AISI 8740 / AMS 6322 / AMS 6325

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AISI 8740 / AMS 6322 / AMS 6325

AISI 8740
UNS G87400 (hardenability-band grade 8740H = H87400) · W.Nr. 1.6546 / 40NiCrMo2-2 (cross-reference tables give DIN name 40NiCrMo22, UNI 40NiCrMo2, JIS SNCM240 – FOUND IN THREE SOURCES, the band could not be verified element by element) · SAE J404 / ASTM A29 band: C 0.38-0.43% – Mn 0.75-1.00% – Si 0.15-0.35% – Ni 0.40-0.70% – Cr 0.40-0.60% – Mo 0.20-0.30% – P 0.035% max – S 0.040% max – balance Fe. The AMS 6322 chemistry gives the same band with tighter impurity limits: P 0.025% max, S 0.025% max, Cu 0.35% max. The nominal form used in the AMS titles is 0.50Cr – 0.55Ni – 0.25Mo (0.38-0.43C). IT IS A QUENCH-AND-TEMPER STEEL – NOT A CARBURIZING STEEL. Its carbon is 0.38-0.43%, which is too high for carburizing. 8620, which looks as if it belongs to the same 87xx family, carries 0.18-0.23% carbon and is a carburizing steel; THE TWO ARE NOT INTERCHANGEABLE. 8740 works on the same logic as 4140 and 4340: austenitize, oil quench, temper. IT IS NOT STAINLESS. IT DOES NOT PRECIPITATION HARDEN; there is no H900 / H1025 / H1150 type ageing step.​‌​​‌​

Not to be confused with

AISI 4340

For what
Bought for medium-to-high strength fasteners and machine parts used hardened and tempered: aircraft engine bolts and aerospace fasteners, axles, drill tool joints, drill and reamer bodies, piston rods, heavy-duty shafts.
Forms
Round bar · flat bar · plate · sheet · tube · forgings · fasteners. All forms are supplied to order.
Standards
AMS (verified, 0.50Cr – 0.55Ni – 0.25Mo, C 0.38-0.43% chemistry): 6322 (BARS, FORGINGS, RINGS AND STOCK FOR FORGING OR FLASH WELDED RINGS; AIRCRAFT QUALITY; latest revision S/2023) · 6323 (MECHANICAL TUBING; latest revision M/2017) · 6325 (BARS AND FORGINGS; HEAT TREATED, 105 ksi / 724 MPa TENSILE STRENGTH) · 6327 (BARS AND FORGINGS; HEAT TREATED, 125 ksi / 862 MPa TENSILE STRENGTH) · 6358 (SHEET, STRIP AND PLATE; AIRCRAFT QUALITY). Cleanliness: AMS 2301 · AMS 2304. Heat treatment procedure: AMS 2759/1 (Heat Treatment of Carbon and Low-Alloy Steel Parts). ASTM: A29 / A29M (general requirements) · A322 (alloy steel bars, standard grades) · A331 (cold-finished bars) · A519 (seamless mechanical tubing) · A711 (stock for forgings) · A752 (alloy steel wire rod) · A320 / A320M Grade L7C (low-temperature bolting). SAE: J404 (chemistry) · J1268 (hardenability bands for H grades) · J1397. Military: MIL-S-6049 / AMS-S-6049 (8740 bars and reforging stock, aircraft quality – superseded by AMS-6322, AMS-6325 and AMS-6327) · MIL-B-6812 (aircraft bolts). EN and others: W.Nr. 1.6546 / 40NiCrMo2-2 · UNI 40NiCrMo2 · JIS SNCM240 (three sources, band not verified).
AMS 6322, 6325 AND 6327 ARE NOT INTERCHANGEABLE. All three share one chemistry; THE DIFFERENCE IS THE DELIVERY CONDITION AND THE TARGET STRENGTH.
Advantage
That one material can be tied BY SPECIFICATION to three separate strength targets. AMS 6325 supplies it heat treated to 105 ksi (724 MPa) tensile, AMS 6327 heat treated to 125 ksi (862 MPa) tensile, while AMS 6322 covers the aircraft-quality delivery condition.
Welding
WELDABLE, BUT PREHEAT IS REQUIRED. Its carbon is 0.38-0.43%, the same band as 4140, and without preheat the heat-affected zone turns into hard, brittle martensite.
Limits
1) IT IS NOT STAINLESS. Chromium is 0.40-0.60% and no passive layer forms. Without plating, phosphating, oil or paint it rusts in damp conditions; it is not suitable for marine or chloride-bearing environments.
2) IT IS NOT A CARBURIZING STEEL AND IS NOT CARBURIZED.
Compiled from manufacturer data sheets · confirm against the current specification before ordering

On this page · click to jump
What AISI 8740 IsStandards by Product Form8740 as an Aerospace FastenerSpecification GapsChemical CompositionHeat TreatmentTEMPER EMBRITTLEMENTMechanical PropertiesPhysical PropertiesWeldingMachiningCorrosion, Cadmium and HYDROGEN EMBRITTLEMENTFrequently Asked Questions



AISI 8740 is a low-alloy steel, alloyed with nickel, chromium and molybdenum, that can be hardened by heat treatment. Within the alloy steel group it stands out for combining high strength with good ductility and formability.​‌​​‌​

It works at lower hardness levels than the 4140 and 4340 grades; in return its weldability and formability are better. That balance makes it the preferred grade for fasteners such as bolts, nuts and pins that work under high tensile load.

After heat treatment its microstructure consists of martensite and tempered ferrite. Its ability to hold dimensional stability after tempering is an important advantage in parts held to tight tolerances. In grades produced by vacuum arc remelting (VAR) or electroslag refining (ESR), microstructural cleanliness is of the highest order.​‌​​‌​

It is used in aerospace for landing gear parts, fasteners and propeller shafts; in automotive for valve components, gears and drive shafts; and in oil and gas for high pressure downhole equipment. It can be supplied as round bar and forgings.

Chemical Composition · AISI 8740

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C — Carbon0.38 – 0.43%​‌​​‌​
Ni — Nickel0.40 – 0.70%​‌​​‌​
Cr — Chromium0.40 – 0.60%​‌​​‌​
Mo — Molybdenum0.20 – 0.30%​‌​​‌​
Fe — IronBalance​‌​​‌​
Heat Treatment · AISI 8740

Annealing​‌​​‌​830 – 860 °C, controlled cooling
Hardening​‌​​‌​850 – 880 °C, oil quench
Tempering​‌​​‌​480 – 650 °C
Microstructure​‌​​‌​Martensite + tempered ferrite
Standards and Equivalents · AISI 8740
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Trade nameAISI 8740​‌​​‌​
AMS6322 · 6325​‌​​‌​
Available formsRound bar · Flat bar · Plate · Sheet · Tube · Forgings
All forms are supplied to order.​‌​​‌​

→ Contact us for AISI 8740 stock availability, sizes and AMS 6322 / AMS 6325 certified supply.

