ASTM A973/A973M-21

Standard Specification for Grade 100 Alloy Steel Chain

ABSTRACT
This specification covers Grade 100 heat-treated alloy steel chain for such applications as slings, lifting assemblies, and load binding. The alloy steel shall be fully killed and have an austenitic grain size of five or finer. The steel shall be made by the electric welding or gas welding process. After welding, alloy steel chain shall be heat treated before applying the proof test. Heat and product analysis shall be performed and shall meet the required chemical composition in carbon, phosphorus, and sulfur. All chain shall be tested to at least the proof load and breaking force test specimen shall consist of a length from the lot containing at least the number of links. All chain shall be in the quenched and tempered condition before the elongation is measured.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers Grade 100 heat-treated alloy steel chain for such applications as slings, lifting assemblies, and load binding. For overhead lifting applications, only alloy chain should be used.
Note 1: This specification does not cover alloy steel chain for pocket wheel applications.  
1.2 This specification is a performance standard for Grade 100 chain used between −20 °F and 400 °F [−29 °C and 205 °C]. The chain manufacturer should be contacted for use at temperatures outside this range.  
1.3 The chain grade is based on the nominal stress in the link at the design breaking force strength. It is calculated by taking the minimum breaking force load and dividing by two times the nominal cross-sectional area of the link.  
1.4 The values stated in either SI units or in other units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system are not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore, to ensure conformance with the standard, each system shall be used independently of the other, and values from the two systems shall not be combined.  
1.4.1 Metric Units—Grade = 1/10 of the minimum breaking force in kilonewtons divided by two times the nominal cross-sectional area in square millimeters. = (MBF)/(0.005)(π)(d)2  
1.4.2 English Units—Grade = 0.000689 of the minimum breaking force in pounds divided by two times the nominal cross-sectional area in square inches. = (0.000689)(MBF)/(0.5)(π)(d)2  
1.4.3 MBF = minimum breaking force (lb or kN); d = chain diameter (in. or mm).
Note 2: The above formulas are for round diameter links only. If different cross sections are used, the actual cross section of the link would need to be calculated and used.  
1.5 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.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Dec-2020
• ICS: 77.140.65 - Steel wire, wire ropes and link chains
• Technical Committee: A01 - Steel, Stainless Steel and Related Alloys
• Drafting Committee: A01.27 - Steel Chain

Standards Content (Sample)

