ASTM A401/A401M-18

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Designation: A401/A401M − 15 A401/A401M − 18
Standard Specification for
Steel Wire, Chromium-Silicon Alloy
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A401/A401M; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope*
1.1 This specification covers round and shaped chromium-silicon alloy steel spring wire having properties and quality intended
for the manufacture of springs resistant to set when used at moderately elevated temperatures. This product is not meant to be used
for non-static applications involving moderate fatigue stresses (see Specification A1000/A1000M) or high cycle fatigue
applications (see Specification A877/A877M). This wire shall be provided either in the annealed and cold-drawn or quench and
tempered condition as specified by the purchaser.
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each
system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the
two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard.
1.2.1 Within the text, the inch-pound units are shown in brackets.
1.3 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
A370 Test Methods and Definitions for Mechanical Testing of Steel Products
A510/A510M Specification for General Requirements for Wire Rods and Coarse Round Wire, Carbon Steel, and Alloy Steel
A700 Guide for Packaging, Marking, and Loading Methods for Steel Products for Shipment
A751 Test Methods, Practices, and Terminology for Chemical Analysis of Steel Products
A877/A877M Specification for Steel Wire, Chromium-Silicon Alloys, Chrome-Silicon-Vanadium Alloy Valve Spring Quality
A941 Terminology Relating to Steel, Stainless Steel, Related Alloys, and Ferroalloys
A1000/A1000M Specification for Steel Wire, Carbon and Alloy Specialty Spring Quality
E8/E8M Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials
E29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this specification, see Terminology A941.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 equivalent round diameter, n—diameter of a round wire having equivalent cross sectional area to a given shaped wire.
3.2.2 round wire, n—wire having a circular cross section.
3.2.3 shape factor, n—this value is used to obtain cross sectional area for shaped wires when multiplied by measured width and
thickness.
3.2.4 shaped wire, n—wire having a non-circular cross section.
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A01 on Steel, Stainless Steel and Related Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee A01.03
on Steel Rod and Wire.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2015Sept. 1, 2018. Published November 2015September 2018. Originally approved in 1956. Last previous edition approved in 20102015
as A401/A401M – 10.A401/A401M – 15. DOI: 10.1520/A0401_A0401M-15.10.1520/A0401_A0401M-18.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
A401/A401M − 18
4. Ordering Information
4.1 It shall be the responsibility of the purchaser to specify all requirements that are necessary for material under this
specification. Such requirements may include, but are not limited to, the following:
4.1.1 Quantity (mass),
4.1.2 Name of material (chromium-silicon alloy steel wire),
4.1.3 Dimensions (Table 1 and Section 9),
4.1.4 Condition (Section 7), and
4.1.5 ASTM designation and year of issue.
4.2 It The purchaser shall be the responsibility of the purchaser to specify all requirements that are necessary for material under
this specification. Such requirements may include, but are not limited to, the following:have the option to specify additional
requirements, including but not limited to:
3.1.1 Quantity (mass),
3.1.2 Name of material (chromium-silicon alloy steel wire),
4.2.1 Dimensions Requirements for certifications, heat analysis or test reports (Table 16.2 and Section 814),
3.1.4 Condition (Section 6),
3.1.5 Packaging (Section 14),
3.1.6 Heat analysis report, if requested (5.2),
4.2.2 Certification or test report, or both, if specified Special packing, marking, and loading requirements (Section 1315), and
4.2.3 ASTM designation and year of issue. Other special requirements, if any.
NOTE 1—A typical ordering description is as follows: 20 000-kg, quench and tempered chromium-silicon alloy steel wire, size 6.00 mm in 150 kg coils
to ASTM A401/A401M dated ____, or for inch-pound units, 40 000-lb quench and tempered chromium-silicon alloy steel spring wire, size 0.250 in. in
350-lb coils to ASTM A401/A401M dated ____.
5. Materials and Manufacture
5.1 The steel may be made by any commercially accepted steel making process. The steel may be either ingot cast or strand
cast.
5.2 The finished wire shall be free from detrimental pipe and undue segregation.
6. Chemical Composition
6.1 The steel shall conform to the requirements of Grade 9254 for chemical composition specified in Table 2.
6.2 Heat Analysis—Each heat of steel shall be analyzed by the manufacturer to determine the percentage of elements prescribed
in Table 2. This analysis shall be made from a test specimen preferably taken during the pouring of the heat. When requested, this
shall be reported to the purchaser and shall conform to the requirements of Table 2.
6.3 Product Analysis—An analysis may be made by the purchaser from finished wire representing each heat of steel. The
chemical composition thus determined, as to elements required or restricted, shall conform to the product analysis requirements
in Table 4 of Specification A510/A510M.
6.4 For referee purposes, Test Methods, Practices, and Terminology A751 shall be used.
7. Mechanical Properties
7.1 Annealed and Cold Drawn—When purchased in the annealed and cold-drawn condition, the wire shall have been given a
sufficient amount of cold working to meet the purchaser’s coiling requirements and shall be in a suitable condition to respond
properly to heat treatment. In special cases the hardness or tensile strength, if desired, shall be stated in the purchase order.