Request a quote​‌​​‌​

Related grades

AISI 4140  ·  AISI 4340  ·  AISI 9310  ·  300M  ·  All alloy steels →​‌​​‌​

What AISI 8740 Is — and Why It Is Not “4140 With Nickel”​‌​​‌​

AISI/SAE 8740 (UNS G87400 / W.Nr. 1.6546 / commonly cross-referenced in Europe as 40NiCrMo2-2, and in Italian sources as 40NiCrMo2) is a medium-carbon, triple-alloyed (Ni-Cr-Mo) THROUGH-HARDENING — quenched and tempered — steel. Its single distinguishing sentence: it is the classic aerospace fastener steel, and it earned that position not through strength but through BALANCE — adequate hardenability, good toughness, good machinability and enough ductility to roll a thread.

And two things have to be said at the outset. First: 8740 is NOT stainless. It contains about 0.50 % chromium; the passivity threshold is roughly 10.5 %. That is why aerospace 8740 bolts are almost always supplied cadmium plated — and the plating opens the most critical section on this page (hydrogen embrittlement). Second: 8740 is not the “high-carbon version” of 8620; it is a steel built for a DIFFERENT JOB. 8620 is a carburizing steel (0.18–0.23 % C) that produces a hard case; 8740 (0.38–0.43 % C) produces one uniform quenched-and-tempered structure throughout. Sharing a family number does not make them alike.​‌​​‌​

The engineering lies in a balanced distribution of three elements. 4140 raises chromium alone (0.80–1.10 %); 4340 raises nickel alone (1.65–2.00 %). 8740 keeps all three at moderate levels: 0.40–0.60 Cr · 0.40–0.70 Ni · 0.20–0.30 Mo. And that molybdenum figure deserves careful reading: 8740 leaves the 86xx family (0.15–0.25 % Mo) and joins the 87xx family on the strength of exactly that 0.20–0.30 %. Molybdenum does two jobs here: it adds hardenability and it resists reversible temper embrittlement. The second job is the subject of the embrittlement section below.

Honest Position in the Family — Which Steel for Which Job

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Versus AISI 4140Same carbon (0.38–0.43 %) and the same manganese band. The differences: 4140’s chromium is twice as high (0.80–1.10 % against 0.40–0.60), 8740 HAS nickel (0.40–0.70 %; 4140 has none), and 8740’s molybdenum is higher (0.20–0.30 % against 0.15–0.25). In practice: their room-temperature strengths are very close; the difference shows up in toughness and repeatability. Rule: general machine parts, shafts, forged bodies and price sensitivity → 4140 (far more widely available and cheaper); aerospace fasteners, an AMS chain and traceability → 8740​‌​​‌​
Versus AISI 4340Same carbon and the same molybdenum band (0.20–0.30 %), but 4340 carries 1.65–2.00 % Ni (8740 has 0.40–0.70) and 0.70–0.90 % Cr. So 4340 hardens markedly deeper and gives better fracture toughness at the same strength. Rule: if the section exceeds ⌀75 mm, if the target strength is above 1240 MPa (180 ksi), or if fracture toughness drives the design, move to 4340. But know the trade: 4340 is more susceptible to hydrogen embrittlement than 8740, and at high strength the plating discipline becomes far more critical​‌​​‌​
Versus AISI 8640 — molybdenum is the only differenceSame Ni-Cr-C system, but 0.15–0.25 % Mo against 8740’s 0.20–0.30 %. That seemingly small gap shows up in two places: hardenability and resistance to temper embrittlement. The aerospace AMS chain is built on 8740, not on 8640 — you cannot ship 8640 against an AMS 6322 order​‌​​‌​
Versus AISI 4130Carbon is 0.28–0.33 %. It welds far more easily, and in structures where no post-weld heat treatment is possible (aircraft fuselage tube frames, roll cages, chassis) 4130 is the right answer. Its maximum strength is correspondingly lower. Welded structure → 4130; machined, heat-treated fastener → 8740​‌​​‌​
Versus AISI 8620 — A CATEGORY ERROR8620 is a carburizing steel at 0.18–0.23 % C. Its job is a hard case over a tough core, and its surface reaches 58–62 HRC — but that hardness belongs to carbon loaded in afterwards, not to the steel. 8740’s job is one uniform quenched-and-tempered structure. “Which is harder?” is the wrong question. Do not let the shared family numbering (87xx / 86xx) mislead you​‌​​‌​
Versus ultra-high-strength steels (300M, AerMet 100, Maraging 250)Those work in the 1900–2000 MPa band; 8740’s practical aerospace band is 1100–1240 MPa (160–180 ksi). They are not in the same league and the price gap is large. Maraging steels are also carbon-free, take their strength from precipitation hardening and have no temper embrittlement problem. Landing gear and primary structural joints → 300M/AerMet; general aerospace bolting → 8740​‌​​‌​
Versus A-286 and Inconel 718 fastenersThe comparison ends the moment temperature or corrosion enters. 8740 is an alloy steel: not stainless and dependent on plating. Engine zones, exhaust surroundings and corrosive environments are superalloy fastener territory. 8740’s territory is structural, dry and protected by plating​‌​​‌​

8740, 8740H, E8740 and “AMS 6322 8740” — four different purchase-order lines

8740 is a chemistry specification (ASTM A29 / A322, SAE J404). 8740H is a hardenability specification: the chemistry band widens but the mill guarantees the Jominy band. E8740 is a prefix denoting electric-arc-furnace production. “AMS 6322 8740” is none of those: it is an aerospace quality specification, and it also tightens the chemistry — notably to P ≤0.025 % and S ≤0.025 % (against 0.035 % and 0.040 % on the ASTM side). “We have 8740 bar” does not satisfy an AMS 6322 order.​‌​​‌​

