Abstract of

SOCKET ALLOY STEEL SOCKET HEAD ASTM A574M

SCREWS CAP SCREWS [METRIC) 1997

IFI NOTES:

1. ASTM A574M is a specification developed through the procedures

of ASTM. A574M is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F-16
on Fasteners and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F16.02.

2. This abstract presents the chemical and mechanical requirements

for alloy steel socket head cap screws [metric}. It omits those para-
graphs dealing with referenced documents, government provision-
ing, packaging, inspection, and supplementary requirements. For
the omitted information, refer to the complete specification.

3. The paragraphs throughout this abstract are those of ASTM A574M-

97.

4. ASTM A574M-97 is abstracted with permission from the Annual Book

of ASTM Standards, copyright American Society for Testing and Ma-
terials, 100 Ba" Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428, U.S.A .

1. Scope 3. Ordering Information

1.1 Thi s specificati on covers the require- 3.1 Orders for material under this specifica-
ments for quenched and tempered alloy steel tion shall include the following information:
socket head cap screws 1.6 mm th rough 48 mm
in diameter having a minimum ultimate tensile 3.1 .1 Quantity (numbe r of screws),
strength of 1220 MPa. 3.1 .2 Dimensions, including nominal th read

I
designation, thread, pitch, and nom inal screw
NOTE 1 - This specification is the metric companion of
Specification A574.
length (millimeters),

3.1.3 Name of the screw (SHCS),

1.2 Th e followi ng haza rd caveat pertain s
only to the test method portion, Section 10, of 3.1.4 ASTM designation and year of issue,
this specification: This standard does not pur-
port to address all of the safety problems, if any, 3.2 Orders for socket head cap screws may
associated with its use. It is the responsibility include the following optional requirements:
of the user of this standard to establish appro- 3.2.1 Inspection at point of manufacture,
priate safety and health practices and determine
the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to 3.2.2 Coating, if a protective finish other th an
use. black oxide (thermal or chemical) is required, it
must be specified,
2. Reference Documents 3.2.3 Ce rtified test reports (see Para 9.2),
(Refer to the complete specification, see 3.2.4 Additional Testing (see Paras. 9.3 and
page K--4 1.) 11 .1),

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 Abstract of
ASTM A574M
ALLOY STEEL SOCKET HEAD SOCKET
1997 CAP SCREWS [METRIC] SCREWS

Table 1 Mechanical Requirements 4.4 Socket head cap screws shall be heat
Property Class 12.9 treated by quenching in oil from above the trans-
formation temperature and then tempered by
Full-size screws:
Tensile or wedge strength, min, MPa 1220 reheating to at least 380°C to within the hard-
Proof load (stress), min, MPa 970 ness range specified in Table 1.
Machined test specimen:
Yield strength at 0.2% offset, min, MPa 1100 4.4.1 The minimum tempering temperature
Tensile strength, min, MPa 1220 may be verified by submitting screws to 370°C
Elongation in 5D , min, % 8 for 30 min at temperature. The mean cross sec-
Reduction 01 area, min, % 35
tion hardness of three readings on the screw
Product hardness: before and after retempering shall not differ by
Rockwell 381044 HRC
Vickers 37210434 DPH more than 20 DPH.

4.5 When protective or decorative coatings

are applied to the screws, precautions speci-
3.2.5 Special packaging (see Para. 14.1.2). fied by the coating requirements to prevent
embrittlement must be exercised. The coated
3.2.6 Supplementary requirements (see 81),
screw M36 and smaller shall sustain a load for
3.2.7 Special requirements. 24 h in accordance with 10.2 without develop-
ing cracks.
3.3 Government provisioning - government
procurement and design section criteria shall be 5. Chemical Composition
specified in accordance with ASME B18.3.1M, 5.1 The analysis of the screw material shall
as appropriate. conform to the chemical composition specified
in Table 2. See Supplementary Requirement
4. Materials and Manufacture S1 when specific chemistry grades are required.

