F
SAE J429 Grade 8: 800⁰F
ASTM A574 (socket): 700⁰F
 Core Hardening
• Depth of hardening in medium carbon (1040) steel is significantly less than
the depth of an alloy (4140) steel
• Mechanical property standard will dictate chemistry
• ASTM F606 guides us how to test mechanical properties

• 1 diameter from tip

• Test location is R/2
(midpoint)
Figure 1 from ASTM F606
 Case Hardening
• Low carbon material that cannot be through
(neutral) hardened
• Heat the metal up with an injection of carbon in
the atmosphere
• Sometimes add Nitrogen as well
• Carbon will diffuse into the outer portions of
the fastener
• Rapid cooling will harden the carbon along the
outside layer
• Depth of hardened area can be between
.003” and .030” Reference: Heat-treat-doctor.com
 Other Material Properties
• Ductility/Toughness-ability to deform under stress or pressure and
measuring the energy absorbed prior to fracture
• Ductile fracture: Plastic deformation happens prior to the part failing
• Brittle fracture: Little to no plastic deformation at the fracture
• Toughness-
• Measured using Charpy Impact Tester
• Measured in Joules or foot-pounds Ductile Fracture Brittle Fracture
 Recap of Section 4

• Ferrous Material has iron as the main constituent

• Many designations for materials exist
• Strength is a result of the combination of material
selection and heat treatment
• Not all materials can be heat treated
• All stainless steel is not created equal
End of Section 4
 Slide Title
• Content Here
 Slide Title
• Content Here
 Slide Title
• Content Here
 Slide Title
• Content Here
 Slide Title
• Content Here