Standards by Product Form

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STANDARDS BY PRODUCT FORM

Product formStandards
Round bar · flat bar (shapes)​‌​​‌​AMS 6322 (bars, forgings, rings and stock for forging or flash-welded rings; AIRCRAFT QUALITY) · AMS 6325 (bars and forgings; HEAT TREATED, 105 ksi) · AMS 6327 (bars and forgings; HEAT TREATED, 125 ksi) · ASTM A29 / A29M (general requirements) · ASTM A322 (alloy steel bars, standard grades) · ASTM A331 (cold-finished bars) · MIL-S-6049 / AMS-S-6049 (aircraft-quality bars and reforging stock; superseded by AMS-6322, AMS-6325 and AMS-6327)
Mechanical tubing​‌​​‌​AMS 6323 (mechanical tubing; latest revision M/2017) · ASTM A519 (seamless mechanical tubing)
Plate · sheet · strip​‌​​‌​AMS 6358 (sheet, strip and plate; aircraft quality)
Forgings · rings · flash-welded rings · forging stock​‌​​‌​AMS 6322 (forgings, rings and stock for forging or FLASH-WELDED RINGS; aircraft quality) · AMS 6325 (forgings; heat treated, 105 ksi) · AMS 6327 (forgings; heat treated, 125 ksi) · ASTM A711 (stock for forgings)
Bolts · studs · fasteners​‌​​‌​ASTM A320 / A320M Grade L7C (low-temperature bolting; 593 C minimum temper; Charpy requirement at -101 C) · MIL-B-6812 (aircraft bolts). AMS 7452, AMS 7456 and AMS 7496 ARE NOT PUT ON THE CARD: they appear in a single supplier listing and their titles and current status could not be verified across four independent sources.
Wire · wire rod​‌​​‌​ASTM A752 (alloy steel wire rod). No AMS WIRE number verified across four sources was found for 8740.
Welding filler metal​‌​​‌​NO matching AMS WELDING WIRE number for 8740 could be found across four independent sources. For comparison: 8620 has AMS 6375 and 4140 has AMS 6452.
Heat treatment procedure​‌​​‌​AMS 2759/1 (Heat Treatment of Carbon and Low-Alloy Steel Parts) · SAE J1268 (hardenability bands for H grades). 8740 IS NOT CARBURIZED; AMS 2759/7 (the carburizing procedure) DOES NOT APPLY to this steel.
Cleanliness / internal quality​‌​​‌​AMS 2301 · AMS 2304 (listed together with AMS 6322 on the aircraftmaterials.com 8740 page). 8740 HAS NO AMS NUMBER CARRYING A REMELTING (VAR / ESR) REQUIREMENT.
Welding procedure group​‌​​‌​NO ASME SECTION IX P-NUMBER IS STATED: 8740 is not listed as an ASME BPVC base metal and no P-Number could be verified across four independent sources.
AMS numbers come FIRST in every row, with ASTM and the military specifications after them. AMS 6322 / 6325 / 6327 cover the same product form but ARE NOT A CHOICE: 6322 is the aircraft-quality delivery condition, 6325 is heat treatment to a 105 ksi target and 6327 heat treatment to a 125 ksi target. That MIL-S-6049 was superseded by AMS-6322, AMS-6325 and AMS-6327 is an independent confirmation that those three numbers belong to 8740. AMS 6324 IS NOT IN THIS TABLE: that number belongs to the 8740 MODIFIED chemistry (0.65Cr – 0.70Ni – 0.25Mo), not to plain 8740. AMS 7452, 7456 and 7496 are deliberately left out; the reason is in the skipped list.

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8740’s standards map differs from 4140’s: the centre of gravity is not ASTM, it is AMS. The reason is simple — this steel spends most of its commercial life as an aerospace fastener.

Standards by Product Form · AISI 8740 (G87400 / 1.6546)

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General requirementsASTM A29 / A29M — general requirements for hot-wrought steel bars​‌​​‌​
Alloy steel bar (hot wrought)ASTM A322​‌​​‌​
Cold-finished barASTM A331​‌​​‌​
Sheet and stripASTM A505​‌​​‌​
Seamless mechanical tubingASTM A519​‌​​‌​
SAEJ404 (chemical compositions) · J412 · J770​‌​​‌​
AMS 6322 — THE PRIMARY SPECIFICATION“Steel Bars, Forgings, and Rings and Stock for Forging or Flash Welded Rings, Aircraft-Quality, 0.50Cr – 0.55Ni – 0.25Mo (0.38–0.43C)”. This is the aerospace document people mean when they say 8740. It tightens the chemistry to P ≤0.025 % · S ≤0.025 % · Cu ≤0.35 %​‌​​‌​
AMS 6323Mechanical tubing​‌​​‌​
AMS 6325 · AMS 6327Bars and forgings — different quality/condition combinations. They are not interchangeable; get the number right on the order​‌​​‌​
AMS 6358Sheet, strip and plate​‌​​‌​
AMS 7452Bolts and screws — low-alloy, heat treated, roll threaded​‌​​‌​
AMS 7456Studs — low-alloy, heat treated, roll threaded​‌​​‌​
AMS 7496Flash-welded rings​‌​​‌​
Quality / cleanliness documentsAMS 2300 (premium aircraft quality, magnetic particle inspected) · AMS 2301 (aircraft quality) · AMS 2304 (special aircraft quality). These are CLEANLINESS and INSPECTION specifications, not chemistry, and they are cited alongside primary specifications such as AMS 6322​‌​​‌​
MilitaryMIL-S-6049 / AMS-S-6049​‌​​‌​
PlatingAMS-QQ-P-416 (cadmium) · AMS-QQ-C-320 (chromium). The type and class appear on the fastener drawing​‌​​‌​
Hydrogen embrittlementAMS 2759/9 (post-plate baking) · ASTM F519 (sustained-load embrittlement test). These two numbers MUST NOT be missing from an 8740 fastener order​‌​​‌​
EuropeThere is no exact one-to-one EN grade. W.Nr. 1.6546 is commonly cross-referenced to 40NiCrMo2-2 (in Italian sources 40NiCrMo2); quenched and tempered steels are collected under EN 10083-3. This cross-reference is APPROXIMATE and could not be independently verified — do not issue a dual certificate without reading the mill certificate​‌​​‌​

8740 as an Aerospace Fastener — the Specification Chain

This section is the key to understanding 8740. The steel spends most of its commercial life not as bar but as a bolt — and the specification for that bolt does not start with the material, it starts with the drawing.​‌​​‌​

The NAS6203–NAS6210 Family — a Typical Chain

Product​‌​​‌​Hex-head, close-tolerance aerospace bolt
Procurement specification​‌​​‌​NAS4002
Permitted materials​‌​​‌​4140 (G41400), 4340 or 8740 (G87400). So the NAS number alone does not determine the material — it can be any of the three. You find out which from the certificate
Heat-treat band​‌​​‌​1100–1240 MPa (160–180 ksi) Ftu, with controls per AMS-H-6875
Standard finish​‌​​‌​Cadmium per AMS-QQ-P-416 Type II Class 2, with embrittlement controls
Alternative finish​‌​​‌​Chromium per AMS-QQ-C-320 Class 2, on the shank only; all other surfaces remain cadmium plated
Thread​‌​​‌​UNJF-3A per MIL-S-8879 — a controlled root radius. That detail is not decorative: the J thread lowers the stress concentration at the root and markedly raises fatigue life

MS21250 (12-point bolts) is a different chain, and the same number can cover different materials: A-286, Inconel 718, Ti-6Al-4V, 17-4 PH and 8740. The 8740 variant is heat treated to AMS 6322. One vendor quotes “up to 220 ksi” for 8740 in this family — that is single-source and far above 8740’s established aerospace band of 160–180 ksi; do not accept it without verifying the drawing and specification.​‌​​‌​

Why is 8740 preferred over 4340 for bolts?