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.
Designation:A973/A973M −21
Standard Specification for
1
Grade 100 Alloy Steel Chain
This standard is issued under the fixed designationA973/A973M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year
of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.
A superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
1.1 This specification covers Grade 100 heat-treated alloy
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
steel chain for such applications as slings, lifting assemblies,
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
and load binding. For overhead lifting applications, only alloy
chain should be used.
2. Referenced Documents
2
NOTE 1—This specification does not cover alloy steel chain for pocket
2.1 ASTM Standards:
wheel applications.
A29/A29MSpecificationforGeneralRequirementsforSteel
1.2 This specification is a performance standard for Grade
Bars, Carbon and Alloy, Hot-Wrought
100 chain used between −20°F and 400°F [−29°C and
A751Test Methods and Practices for Chemical Analysis of
205°C].Thechainmanufacturershouldbecontactedforuseat
Steel Products
temperatures outside this range.
A941TerminologyRelatingtoSteel,StainlessSteel,Related
Alloys, and Ferroalloys
1.3 The chain grade is based on the nominal stress in the
2.2 SAE Standard:
link at the design breaking force strength. It is calculated by
SAE J422 Microscopic Determination of Inclusions in
taking the minimum breaking force load and dividing by two
3
Steels
times the nominal cross-sectional area of the link.
1.4 The values stated in either SI units or in other units are
3. Terminology
toberegardedseparatelyasstandard.Thevaluesstatedineach
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
system are not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore, to
3.1.1 breaking force, minimum, n—minimum force in
ensure conformance with the standard, each system shall be
poundsornewtonsatwhichthechain,duringmanufacture,has
used independently of the other, and values from the two
been found by testing to break when a constantly increasing
systems shall not be combined.
force is applied in direct tension.
1
1.4.1 Metric Units—Grade = ⁄10 of the minimum breaking
3.1.1.1 Discussion—This test is a manufacturer’s attribute
force in kilonewtons divided by two times the nominal
acceptance test and shall not be used as criteria for service.
cross-sectional area in square millimeters.
3.1.2 date code, n—series of letters, numbers, or both
= (MBF)/(0.005)(π)(d)2
embossedonthechainwhichenablesitsmanufacturinghistory
1.4.2 English Units—Grade = 0.000689 of the minimum
to be traced.
breaking force in pounds divided by two times the nominal
cross-sectional area in square inches.
3.1.3 lot, n—forthepurposeofacceptancetesting,alotshall
= (0.000689)(MBF)/(0.5)(π)(d)2
consist of 3000 ft [1000 m], or fraction thereof, of the same
1.4.3 MBF = minimum breaking force (lb or kN); d = chain
size chain. If a continuous length of chain exceeds 3000 ft
diameter (in. or mm).
[1000 m], it shall also be considered a lot.
3.1.4 proof test, n—quality control tensile test applied to
NOTE 2—The above formulas are for round diameter links only. If
different cross sections are used, the actual cross section of the link would
chain for the purpose of verifying weld and material quality.
need to be calculated and used.
3.1.4.1 Discussion—It is the minimum force in pounds or
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
newtons which the chain has withstood at the time it left the
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
producer, under a test in which a constantly increasing force
1 2
This specification is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee A01 on Steel, For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Stainless Steel and RelatedAlloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
A01.27 on Steel Chain. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2021. Published January 2021. Originally the ASTM website.
3
approved in 1997. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as A973/A973M–07 AvailablefromSAEInternational(SAE),400CommonwealthDr.,Warrendale,
(2012). DOI: 10.1520/A0973_A0973M-21. PA 15096, http://www.sae.org.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Bo
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: A973/A973M − 07 (Reapproved 2012) A973/A973M − 21
Standard Specification for
1
Grade 100 Alloy Steel Chain
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A973/A973M; 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 Grade 100 heat-treated alloy steel chain for such applications as slings, lifting assemblies, and load
binding. For overhead lifting applications, only alloy chain should be used.
NOTE 1—This specification does not cover alloy steel chain for pocket wheel applications.
1.2 This specification is a performance standard for Grade 100 chain used between −20−20 °F and 400°F [−29400 °F [−29 °C and
205°C].205 °C]. The chain manufacturer should be contacted for use at temperatures outside this range.
1
1.3 The Grade designationchain grade is ⁄10 of the minimum breaking strength in newtons dividedbased on the nominal stress in
the link at the design breaking force strength. It is calculated by taking the minimum breaking force load and dividing by two times
the nominal cross-sectional area of the chain in square millimetres. link.
1.4 The values stated in either SI units or in other units shall are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each
system mayare not benecessarily exact equivalents; therefore, to ensure conformance with the standard, each system mustshall be
used independently of the other, without combining values in any way.and values from the two systems shall not be combined.
1
1.4.1 Metric Units—Grade = ⁄10 of the minimum breaking force in kilonewtons divided by two times the nominal cross-sectional
area in square millimeters.
= (MBF)/(0.005)(π)(d)2
1.4.2 English Units—Grade = 0.000689 of the minimum breaking force in pounds divided by two times the nominal
cross-sectional area in square inches.
= (0.000689)(MBF)/(0.5)(π)(d)2
1.4.3 MBF = minimum breaking force (lb or kN); d = chain diameter (in. or mm).
NOTE 2—The above formulas are for round diameter links only. If different cross sections are used, the actual cross section of the link would need to be
calculated and used.
1.5 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.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A01 on Steel, Stainless Steel and Related Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee A01.27
on Steel Chain.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2012Jan. 1, 2021. Published November 2012January 2021. Originally approved in 1997. Last previous edition approved in 20072012
as A973/A973M – 07.A973/A973M – 07 (2012). DOI: 10.1520/A0973_A0973M-07R12.10.1520/A0973_A0973M-21.
*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
1

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A973/A973M − 21
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
A29/A29M Specification for General Requirements for Steel Bars, Carbon and Alloy, Hot-Wrought
A751 Test Methods and Practices for Chemical Analysis of Steel Products
A941 Terminology Relating to Steel, Stainless Steel, Related Alloys, and Ferroalloys
2.2 SAE Standard:
3
SAE J422 Microscopic Determination of Inclusions in Steels
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.1.1 breaking force, minimum, n—minimum force in pounds or newtons at which the chain, during manufacture, has been found
by testing to break when a constantly increasing force is applied in direct tension.
3.1.1.1 Discussion—
This test is a manufacturer’smanufacturer’s attribute acceptance test and shall not be used as criteria for service.
3.1.2 date code, n—series of letters, numbers, or both embossed on the chain which enables its manufacturing history to be traced.
3.1.3 lot, n—for the purpose of acceptance testing, a lot shall consist of 3000 ft [1000 m], or fraction thereof, of the same size
chain. If a continuous length of chain exceeds 3000 ft [1000 m], it shall also be considered a lot.
3.1.4 proof test, n—quality cont
...