7.2 Quench and Tempered—When purchased in the quench and tempered condition, the tensile strength and minimum percent
reduction of area, sizes 2.50 mm [0.098 in.] and coarser, of the wire area shall conform to the requirements prescribed in Table
1. Tensile strength of shaped and flat rolled wires shall conform to this table based on the conversion to equivalent round
dimensions. Percent reduction of area is not applicable to shaped and flat rolled wires.
NOTE 2—Any specimen breaking in the grips shall be discarded and a new specimen tested if the specified mechanical properties are not achieved.
NOTE 3—Equivalent round definition: The cross sectional area of non-round wires converted to the round wire diameter.
7.2.1 Number of Tests—One test specimen shall be taken for each ten coils, or fraction thereof, in a lot. Each heat in a given
lot shall be tested.
7.2.2 Location of Tests—Test specimens It shall be taken permissible to take test specimens from either end of the coil.
7.2.3 Test Method—The tension test shall be made in accordance with Test Methods and Definitions A370. For shaped wires,
cross sectional area shall be calculated either by using the procedure in Test Methods E8/E8M for uniform but nonsymmetrical
cross-sections, or by measuring width and thickness and multiplying by a shape factor. Reduction of area for shaped wires shall
be calculated by using this shape factor. Measure the maximum and minimum dimension on the necked down section and multiply
by the shape factor to estimate the cross sectional area for use in the standard reduction of area calculation.
A401/A401M − 18
A
TABLE 1 Tensile Requirements
SI Units
B
Reduction of
Diameter,
MPa, min MPa, max
mm Area, min, %
SI Units
Reduction of
B
Diameter, mm MPa, min MPa, max
C,D
Area, min, %
C
0.80 2080 2260
0.80 2080 2260 . . .
C
0.90 2070 2250
0.90 2070 2250 . . .
C
1.00 2060 2240
1.00 2060 2240 . . .
C
1.10 2040 2220
1.10 2040 2220 . . .
C
1.20 2020 2200
1.20 2020 2200 . . .
C
1.40 2000 2180
1.40 2000 2180 . . .
C
1.60 1980 2160
1.60 1980 2160 . . .
C
1.80 1960 2140
1.80 1960 2140 . . .
C
2.00 1940 2120
2.00 1940 2120 . . .
C
2.20 1920 2100
2.20 1920 2100 . . .
2.50 1900 2080 45
2.50 1900 2080 45
2.80 1880 2060 45
2.80 1880 2060 45
3.00 1860 2040 45
3.00 1860 2040 45
3.50 1840 2020 40
3.50 1840 2020 40
4.00 1820 2000 40
4.00 1820 2000 40
4.50 1800 1980 40
4.50 1800 1980 40
5.00 1780 1960 40
5.00 1780 1960 40
5.50 1760 1940 40
5.50 1760 1940 40
6.00 1740 1920 40
6.00 1740 1920 40
6.50 1720 1900 40
6.50 1720 1900 40
7.00 1700 1880 40
7.00 1700 1880 40
8.00 1680 1860 40
8.00 1680 1860 40
9.00 1660 1840 40
9.00 1660 1840 40
10.00 1640 1820 40
11.00 1620 1800 35
12.0 1600 1780 35
12.0 1600 1780 35
13.0 1580 1760 30
13.0 1580 1760 30
14.0 1570 1750 30
14.0 1570 1750 30
15.0 1560 1740 30
15.0 1560 1740 30
16.0 1550 1730 30
16.0 1550 1730 30
17.0 1540 1720 30
17.0 1540 1720 30
18.0 1530 1710 30
18.0 1530 1710 30
Inch-Pound Units
Diameter, Reduction of
ksi, min ksi, max
C,D
in. Area, min, %
A401/A401M − 18
SI Units
B
Reduction of
Diameter,
MPa, min MPa, max
mm Area, min, %
C
0.032 300 325
0.032 300 325 . . .
C
0.041 298 323
0.041 298 323 . . .
C
0.054 292 317
0.054 292 317 . . .
C
0.062 290 315
0.062 290 315 . . .
C
0.080 285 310
0.080 285 310 . . .
0.092 280 305 45
0.120 275 300 45
0.135 270 295 40
0.162 265 290 40
0.177 260 285 40
0.192 260 283 40
0.219 255 278 40
0.250 250 275 40
0.312 245 270 40
0.375 240 265 40
0.438 235 260 35
0.500 230 255 35
0.562 228 253 30
0.625 226 251 30
0.687 224 249 30
A
Tensile strength values for intermediate diameters mayshall be interpolated.
B
Preferred sizes. For a complete list, refer to ANSI B32.4.
C
The reduction of area test is not applicable to wire under 2.34 mm [0.092 in.] in
diameter.
For intermediate wire diameters, the reduction of
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