The answer is not strength; it is MANUFACTURABILITY and RISK. Three reasons:
1. Thread rolling. On an aerospace bolt the thread is rolled, not cut — because a rolled thread preserves the material flow lines and multiplies fatigue life. Rolling after heat treatment requires the material to retain some ductility. 8740 in the 160–180 ksi band provides it comfortably.
2. Hydrogen embrittlement risk rises steeply with strength. Holding 8740 in the 160–180 ksi band keeps the risk manageable. Push the same bolt to 200+ ksi in 4340 and the smallest lapse in plating or baking discipline becomes a delayed fracture.
3. Repeatability and cost. 8740 reaches the 160–180 ksi band over a wide tempering window, so hitting the heat-treat target is easy. In high-volume fastener production that translates directly into scrap rate.
In short: 8740 is there not because it is the strongest steel, but because it is the steel that causes the fewest problems in the 160–180 ksi band.​‌​​‌​

Specification Gaps — What “8740” Does Not Buy You

Gaps and Traps

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“8740” alone commits to NO mechanical propertyASTM A29 and A322 give chemistry and general requirements; they commit to no Rp0.2 and no Rm. The same 8740 bar can sit anywhere between 695 MPa (annealed) and over 1800 MPa (quenched and low tempered). If your order line does not state the heat-treat condition and target strength band, you have ordered nothing​‌​​‌​
The aerospace route closes that gap — but from a different directionAMS 6322 is a material and quality specification; the mechanical target is set by the part drawing and the AMS-H-6875 heat-treatment specification. In other words, in aerospace the mechanical commitment sits at PART level, not at material level. This is the point commercial buyers miss most often​‌​​‌​
The European equivalent is uncertainThere is no cleanly established one-to-one EN 10083-3 grade for 1.6546 in the standard cross-reference lists. The common answer is 40NiCrMo2-2, but that cross-reference could not be independently verified. If you need certified material in Europe, do not write “8740 equivalent” — write the target chemistry and the mechanical band​‌​​‌​
Cast equivalentThere is no standardised cast counterpart to 8740. Casting specifications (ASTM A148, A487) are written by mechanical class. The honest answer to “cast 8740”: choose an equivalent casting class and state in writing that it is not 8740​‌​​‌​
No welding consumable equivalentThere is no such product as “8740 welding wire”. Welding is done by strength matching. See the welding section​‌​​‌​
The future of cadmium plating is a specification riskCadmium is the established finish for the 8740 aerospace fastener — but it is under environmental restriction. Moving to alternatives (zinc-nickel, aluminium-based IVD coatings) changes the hydrogen charging behaviour and the baking requirements. A finish change is not a drop-in substitution; it requires requalification​‌​​‌​
Tempering temperature is not specified — but it should beYou can reach the same hardness from two different tempering temperatures, and their toughness is not the same. A part tempered inside an embrittlement band passes the hardness test without trouble and reveals itself only in the field. Make the tempering temperature a purchase requirement​‌​​‌​

Chemical Composition

Chemical Composition — Weight %

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ElementSAE 8740 (ASTM A29/A322) · AMS 6322 (aerospace)​‌​​‌​
Carbon (C)0.38–0.43 · 0.38–0.43​‌​​‌​
Manganese (Mn)0.75–1.00 · 0.75–1.00​‌​​‌​
Silicon (Si)0.15–0.35 · 0.15–0.35 — some publishers give 0.15–0.30 on the ASTM side​‌​​‌​
Chromium (Cr)0.40–0.60 · 0.40–0.60​‌​​‌​
Nickel (Ni)0.40–0.70 · 0.40–0.70​‌​​‌​
Molybdenum (Mo)0.20–0.30 · 0.20–0.30 — this alone separates the 87xx family from 86xx (0.15–0.25 % Mo)​‌​​‌​
Phosphorus (P)≤0.035 · ≤0.025 — the aerospace specification is tighter​‌​​‌​
Sulphur (S)≤0.040 · ≤0.025 — the aerospace specification is tighter​‌​​‌​
Copper (Cu)Not specified on the ASTM side · ≤0.35 in AMS 6322​‌​​‌​
Iron (Fe)Balance — roughly 96.6–97.7 %​‌​​‌​

Heat analysis and product analysis are not the same thing

The bands above are the heat (cast) analysis. For a sample taken from the finished product (product analysis), the standard allows a tolerance for production scatter. One published reference gives C 0.37–0.44 % and Mn 0.70–1.05 % for 8740 — those are product-analysis tolerances, not the heat band. Before rejecting a certificate, check which one you are looking at; buyers who do not know this distinction reject conforming material unnecessarily.​‌​​‌​

Why does phosphorus matter so much?

Because phosphorus is the PRINCIPAL AGENT of reversible temper embrittlement. Together with tin, antimony and arsenic it segregates to prior austenite grain boundaries in the 375–575 °C band and raises the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature. AMS 6322 pulling phosphorus from 0.035 % to 0.025 % is not a formality — it is a measure taken directly against this mechanism. For an 8740 part that will work at high strength, the P value on the certificate may matter more than the hardness value.​‌​​‌​

Heat Treatment — Quenching and Tempering

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HEAT TREATMENT — SCHEMATIC

1 · HOT WORKING / FORGING
Step​‌​​‌​1 · HOT WORKING / FORGING
Summary​‌​​‌​Not a heat treatment but a precondition: cooling after forging determines whether normalizing is needed.
Temperature​‌​​‌​NO TEMPERATURE IS STATED, because no numerical forging band could be verified across four independent sources.
Time​‌​​‌​Not stated.
Cooling​‌​​‌​Forte Precision Metals specifies SLOW COOLING after forging, or transfer to a furnace near the finishing temperature followed by air cooling. IT IS A SINGLE SOURCE.
Resulting hardness​‌​​‌​No binding hardness is stated for this stage.
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2 · NORMALIZING
Step2 · NORMALIZING​‌​​‌​
SummaryRefines the grain and evens out the structure before quenching.​‌​​‌​
Temperature870 C (1600 F). SOURCE-FAMILY WARNING: both the MW Components and the MatWeb records giving this value derive from the same ASM database; THE FOUR-INDEPENDENT-SOURCE REQUIREMENT IS NOT MET and the value is given under its source name.​‌​​‌​
TimeUntil the whole section is at temperature. No numerical time could be verified, so none is stated.​‌​​‌​
CoolingAir cooling.​‌​​‌​
Resulting hardnessIn the normalized condition (870 C, 13 mm round): 269 HB, tensile 930 MPa, yield 550 MPa, elongation 16%, Izod 18 J. SOURCE: the MW Components (Elgin) data sheet; these figures originate in the ASM database and ARE NOT SPECIFICATION MINIMA.​‌​​‌​

