ASTM A391/A391M-21

Standard Specification for Grade 80 Alloy Steel Chain

ABSTRACT
This specification deals with Grade 80 heat-treated alloy steel chain for applications such as slings, lifting assemblies, and load binding. The alloy steel chain shall be made to a fully-killed fine austenitic grain process. Alloy steel chain may be made by the electric welding or gas welding process. The material shall be heat treated which includes quenching and tempering. Material's composition shall conform to the chemical requirements for carbon, phosphorous, sulfur, nickel, chromium, and molybdenum. The material shall conform to the mechanical property requirements for breaking force and elongation and to the dimensional requirements for the appropriate size chain. All chain shall be tested to at least the proof load.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers Grade 80 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.  
1.2 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.  
1.3 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.  
1.3.1 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)(d)  
1.3.2 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)(d)  
1.3.3 MBF = minimum breaking force (lb or kN); d = chain diameter (in. or mm).
Note 1: 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.  
1.4 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:A391/A391M −21
Standard Specification for
1
Grade 80 Alloy Steel Chain
This standard is issued under the fixed designationA391/A391M; 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* 2. Referenced Documents
2
1.1 This specification covers Grade 80 heat-treated alloy 2.1 ASTM Standards:
steel chain for such applications as slings, lifting assemblies, A29/A29MSpecificationforGeneralRequirementsforSteel
and load binding. For overhead lifting applications, only alloy Bars, Carbon and Alloy, Hot-Wrought
chain should be used. A751Test Methods and Practices for Chemical Analysis of
Steel Products
1.2 The chain grade is based on the nominal stress in the
A941TerminologyRelatingtoSteel,StainlessSteel,Related
link at the design breaking force strength. It is calculated by
Alloys, and Ferroalloys
taking the minimum breaking force load and dividing by two
times the nominal cross-sectional area of the link.
3. Terminology
1.3 The values stated in either SI units or in other units are
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
toberegardedseparatelyasstandard.Thevaluesstatedineach
3.1.1 breaking force, minimum, n—minimum force in
system are not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore, to
poundsornewtonsatwhichthechain,duringmanufacture,has
ensure conformance with the standard, each system shall be
been found by testing to break when a constantly increasing
used independently of the other, and values from the two
force is applied in direct tension.
systems shall not be combined.
3.1.1.1 Discussion—This test is a manufacturer’s attribute
1
1.3.1 Metric Units—Grade = ⁄10 of the minimum breaking
acceptance test and shall not be used as criteria for service.
force in kilonewtons divided by two times the nominal
cross-sectional area in square millimeters.
3.1.2 date code, n—series of letters, numbers, or both,
= (MBF)/(0.005)(π)(d)(d) embossedonthechainwhichenablesitsmanufacturinghistory
to be traced.
1.3.2 English Units—Grade = 0.000689 of the minimum
breaking force in pounds divided by two times the nominal
3.1.3 lot, n—forthepurposeofacceptancetesting,alotshall
cross-sectional area in square inches.
consist of 3000 ft [1000 m], or fraction thereof, of the same
= (0.000689)(MBF)/(0.5)(π)(d)(d)
grade and size chain. If a continuous length of chain exceeds
1.3.3 MBF = minimum breaking force (lb or kN); d = chain
3000 ft [1000 m], it shall also be considered a lot.
diameter (in. or mm).
3.1.4 proof test, n—quality control tensile test applied to
chain for the purpose of verifying weld and material quality.
NOTE 1—The above formulas are for round diameter links only. If
different cross sections are used, the actual cross section of the link would
3.1.4.1 Discussion—It is the minimum force in pounds or
need to be calculated and used.
newtons which the chain has withstood at the time it left the
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
producer, under a test in which a constantly increasing force
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
has been applied in direct tension to a straight length of chain.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Proof test loads are a manufacturing integrity test and shall not
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
be used as criteria for service or design purposes.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
3.1.5 traceability code, n—series of letters, numbers, or
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
both, embossed on the chain which enables its manufacturing
history, including the identity of the steel heat, to be traced.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee A01 on Steel,
Stainless Steel and RelatedAlloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
2
A01.27 on Steel Chain. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2021. Published January 2021. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1955. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as A391/A391M–07 Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
(2012). DOI: 10.1520/A0391_A0391M-21. 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
1

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...

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: A391/A391M − 07 (Reapproved 2012) A391/A391M − 21
Standard Specification for
1
Grade 80 Alloy Steel Chain
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A391/A391M; 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 80 heat-treated alloy steel chain for such applications as slings, lifting assemblies, and load
binding.
NOTE 1—This specification does not cover alloy steel chain for pocket wheel applications. For overhead lifting applications, only alloy chain
should be used.
1
1.2 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.
1.3 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
1.3.1 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)(d)
1.3.2 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)(d)
1.3.3 MBF = minimum breaking force (lb or kN); d = chain diameter (in. or mm).
NOTE 1—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.
1.4 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 1955. Last previous edition approved in 20072012
as A391/A391M – 07.A391/A391M – 07 (2012). DOI: 10.1520/A0391_A0391M-07R12. 10.1520/A0391_A0391M-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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A391/A391M − 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
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’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 grade
and 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 control tensile test applied to chain for the purpose of verifying weld and material quality.
3.1.4.1 Discussion—
It is the minimum force in pounds or newtons which the chain has withstood at the time it left the producer, under a test in which
a constantly increasing force has been applied in direct tension
...