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4.1 The screws shall be fabricated from steel 5.2 Material analysis may be made by the
made to fine grain practice. purchaser from finished products representing
each lot. The chemical composition thus deter-
4.2 Screws in sizes up to M20 inclusive, and mined shall conform to the requirements speci-
with lengths up to 10 times the nominal product fied for the product analysis in Table 2.
size or 150 mm, whichever is shorter, shall be
cold headed, except that they may be hot 5.3 One or more of the following alloying
headed by agreement of the purchaser. Larger elements: chromium, nickel, molybdenum, or
sizes and longer lengths may be cold or hot vanadium shall be present in the steel in suffi-
headed. Screws M42 and larger may be ma- cient quantity to ensure the specified strength
chined. Sockets may be forged or machined at
the option of the manufacturer. Table 2 Chemical Requirements
Composition, %
4.3 Screws in sizes up to M24 inclusive, and Element
product lengths up to 150 mm inclusive, shall Heat Analysis Product AnalysIs

be roll threaded, except by special agreement Carbon 0.33100.48 0.31 100.50

of the purchaser. Larger products may be rolled, Phosphorus, max 0.035 0.040
Sulfur, max 0.040 0.045
cut, or ground at the option of the manufacturer.

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 Abstract of
SOCKET ALLOY STEEL SOCKET HEAD ASTM A574M
SCREWS CAP SCREWS [METRIC] 1997

Table 3 Mechanical Testing Requirements

Test Conducted Using Test Conducted Using
Full-Size Product Machined Test Specimen
Tensile Hard- Hard- Decar-

..'"
Descrip- Prod uct Yield
Load, ness, ness, burlza... Reduc-
It"" tion Len gth Wedge Axial St rength
min, kN mu min tion P~f Tensile Elonga- tion
Tens ile Tensile
Loo' Strength Strength
Strength
"~ of
A~a
Off...
All B B B ... ... .. . ... ... ... ...
1 ... ~ 3DA
""'"
lengths
B ... B ... ... ... . .. ...
Smaller 30 10 ZC XC
2 • , 200
SHCS 300 mm
Smaller 0- B ... S ... ...
3
SHCS . '200 300 mm
XC yC yC yC yC

4
......, >1 200 • 30
s ... s ZC ... XC yC yC yC yC
SHCS
A 0 denotesnomlnal diamelerofproduct.
8 Denotes mandatory test
C Either all tests denoted by X Of all tests denoted by Y shall be performed. In case of arbitration full-size tests, denoted X, shall be decisive.
Proof lest denoted ZshaU be conducted when purchaser requests lhe test in inquiry and order.

properties are met after oil quenching and tem- 7. Dimensions

pe ring.
7.1 Unless othelWise specified, the product
5.4 Steel to which bismuth, selenium, tellu- shall conform to the requirements of ASME
rium, or lead has been intentionally added shall B1 8.3.1M, page H-1 .
not be permitted.

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8. Workmanship, Finish, and Appearance
6. Mechanical Properties -
8.1 There shall be no evidence of carbur-
6.1 Socket head cap screws shall be tested ization or gross decarburization on the surfaces
in accordance with the mechanical testing re· of the heat treated screws when measured in
quirements specified in Table 3, and shall meet accordance with 10.3.
the mechanical requirements in Table 1 and
Table 4. DECARBUR IZATION

6.2 Screws in sizes 1.6 through 36 mm di·

ameter in accordance with Table 3 shall be
wedge tested with wedge angles in accordance
with Table 5.

6.3 The hardness limits shall be met any·

where on the cross section through the th reads,
one diameter from the screw paint as deter· .1 hs
mined using Test Methods ASTM E1 8.
Fig. 1 Decarburization Limits

H-62
 Abst ract of
ALLOY STEEL SOCKET HEAD - SOCKET

-
ASTM A574M
1997 CAP SCREWS [METRIC] SCREWS

Permissible - Does not extend

more than half the distance
Permissible in accordance with 8.3.1 between the periphery of the
head and socket. ,~;?~"

Not Permissible - Connects

socket and edge of head.

r F'em,'ss,'ble in accordance with 8.3.1

Permissible in accordance with 8.3.1 Permissible (in accordance
wi th 8.3. 1) - Bearing area,
body, and threads (longitudinal
direction only).

Not Permissible - PotenliaJ

intersecting disconlinuities.

I
Fig. 2 Head and Body Discontinuity Location and Limits

8.2 The depth of partial decarburization shall permissible provided those located in the bear·
be limited to the values in Table 6 when mea- ing area, Met, and top surfaces shall not have
sured as shown in Fig. 1, and in accordance a depth exceeding 0.03D or 0.13 mm, which-
with 10.3. ever is greater. For peripheral discontinuities,
the maximum depth may be O.06D, but not to
8.3 The surface discontinuities for these
exceed 1.6 mm (see Fig. 2) .
products shall conform to Specification ASTM
F788/ F788M , page B-115, and the additional
8.3.2 Forging defects located in the socket wall
limitations specified herein.
within 0.1 times the actual key engagement (T)
8.3.1 Forging defects that connect the socket from the bottom of the socket are not permis·
to the periphery of the head are not permissible. sible. Disccntinuities located elsewhere in the
Defects originating on the periphery and with a socket shall not have a length exceeding 0.25 T,
traverse indicating a potential to intersect and or maximum depth of 0.03D not to exceed 0.13
are not perm issible. Other forging defects are mm (see Fig. 3).