3 · ANNEALING (for machinability)
Step​‌​​‌​3 · ANNEALING (for machinability)
Summary​‌​​‌​Lowers hardness before machining. It is not part of the hardening cycle.
Temperature​‌​​‌​Forte Precision Metals gives two routes: (a) furnace cool to 727 C (1340 F), then cool at 11 C (20 F) per hour to 638 C (1180 F); (b) isothermal anneal at 663 C (1225 F). IT IS A SINGLE SOURCE and could not be verified across four independent sources.
Time​‌​​‌​Not stated.
Cooling​‌​​‌​Controlled slow cooling in the furnace.
Resulting hardness​‌​​‌​No single annealed hardness could be verified across four independent sources, so none is stated.
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4 · AUSTENITIZING + OIL QUENCH (hardening)
Step4 · AUSTENITIZING + OIL QUENCH (hardening)​‌​​‌​
SummaryTHIS IS THE STAGE THAT PRODUCES HARDNESS. Carbon goes into solid solution and the oil quench turns the structure to martensite.​‌​​‌​
Temperature830 C (1525 F). SOURCE-FAMILY WARNING: this value comes from the ASM-derived MatWeb records for 8740 and from Forte Precision Metals; both derive from the same data family and THE FOUR-INDEPENDENT-SOURCE REQUIREMENT IS NOT MET. The value is given under its source names.​‌​​‌​
TimeUntil the whole section is at temperature. No numerical time could be verified, so none is stated.​‌​​‌​
CoolingOIL (the ASM-derived MatWeb records and Forte Precision Metals).​‌​​‌​
Resulting hardnessAs quenched and untempered the material is brittle and IS NOT USED WITHOUT TEMPERING. No as-quenched maximum hardness could be verified across four independent sources.​‌​​‌​

5 · TEMPERING
Step​‌​​‌​5 · TEMPERING
Summary​‌​​‌​MANDATORY after quenching. The temperature is chosen for the target strength. THIS IS THE STAGE THAT CAN BE TIED TO A SPECIFICATION.
Temperature​‌​​‌​ASTM A320 Grade L7C (the 8740-based low-temperature bolting class) REQUIRES A MINIMUM TEMPERING TEMPERATURE OF 593 C (1100 F); it sits on the same line as L7, L7A, L7B and L43 in Table 3 of the standard. The ASM-derived MatWeb records for 8740 provide separate data sheets at 540 C (1000 F), 595 C (1100 F) and 650 C (1200 F); those three points ALL COME FROM ONE SOURCE FAMILY.
Time​‌​​‌​No numerical time could be verified across four independent sources, so none is stated.
Cooling​‌​​‌​Total Materia recommends RAPID COOLING from above 600 C in quench-and-temper steels carrying chromium and nickel, as a safeguard against temper embrittlement.
Resulting hardness​‌​​‌​The target strength is set by the specification: AMS 6325 supplies the material heat treated to 105 ksi (724 MPa) tensile and AMS 6327 to 125 ksi (862 MPa) tensile. ASTM A320 Grade L7C requires at least 860 MPa tensile and 725 MPa yield at diameters of 65 mm and under, with a ceiling of 321 HBW / 35 HRC.
The diagram is SCHEMATIC; the time axis is NOT TO SCALE. No TTT/CCT curve published in four independent sources was used, so no curve is drawn. THIS ALLOY IS A QUENCH-AND-TEMPER STEEL – NOT A CARBURIZING STEEL. Its carbon is 0.38-0.43% and it gains hardness not by carburizing but by austenitizing, quenching in oil and tempering at HIGH temperature. IT MUST NOT BE CONFUSED with the carburizing cycle of 8620, which looks as if it belongs to the same family (carburizing 880-980 C, tempering 150-200 C). IT DOES NOT PRECIPITATION HARDEN; there is no H900 / H1025 / H1150 type AGEING STEP. SOURCE-FAMILY WARNING: every source giving normalizing and austenitizing temperatures for 8740 (MatWeb, AZoM, MW Components, Forte Precision Metals) is a copy deriving from the same ASM database; these values are given below UNDER THEIR SOURCE NAMES with a note that the four-independent-source requirement is not met. The stages that can be tied to a specification are TEMPERING and TARGET STRENGTH. THIS STEEL IS NOT CARBURIZED. The carburizing stages of 8620 and 9310 (carburizing at 880-980 C, tempering at 150-200 C) ARE ABSENT from this diagram and DO NOT APPLY to this steel. THE TEMPERING TEMPERATURE IS 593 C AND ABOVE (the ASTM A320 Grade L7C requirement). The 150-200 C tempering band of the carburizing grades IS INVALID for this steel. SOURCE-FAMILY DISTINCTION: every source giving the normalizing (870 C) and austenitizing (830 C) temperatures derives from the same ASM database. Those values are given under their source names with a ‘four independent sources not met’ warning; they are not specification values. The 593 C on the tempering side, by contrast, comes from the ASTM A320 standard text. NO TEMPER-EMBRITTLEMENT FORBIDDEN BAND IS STATED FOR 8740. The sources diverge: Total Materia gives irreversible embrittlement at 250-400 C and reversible embrittlement at 450-650 C, while Thermal Processing Magazine gives temper embrittlement at 375-575 C. No single band could be verified across four independent sources, so no forbidden band was produced. The workable rule: structural tempering at 593 C and above, with rapid cooling from above 600 C. THE ROLE OF MOLYBDENUM: Total Materia states that 0.2-0.3% molybdenum reduces temper embrittlement while higher contents intensify it. The molybdenum band of 8740 is exactly 0.20-0.30%. Times are not stated: the same numerical time could not be verified across four independent sources.

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Core Heat-Treatment Parameters · AISI 8740

Forging​‌​​‌​The published range is roughly 1100–850 °C; the upper limit varies between producers
Normalizing​‌​​‌​≈870 °C (1600 °F), air cool. Removes banding and forging stresses before machining and hardening
Annealing (softening)​‌​​‌​The published range spreads over 820–900 °C, slow furnace cool. [conflict] One source gives 820–860 °C, another 830–900 °C. Run a trial for your own section
Austenitizing (hardening)​‌​​‌​830 °C (1525 °F) is the common reference point; the published range is 810–860 °C. Soak 1 h per 25 mm of section
Quench medium​‌​​‌​OIL. Water quenching carries a cracking risk at this carbon and this hardenability and is not used outside special cases
Tempering range​‌​​‌​205–650 °C (400–1200 °F), selected by target strength — but mind the embrittlement bands: see the next section
Tempering soak​‌​​‌​At least 2 h AFTER the load reaches temperature. “The furnace is at temperature” and “the part is at temperature” are not the same thing
As-quenched (untempered) hardness​‌​​‌​Reported to exceed 54 HRC in a ⌀25 mm section on an oil quench. Single source, but metallurgically plausible for a 0.40 % carbon steel
Carbon equivalent (for welding)​‌​​‌​Reported at ≈0.75 — high, and it makes preheat mandatory in welding

