ASTM A540 / A540M Grade B23 Class 1/2/3/4/5 Alloy Steel Bolting

ASTM A540 / A540M Grade B23 Alloy Steel Heavy Hex Bolts, Stud Bolts.

ASTM A540 Grade B23 is a high tensile alloy steel bolting grade intended for special application such as nuclear power plant installations. Grade B23 Bolts are available in 5 different tensile class namely 5,4,3,2 &1 depending upon the diameter of the bolts. A540 Grade B23 bolts are manufactured from Chromium Molybdenum Vanadium (Cr-Ni-V) Steel (E-4340-H) with tensile ranging from 115 ksi to 165 ksi (inch-pound) & 790MPa to 1140 Mpa. These bolts need to undergo charpy v notch impact test as compulsory requirement. Ferrobend can produce these bolting from 1/2 inch through 9-1/2 inch with EN 10204 Type 3.1 Certification

ASTM A540 Grade B23 Tensile Class

Grade B23 Class 5 Class 4 Class 3 Class 2 Class 1

ASTM A540 Grade B23 Chemical CompositionA

Element
Grade B23
E-4340-H
Chrome Nickel Vanadium
RangeB, %
Carbon 0.37 - 0.44
Manganese 0.60 - 0.95
PhosphorusC, max 0.025
SulfurC, max 0.025
Silicon 0.15 - 0.35
Chromium 0.65 - 0.95
Nickel 1.55 - 2.00
Molybdenum 0.20 - 0.30
Vanadium ---

A The intensional addition of Bi, Se, Te and Pb is not permitted.
B Unless otherwise specified, separate determinations may vary from the specified ranges, except that elements in any heat mush not vary both above and below the specified range.
C Phosphorus and sulfur content is 0.04% max when open hearth steel is specified.
D Silicon content is 0.35& mac if vacuum carbon deoxidized.

ASTM A540 Grade B23 Mechanical Properties (Imperial)

Grades Class Diameter, inch. Tensile Strength, min Yield Strength,
0.2% offset,
min
Elongation
min, %
Reduction
of Area, min, %
Surface
Brinell
Hardness
Charpy V Notch +10 °F [-12.2 °C]
Inch Pound Units
ksi ksi In 2 inch. Min Max
Grade B23 (E-4340-H) 5 to 6, incl. 120 105 15 50 248 311 A
5 over to 8, incl. 115 100 15 50 255 321 A
5 over 8 to 9-1/2, incl. 115 100 15 50 262 321 D
4 to 3, incl. 135 120 13 45 269 341 A
4 over 3 to 6, incl. 135 120 13 45 277 352 A
4 over 6 to 9-1/2, incl. 135 120 13 45 285 363 D
3 to 3, incl. 145 130 12 40 293 363 B
3 over 3 to 6, incl. 145 130 12 40 302 375 B
3 over 6 to 9-1/2, incl. 145 130 12 40 311 388 D
2 to 3, incl. 155 140 11 40 311 388 D
2 over 3 to 6, incl. 155 140 11 40 311 401 D
1 to 3, incl. 165 150 10 35 321 415 D
1 over 3 to 6, incl. 165 150 10 35 331 429 D
1 over 6 to 8, incl. 165 150 10 35 341 444 D

ASTM A540M Grade B23 Mechanical Properties (Metric)

Grades Class Diameter, mm. Tensile Strength, min Yield Strength,
0.2% offset,
min
Elongation
min, %
Reduction
of Area, min, %
Surface
Brinell
Hardness
Charpy V Notch +10 °F [-12.2 °C]
Metric Units
Mpa Mpa In 50 mm Min Max
Grade B23 (E-4340-H) 5 to 50, incl. 825 725 15 50 248 311 A
5 over to 200, incl. 795 690 15 50 255 321 A
5 over 200 to 240, incl. 795 690 15 50 262 321 D
4 to 75, incl. 930 825 13 45 269 341 A
4 over 75 to 150, incl. 930 825 13 45 277 352 A
4 over 150 to 240, incl. 930 825 13 45 285 363 D
3 to 75, incl. 1000 895 12 40 293 363 B
3 over 75 to 150, incl. 1000 895 12 40 302 375 B
3 over 150 to 9-1/2, incl. 1000 895 12 40 311 388 D
2 to 75, incl. 1070 965 11 40 311 388 D
2 over 75 to 150, incl. 1070 965 11 40 311 401 D
2 over 150 to 240, incl. 1070 965 11 40 321 415 D
1 to 75, incl. 1140 1035 10 35 321 415 D
1 over 75 to 150, incl. 1140 1035 10 35 331 429 D
1 over 150 to 200, incl. 1140 1035 10 35 341 444 D

Note A : The minimum average of 3 specimens shall not be less than 35ft-lbf (47 J). One specimen from a set of 3 may be less than 35 ft-lbf (47 J) but not less than 30 ft-lbf (41J).

Note B : The minimum average of 3 specimens shall not be less than 30ft-lbf (41 J). One specimen from a set of 3 may be less than 30 ft-lbf (41 J) but not less than 25 ft-lbf (34J).

Note C : The minimum average of 3 specimens shall not be less than 25ft-lbf (34 J). One specimen from a set of 3 may be less than 25 ft-lbf (34 J) but not less than 20 ft-lbf (27J).

Note D : No minimum values established. Tests shall be run for information only.

ASTM A540 Grade B23 Heat Treatment

Bolting material ordered in the annealed condition shall have a structure suitable for machining. Such annealed material is not intended to be used without subsequent quenching and tempering. Bolting ordered in the liquid quenched and tempered condition shall be uniformly reheated froma temperature below the cooling transformation range to the proper austenitizing temperature, quenched in a liquid medium under substantially uniform conditions, and then uniformly reheated for tempering. The minimum tempering tempereture shall be 850°F [455°C].
Material that has been straintened after quenching and tempering shall be stress relieved by reheating to a temperature not lower than 100°F [55°C] under the tempering temperature.

ASTM A540 Grade B23 Hardness Requirement

The hardness shall be determined on the surface of the material removal of decarburization. The hardness of material in the annealed condition shall not be greater than 235 HB. The hardness of material in the quenched and tempered or quenched, temepred and stress-relieved condition shall be within the limits in hardness column of the mechanical properties table.

ASTM A540 Grade B23 Bolt Marking

Grade Marking
Grade B23 Class 1 B23-1 BPF
Grade B23 Class 2 B23-2 BPF
Grade B23 Class 3 B23-3 BPF
Grade B23 Class 4 B23-4 BPF
Grade B23 Class 5 B23-5 BPF