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_ _I
Abstract of
SOCKET ALLOY STEEL SOCKET HEAD

-
ASTM A574M
SCREWS CAP SCREWS [METRIC] 1997

Table 4 Minimum Ultimate Tensile Loads 8.3.6 Quench cracks of any depth , any length ,
NOTE 1 - All values are rounded to 3 significant digits
or in any location are not permitted.
Stress Area, Tensile Load, Proof Load,
Thread Size
mm' min,kN kN 9. Number of Tests
M1.6 x 0.35 1.27 1.55 1.23
M2 x 0.4 2.07 2.53 2.01 9.1 The requirements of this specification
M2.5 x 0.45 3.39 4.14 32
shall be met in continuous mass production for
M3 xO.5 5.03 6.14 4.88
M4 xO.7 8.78 10.7 8.52 stock, and the manufacturer shall make sample
MS xO.8 14.2 17.3 13.8 inspections to ensure that the product conforms
M6xl 20. 1 24.5 19.5 to the specified requirements. Additional tests
MS x 1.25 36.• 44.6 35.5 of individual shipments of material are not ordi-
Ml0 x 1.5 58.0 70.8 56.3
narily contemplated. A record of individual heats
M12 x 1.75 84.3 103 81.8
M14x2 115 140 112
of steel in each test lot shall be maintained. The
M16x2 157 192 152 container shall be coded to permit identification
M20 x2.S 245 299 238 01 the lot.
M24x3 353 431 342
M30 x 3.5 561 684 544
9.2 When specified in the order, the manu-
M36x4 817 997 792
M42 x 4.5 11 20 1370 1090
facturer shall furnish a test report certified to be
M46 x 5 1470 1790 1430 the last complete set of mechanical tests for
each stock size in each shipment.

8.3.3 Seams in the shank shall not exceed a

depth of 0.03D or 0.2 mm, whichever is greater. Table 6 Decarburization Limits
for Threads A
8.3.4 No transverse discontinuities shall be
permitted in the head-te-shank fillet area. Basic Thread
Thread Pitch P ,
Height h= N=".4h , mln, mm
mm

I
O.6135P mm
8.3.5 Threads shall have no laps at the root
0.35 0.215 0. 161
or on the flanks, as shown in Fig. 4. Laps are 0.4 0.245 0.184
permitted at the crest (Fig. 4C) that do not ex- 0.45 0.276 0.207
ceed 25% of the basic thread depth, and on the 0.5 0.307 0.230
flanks outside the pitch cylinder. Longitudinal 0.7 0.429 0.322
seams rolled beneath the root of the thread and 0.8 0.491 0.368

across the crests of cut threads are acceptable 1 0.613 0.460

within the limits of 8.3.3. 125 0.767 0.575
1.5 0.920 0.690

1.75 1.074 0.806

Table 5 Wedge Test Angle 2 1.227 0.920
2.5 1.534 1.151
Product Diameter, mm Oegrne
3 1.840 1.380
Socket head cap screws threaded
2 D and closer to underside of head
through 20
over 20 1036
•
4
3.5
4
2.147
2.454
1.610
1.84 1

through 12 10 4.5 2.761 2.071

All other socket head cap screws over 12 to 16 8 5 3.068 2.301
over 16 to 36
• A See Fig. 1.