Tempering temperature versus hardness — a section to read carefully​‌​​‌​

This page will NOT give you a full tempering curve (Rm, Rp0.2, A, Z, KV at every temperature) — because it could not be independently verified from accessible sources. The published 8740 tempering tables typically belong to specimens oil quenched from 830 °C and tempered at 205 / 315 / 425 / 540 / 595 / 650 °C, in ⌀25 mm and ⌀50 mm rounds; the headings of those tables were verifiable, their numerical contents were not. Printing an unverified curve here would send you to the wrong recipe.
The individually verifiable points are:
• tempering at ≈595 °C gives ≈248 HB — described as a “balanced” working point. Single source.
• tempering in the 200–300 °C band is reported to give 50–55 HRC. Single source, but consistent with 0.38–0.43 % carbon.
• A general quenched-and-tempered band: Rm 800–1000 MPa, Rp0.2 550–800 MPa, A 10–18 %, 250–300 HB (25–35 HRC). Single source and wide; not a design value.
• The established aerospace fastener target: 1100–1240 MPa (160–180 ksi) Ftu. This is the band 8740 actually works in, and it is normally reached by high tempering.
What to do: if your target strength is fixed, heat treat a test coupon from your own section and set the tempering temperature from it. Do not use a catalogue curve as a recipe — least of all one with no section size stated.

TEMPER EMBRITTLEMENT — the Most Critical Section on This Page​‌​​‌​

THREE SEPARATE phenomena get confused here. They occur at different temperatures, work by different mechanisms and have different cures. If a datasheet lumps them under one heading, that page is a copy-paste.

Three Separate Embrittlement Phenomena

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1. Tempered martensite embrittlement (“500 °F embrittlement”)Band ≈200–370 °C (400–700 °F). Mechanism: precipitation along prior austenite grain boundaries in tempered martensite. IRREVERSIBLE — you cannot recover it by re-tempering. The cure: SKIP the band. The effect is reported to be reduced in grades with high aluminium (>0.1 %)​‌​​‌​
2. Reversible temper embrittlementBand 375–575 °C (700–1070 °F). Mechanism: phosphorus, tin, antimony and arsenic segregate to prior austenite grain boundaries. Result: the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature rises and fracture toughness falls. REVERSIBLE: it dissolves above 575 °C followed by rapid cooling. Its most dangerous feature: it barely changes hardness or tensile strength — so it passes your routine quality control without trouble​‌​​‌​
3. 475 °C embrittlementIRRELEVANT TO 8740. That phenomenon belongs to ferritic and duplex stainless steels at 15 % chromium and above. 8740 has 0.40–0.60 %. If an 8740 page mentions 475 °C embrittlement, that page was copied from another material​‌​​‌​

8740 has molybdenum — is it immune?

No. Molybdenum REDUCES susceptibility; it does not confer immunity. That distinction is the source of the most common conflict in the published literature: one source writes that 8740 “is not subject to temper embrittlement”, while a professional body recommends that no tempering cycle below 1100 °F (≈595 °C) be used on low-alloy steels.
The honest reading: 8740’s 0.20–0.30 % Mo is higher than the 0.15–0.25 % of 8640 in the same family, and that is a real advantage. But it does not remove the mechanism — particularly when phosphorus sits at the top of its band and the part is furnace cooled slowly after tempering.
Practical rules:
1. If the part will take impact loading, do not temper in the 375–575 °C band. Stay either below it (high strength, low toughness) or above it (lower strength, high toughness).
2. If you tempered at 595 °C or above, cool RAPIDLY through 575 → 375 °C (in oil for heavy sections). A slow furnace cool puts back the embrittlement you just dissolved. That one sentence explains most of the “the heat treatment was right but the part came out brittle” cases.
3. For parts that will work at high strength, order AMS 6322 quality (P ≤0.025 %) rather than plain ASTM A322 (P ≤0.035 %).
4. A hardness test will NOT catch this damage. If you suspect it, order Charpy — and have a rapidly cooled reference specimen prepared for comparison.​‌​​‌​

Mechanical Properties

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STRENGTH VALUES
Yield (MPa)Tensile (MPa)ASTM A320 Grade L7C · low-temperature bolting · up to 65 mm (2 1/2 in.) diameter860725AMS 6325 · bars and forgings · heat treated724AMS 6327 · bars and forgings · heat treated862Normalized · 870 C (1600 F) · 13 mm round · TYPICAL VALUES930550

ConditionHardnessYield MPaTensile MPaElongation
ASTM A320 Grade L7C · low-temperature bolting · up to 65 mm (2 1/2 in.) diameter​‌​​‌​321 HBW / 35 HRC max725 min​‌​​‌​860 min16% min​‌​​‌​
AMS 6325 · bars and forgings · heat treated–​‌​​‌​–724​‌​​‌​–
AMS 6327 · bars and forgings · heat treated​‌​​‌​––​‌​​‌​862–​‌​​‌​
Normalized · 870 C (1600 F) · 13 mm round · TYPICAL VALUES269 HB​‌​​‌​550930​‌​​‌​16%
THE FIRST THREE ROWS ARE SPECIFICATION VALUES; THE FOURTH IS A TYPICAL VALUE AND THEY MUST NOT BE CONFUSED. The akma_mpa and cekme_mpa columns carry ONLY the MPa value; the ksi equivalents are in separate columns. The ASTM A320 Grade L7C row is a BOLTING specification and carries a hardness CEILING; the AMS 6325 and 6327 rows give only the TARGET TENSILE STRENGTH, because the numerical tables inside those paid specification texts could not be verified across four independent sources. THERE IS NO CASE / CORE ROW FOR 8740: this steel is not carburized and one structure is aimed at through the section. THE SPECIFICATION ROWS AND THE TYPICAL-VALUE ROW CANNOT BE COMPARED: one is a guaranteed floor, the other a measured typical value. The difference between AMS 6325 and AMS 6327 IS THE HEAT-TREATMENT TARGET: 105 ksi against 125 ksi. The chemistry and the product form are the same; the material is not accepted in place of the other. The ASTM A320 Grade L7C row carries THE SAME mechanical requirements as the 4140-based L7 and the 4340-based L43; the difference is that L7C meets them up to 65 mm diameter and L43 up to 100 mm. This is the only direct comparison that shows the hardenability ranking of the three grades through a specification. The normalized row originates in the ASM database; the four-independent-source requirement is not met and the row is therefore marked TYPICAL. Typical tensile and yield tables for the hardened and tempered condition ARE NOT IN THE TABLE; every source found (MatWeb, AZoM, mwalloys, steelforge) derives from the same ASM database.

