ASTM A962/A962M-24a PDF

Full title and description

ASTM A962/A962M-24a — Standard Specification for Common Requirements for Bolting Intended for Use at Any Temperature from Cryogenic to the Creep Range. This specification establishes common requirements that apply to carbon, alloy, stainless steel, and nickel-alloy bolting materials and fasteners intended for service from cryogenic temperatures up through the creep range, including requirements for melting, heat/product analysis, mechanical testing, decarburization limits, and supplementary purchaser-specified requirements.

Abstract

A962/A962M-24a provides a single set of “common” requirements referenced by multiple ASTM bolting product specifications. It specifies metallurgical and process controls (melting and casting), composition and heat/product analysis, mechanical-property verification (proof load, cone proof, impact, hardness), decarburization/decarburization test methods and limits, and optional supplementary requirements that may be invoked by purchaser agreement. The specification is written in both inch-pound and SI units (the “M” designation) and is intended to be invoked by product specifications for bolting and fasteners used in extreme-temperature and other special applications.

General information

• Status: Historical / superseded (ASTM A962/A962M-24a is a prior edition that has been superseded by later editions; see A962/A962M‑25 series for the current active revision).
• Publication date: ASTM A962/A962M-24a — published October 15, 2024 (24a edition).
• Publisher: ASTM International.
• ICS / categories: 21.060.01 (Fasteners in general).
• Edition / version: 24a (designation A962/A962M-24a).
• Number of pages: 14 pages.

Scope

The specification covers common requirements that apply to carbon, alloy, stainless steel, and nickel-alloy bolting and fastener materials used at temperatures from cryogenic service up through the creep range. It is intended to be referenced by, and applied in conjunction with, applicable ASTM product specifications for bolting and fasteners (for example A193/A193M, A194/A194M, A320/A320M, A437/A437M, A453/A453M, A540/A540M, A1014/A1014M, etc.). The standard includes requirements for melting/casting controls, chemical composition reporting (heat and product analyses), mechanical testing protocols, decarburization assessment, and purchaser-option supplementary requirements; it is published in both inch–pound and SI (“M”) units.

Key topics and requirements

• Applicability to carbon, alloy, stainless steel, and nickel-alloy bolting and fasteners for service from cryogenic to creep-range temperatures.
• Requirements for melting process, ingot- and strand-cast quality control, and product traceability/heat analysis.
• Chemical composition acceptance: limits and heat/product analysis reporting consistent with invoked product specifications.
• Mandatory mechanical-property tests and acceptance criteria: proof load (mandrel/tension or compression), cone proof load, impact testing, and hardness testing.
• Decarburization/decarburization assessment procedures (metallographic etch and microhardness where required) and thread-specific limits; referenced test methods and class limits are specified.
• Supplementary requirements that may be invoked by purchaser agreement to cover special service or manufacturing conditions.
• Dual-unit presentation: inch–pound and SI (M) units are both published; unless the “M” designation is specified, inch–pound units apply.

Typical use and users

Used by fastener and bolting material manufacturers, heat-treatment and quality laboratories, procurement/specification engineers, pressure-vessel and piping designers, inspection and testing organizations, and maintenance/operations teams where bolting is required for cryogenic, high-temperature, or other extreme or safety-critical services. The standard is typically invoked in purchase orders, material specifications, and quality plans for critical bolting.

Related standards

Commonly referenced/paired ASTM product specifications include (but are not limited to) A193/A193M, A194/A194M, A320/A320M, A437/A437M, A453/A453M, A540/A540M, A1014/A1014M and other bolting/fastener product standards that call out A962/A962M for shared requirements. A962/A962M also references specific test-method standards for impact, hardness, and decarburization assessment where applicable.

Keywords

bolting, fasteners, bolting materials, proof load, cone proof, impact testing, hardness, decarburization, melting process, ingot cast, strand cast, ASTM A962, A962/A962M-24a, cryogenic service, creep-range service.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ASTM A962/A962M-24a is a “common requirements” specification that defines shared metallurgical, compositional, testing, and quality requirements for bolting and fastener materials intended for use across a wide temperature range (cryogenic to creep range).

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers melting and casting controls, heat and product chemical analysis limits, mechanical testing (proof load, cone proof, impact, hardness), decarburization assessment and limits for threads, and purchaser-option supplementary requirements; it is written for reference by product-specific bolting standards.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Fastener manufacturers, QA/QC and metallurgical testing labs, procurement/specification engineers, designers of pressure-retaining equipment, and inspection/maintenance personnel.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: A962/A962M-24a was published as the 24a edition in October 2024; it has since been superseded by later editions in the A962/A962M-25 series (published May 2025 and subsequent 25x revisions). Users should reference the latest active A962/A962M revision for current requirements.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — A962/A962M is maintained as a regularly revised ASTM common-requirements standard with serial edition numbers (for example 23, 23a, 24, 24a, 25, 25a, etc.) and is intended to be used alongside a family of product specifications for bolting materials.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Bolting, fasteners, proof load, cone proof, impact test, hardness test, decarburization, melting process, ingot cast, strand cast, cryogenic, creep-range, ASTM A962/A962M-24a.