H -64
 Abstract of
ALLOY STEEL SOCKET HEAD - SOCKET

-
ASTM A574M
1997 CAP SCREWS [METRIC] SCREWS

9.3 When additional tests are specified on measurement, either optical or microhardness
the purchase order, a lot, for purposes of se- measurement. The microhardness measure-
lecting test samples, shall consist of all screws ment shall constitute a referee method in cases
offered for inspection at one time of one diam- of dispute.
eter and length. From each lot, the number of
samples for each requirement shall be as fol- 10.3.1 For optical measurement, etch the sec-
lows: tion in 4% nital. Examine the suriace of the
etched samples under a microscope at 100X
Number of Pieces In Lot Number of Samples using a measuring eyepiece graduated in 0.03-
800 and less 1 mm increments. The width of any light etching
Over 800 to 8,000, incl.
Over 8,00D to 22,000, incl. ,
2 band normally defines th e decarburization
depth. A dark etching band indicates the pos-
Over 22,000 5
sibility of carburization .
9.4 Should any sample fail to meet the re- 10.3.2 Measure microhardness in accordance
quirements of a specified test, double the num- with Test Method ASTM E3B4 on unetched
ber of samples from the same lot shall be re- specimens using a DPH 136 0 indenter or a
tested for the requirement(s) in which it failed. Knoop indenter with a 200-gf load. Take mea-
All of the additional samples shall conform to surements at the root diameter (Reading Num-
the specification, or the lot shall be rejected. ber 1) on the thread crest bisector to determine
base material hardness. Take measurements
10. Test Methods (Reading Number2) on the bisector 0.75 h, from
the root measurement toward the thread crest.
10.1 Conduct tests for proof load, wedge ten-
Measure also (Reading Number 3) within 0.08
sile, and ultimate tensile strength in accordance
mm of the thread flank at the pitch line on this
with Test Methods ASTM F606M. page 8-130.
or adjacent thread . The hardness reading (No.
10.2 Assemble coated fasteners M1 .6

I
through M36 with a wedge under the head simi- r INP'I'.R~",.~'~.BL,EI F NOT IN EXCESS OF 0.25T
LENGTH AND NOT WITHIN 0.10T FROM
lar to that required for wedge tensile testing . BOTIOM OF SOCKET
Develop a clamp load or sustained load equal
to 80% of the minimum tensile strength. Store
the assembly at ambient temperatures for 24 h.
When the load is removed, examine the speci-
men for indications of discontinuities. Any dis-
continuity developed by th e sustained load shall
be a cause for rejection.

10.3 To test for decarburization and carbur- PERMISSIBLE - NOT

IN AREA OF KEY
ization, section the thread area of the bolt lon- ENGAGEMENT
gitudinally through the axis, mount, and polish (SOTIOM OF SOCKET)
NOT PERMISSIBLE· BC)TT<)M .:>-
it in accordance with ASTM Methods E3. Take OF SOCKET OR WITHINO.l0T
measurements (1) at the root and (2) from a OF BOTTOM OF SOCKET
point in the center of the root along the same
plane as the root, perpendicularly to the crest. Fig. 3 Socket Discontinuity Location
Use one of the two methods for the root to crest and Limits

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H -65
-
SOCKET ALLOY STEEL SOCKET HEAD Abstract of

-
ASTM A574M
SCREWS CAP SCREWS [METRIC] 1997

~PSAND---.-----.__~----.
SEAMSNQT
PERMISSIBLE
~ MAJOAOIAMETER

-- - - -- PITCH DIAMETER

PERMISSIBLE
SURFACE
IRREGULARITIES AAA-- -
(a)

- - --
MINOR DIAMETER

MAJOR DIAMETER

PITCH DIAMETER

PERMISSIBLE
LAPS AND
SEAMS
JV0A
-- -
(b)

-----,:----,,------c----~

- - --
MINOR DIAMETER

MAJOR DIAMETER

PITCH DIAMETER

(c) MINOR DIAMETER

Fig. 4 Thread Discontinuities

2) at 0.75 h, shall be equal to or greater than 12.2 Property class and manufacturer's or pri-
the base material (No. 1) hardness minus 30 vate label distributor's identification shall be
DPH, and shall be the decarburization limit de· separate and distinct. Marks shall preferably
terminant. Determine the depth of decarbur- be in different locations and, when on the same
ization in the root 01 the thread by making the level, shall be separated by a distinctive mark
hardness measurement at 0.1 h below the root such as a forward or backward slash, colon,
surface (Reading Number 4). The hardness dash, dot, or space.
reading (No. 4) in the root shall be equal to or

I
greater than the base material (No. 1) hardness 13, Responsibility
minus 30 DPH. None of the hardness readings
(No. 2, 3, or 4) shall be greater than the base 13.1 The party responsible for the fastener
material (No. 1) hardness plus 10 OPH. shall be the organization that supplies the fas-
tener to the purchaser and certifies that the fas-
11. Inspection
tener was manufactured, sampled, tested and
(Refer to the complete specification, see inspected in accordance with this specification
page K-41.) and meets all of its requirements.

12, Product Marking

14. Packaging and Package Marking
12.1 All screws with nominal diameters of 5
mm and larger shall be pennanently marked to (Refer to the complete specification, see
identify the Property Class 12.9, and the manu- page K-41.)
facturer's or private label distributor's identifi-
cation symbol. Marking for "Socket Head Cap 15. Key Words
Screws" may be on the side of the head or on
top. 15.1 alloy steel; cap screws; socket head

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H -66