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The table below shows the CONFLICTS between published values openly. The data in circulation for 8740 is less consistent than for 4140, and the reason is that the steel spends most of its commercial life not as bar but as a finished bolt.

Mechanical Properties · AISI 8740 — Not Readable Without a Condition

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ConditionRm · Rp0.2 · A · Hardness · Impact​‌​​‌​
AnnealedRm 695 MPa · Rp0.2 415 MPa · A 22.2 % (50 mm) · hardness 201 HB (211 HV) · Izod 41 J​‌​​‌​
Annealed — a second published bandRm 550–700 MPa · Rp0.2 350–450 MPa · A 12–22 % · hardness ≈220–260 HB. [conflict] The hardness end of that band (260 HB) is irreconcilable with the 201 HB above. Single source, and it should be treated with suspicion​‌​​‌​
Quenched and tempered / as-supplied (common commercial values)Rm 930–938 MPa · Rp0.2 550 MPa or 620 MPa [conflict: two publishers give two different yields] · A 16 % · hardness 269 HB (≈27 HRC, 284 HV, 294 Knoop) · Izod 18 J​‌​​‌​
Quenched and tempered — general bandRm 800–1000 MPa · Rp0.2 550–800 MPa · A 10–18 % · hardness 250–300 HB (25–35 HRC). Single source and wide​‌​​‌​
Aerospace fastener target bandFtu 1100–1240 MPa (160–180 ksi), with controls per AMS-H-6875. This is the band 8740 works in most of the time​‌​​‌​
Low tempering (200–300 °C)50–55 HRC is reported. Single source, but consistent with 0.40 % carbon. Note: the lower end of that band sits exactly inside the TEMPERED MARTENSITE EMBRITTLEMENT band​‌​​‌​
High tempering (≈595 °C)≈248 HB. Single source​‌​​‌​
A wide published band (mixed sources)Rm 580–670 MPa · Rp0.2 380–570 MPa · A 11–23 % · hardness 170–200 HB · shear strength 370–400 MPa · fatigue 270–350 MPa. This band most likely describes ANNEALED/NORMALIZED material, not quenched and tempered 8740​‌​​‌​
Modulus of elasticity190–210 GPa (published values scatter; commercial pages often print 205 GPa). Shear modulus 73–80 GPa, Poisson’s ratio 0.27–0.30​‌​​‌​

The lesson from that table: the mechanical values in circulation for 8740 are published without stating condition, section or measurement method, and they do not agree. Annealed yield: 415 MPa versus 350–450 MPa. Quenched-and-tempered yield: 550 MPa versus 620 MPa. Annealed hardness: 201 HB versus 220–260 HB. Make none of them a design value or an acceptance criterion. If you are doing aerospace work, the part drawing and AMS-H-6875 bind you anyway; if you are doing industrial work, work from the certificate of your own batch.

Physical Properties​‌​​‌​

Physical Properties · AISI 8740

Density​‌​​‌​7.8–7.85 g/cm³ (0.284 lb/in³)
Modulus of elasticity​‌​​‌​190–210 GPa; the figure commercial datasheets most often print is 205 GPa (29,700 ksi)
Shear modulus​‌​​‌​73–80 GPa
Poisson’s ratio​‌​​‌​0.27–0.30 (commonly 0.29)
Thermal conductivity​‌​​‌​39–46.6 W/m·K. [conflict] There is a 20 % gap between two publishers; a third source gives 42.7 W/m·K at room temperature
Specific heat​‌​​‌​470–475 J/kg·K (0.475 J/g·°C)
Coefficient of thermal expansion​‌​​‌​Reported as ≈13 ×10⁻⁶ /K. [conflict] One source gives a much lower range of 6.6–11.9 ×10⁻⁶ /°C — the two sets are irreconcilable. If you are doing shrink-fit calculations, do not trust a single published number
Electrical resistivity​‌​​‌​≈2.34 ×10⁻⁷ Ω·m (0.0000234 Ω·cm)
Melting range​‌​​‌​≈1420–1460 °C (2580–2660 °F)
Magnetic behaviour​‌​​‌​FERROMAGNETIC. It cannot be used anywhere a non-magnetic material is required — which is one of the reasons aerospace reaches for A-286 or Inconel 718 bolts instead of 8740
Maximum service temperature​‌​​‌​Reported as ≈410 °C — single source. The real limit is the tempering temperature: as the service temperature approaches it, the part begins to soften. Keep the service temperature at least 50 °C below the tempering temperature

Welding — Preheat Is MANDATORY​‌​​‌​

8740 is not a “weldable” steel; it is a steel that CAN be welded but preferably is not. Carbon is 0.38–0.43 % and the reported carbon equivalent is ≈0.75 — high-risk territory in welding engineering. It is reported to exceed 54 HRC in a ⌀25 mm section on an oil quench; that means the heat-affected zone (HAZ), if it cools fast, reaches the same hardness and cracks.

Welding Parameters · AISI 8740

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Preheat — minimumReported at ≥150 °C (300 °F); this rises with thickness​‌​​‌​
Preheat — practical range200–300 °C. [conflict] Published recommendations spread from 150 °C to 300 °C; the difference depends on thickness, restraint, hydrogen level and filler choice. On thick, restrained joints take the upper end​‌​​‌​
Interpass temperatureDo not let it fall below the preheat; follow low-alloy steel practice for the upper limit​‌​​‌​
Filler metalStrength matching. There is no dedicated AWS class for 8740; practice for comparable Ni-Cr-Mo alloy steels uses low-hydrogen, high-strength consumables. Where cracking risk is high, deliberately choosing a SOFTER deposit is an established solution​‌​​‌​
Hydrogen controlLow-hydrogen consumables, baked electrodes, dry and oil-free surfaces. Hydrogen is the governing variable for delayed (cold) cracking in 8740​‌​​‌​
Post-weld — DHT (hydrogen hold)Holding the part at preheat temperature for 30 min to 1 h per 25 mm immediately after welding is the single most effective step against delayed cracking, and most procedures skip it​‌​​‌​
Post-weld heat treatment (PWHT)Temper below the critical temperature (Ac1). Rule: the PWHT temperature must be BELOW the part’s original tempering temperature, or you will have reduced the strength of the base material​‌​​‌​
Slow coolingCool the part under ceramic wool after welding; do not leave it in a draught​‌​​‌​

When not to weld

1. On a heat-treated 8740 part in the high-strength band. Welding locally destroys the quenched-and-tempered structure; the HAZ contains both an over-hard zone and an over-tempered soft zone. If you cannot re-heat-treat afterwards, the mechanical properties of that part are no longer known.
2. On a plated (cadmium) part. Cadmium vaporises at welding temperature and the FUME IS TOXIC. It also causes liquid metal embrittlement in the weld. Never weld a plated 8740 part; strip the plating completely first.
3. On an aerospace fastener. A NAS/MS bolt is replaced, not repaired. Weld repair voids the certification.
4. In structures where post-weld heat treatment is impossible. There the right steel is 4130, not 8740 — carbon is 0.28–0.33 % and the carbon equivalent is markedly lower.​‌​​‌​

Machining

Machinability and Starting Cutting Parameters · AISI 8740

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Machinability index65 % (AISI 1212 = 100 %). One source gives this for the annealed and cold-drawn condition; another quotes a 60–70 % band​‌​​‌​
ISO material groupP — low-alloy steel​‌​​‌​
TurningPublished as 305–370 m/min (1000–1210 SFM)​‌​​‌​
Milling190–230 m/min (620–750 SFM)​‌​​‌​
Drilling125–145 m/min (410–480 SFM)​‌​​‌​
Parting145–175 m/min (480–570 SFM)​‌​​‌​
Grooving170–205 m/min (560–670 SFM)​‌​​‌​
AN HONEST WARNING about these numbers[conflict] These published speeds are HIGHER than those published for the softer 8620 (turning 245–335 m/min) — even though 8740 carries twice the carbon and is harder. That is internally inconsistent. Read these as a CEILING for annealed material with modern coated carbide, not as starting values. On quenched-and-tempered 8740 (269 HB and above), go markedly below them​‌​​‌​
When to machineIn the annealed or normalized condition, BEFORE hardening. Quenched-and-tempered 8740 (28–35 HRC) can be machined, but tool life and surface finish fall off markedly​‌​​‌​
GrindingWhen grinding at high hardness, watch for grinding cracks: aggressive grinding produces local re-austenitising and untempered martensite. On fatigue-loaded parts, consider post-grind stress relief​‌​​‌​
ThreadingIn aerospace, threads are ROLLED, not cut — and rolling after heat treatment gives the highest fatigue life. A cut thread on the same bolt gives markedly lower fatigue life​‌​​‌​

Corrosion, Cadmium and HYDROGEN EMBRITTLEMENT

AISI 8740 is NOT stainless. It contains about 0.50 % chromium; the threshold for passive behaviour is roughly 10.5 %. 8740 has about one twentieth of it, and that chromium is there for hardenability, not corrosion resistance. In practice 8740 rusts like plain carbon steel and will show surface rust within days if left unprotected.​‌​​‌​

Hence the plating — and the plating brings a new risk

The established finish for aerospace 8740 fasteners is cadmium (AMS-QQ-P-416, typically Type II Class 2). Three properties earned it that position: it is galvanically compatible with aluminium structure, its lubricity makes the torque–preload relationship repeatable, and it protects well in salt environments. As an alternative, chromium plating (AMS-QQ-C-320 Class 2) may be used on the shank.
But here the real subject begins: cadmium and chromium plating are ELECTROLYTIC. Electroplating — and the acid pickling that precedes it — charges atomic hydrogen into the steel.​‌​​‌​

Hydrogen embrittlement — 8740’s number one field failure

The mechanism: atomic hydrogen generated in the plating bath enters the steel, migrates to regions of stress concentration (thread roots, notches, prior austenite grain boundaries) and accumulates there. Under sufficient static stress, a crack nucleates and propagates at those sites. The result: the part comes out of plating sound, its hardness is right, it passes the tensile test — and then it fractures without warning under constant load, hours or days after installation. This is called delayed fracture.
Susceptibility rises with strength. The published thresholds: steels above 180 ksi (≈1240 MPa) require extended baking; above 200 ksi (≈1380 MPa) is the most susceptible zone; steels below 120 ksi (≈830 MPa) may be exempted from baking with approval.
And 8740 sits squarely in the risk band: its established aerospace fastener target is 160–180 ksi (1100–1240 MPa).​‌​​‌​

Post-Plate Baking — the Numerical Requirements

Specification​‌​​‌​AMS 2759/9 — “Hydrogen Embrittlement Relief (Baking) of Steel Parts”
Baking temperature​‌​​‌​190–218 °C (375–425 °F). Held tight: the aim is to drive out hydrogen, not to re-temper the material
Duration​‌​​‌​2–24 h, selected by part geometry, tensile strength and the hydrogen source. High-strength parts sit at the long end
Time to START after plating​‌​​‌​Within 1–4 hours. This is the most frequently violated rule. Delay lets hydrogen settle into traps and reduces the effectiveness of the bake. “We will bake tomorrow” is not acceptable
Verification test​‌​​‌​ASTM F519 — notched specimens under 200 hours of sustained load, looking for embrittlement. This qualifies the process; it is not a per-lot inspection
Plating specification​‌​​‌​AMS-QQ-P-416 (cadmium) itself invokes hydrogen embrittlement requirements

What to do when you order​‌​​‌​

1. Make the bake a purchase requirement and WRITE THE SPECIFICATION NUMBER. “Hydrogen relief will be performed” is not enough; write AMS 2759/9 and have the temperature–time–start window confirmed. Do not let an arbitrary temperature and time be applied.
2. Check the pre-plate cleaning method. Hydrogen comes not only from the plating bath but also from acid pickling and electrolytic cleaning. On high-strength parts, mechanical cleaning (abrasive blasting) should be preferred.
3. Make sure the bake temperature does not exceed your tempering temperature. 190–218 °C can be a problem for a low-tempered 8740 part. On a high-tempered (595 °C) part there is no issue.
4. Rolled threads must be formed BEFORE plating. Cold forming after plating both damages the coating and creates new stress concentrations.
5. Ask the supplier for the ASTM F519 qualification — especially if the plating line or bath chemistry has changed.

Where it FAILS​‌​​‌​

1. Unplated atmospheric exposure. It rusts.
2. Seawater, salt spray, road salt. Plating is mandatory, and protection ends the moment the plating is damaged.
3. Electroplating at high strength with the bake omitted. Delayed fracture. This is 8740’s most dangerous failure mode.
4. Sour (H₂S) service. NACE MR0175 / ISO 15156-2 typically imposes a 22 HRC maximum on carbon and low-alloy steels. 8740 in the 160–180 ksi band is roughly 34–40 HRC — far above the limit, and not suitable for sour service.
5. Anywhere a non-magnetic material is required. It is ferromagnetic.
6. Parts tempered in the 375–575 °C band that take impact. The temper embrittlement band.
7. Service temperatures approaching the tempering temperature. The part softens; 8740 is not a creep steel.
8. Welding on a plated part. Cadmium fume is toxic and it causes liquid metal embrittlement.

Frequently Asked Questions​‌​​‌​

We ordered NAS6203 bolts and the certificate says 4140. Was the wrong item shipped?

Most likely not — and this is the most misunderstood aspect of buying aerospace fasteners.
A NAS number is a PART number, not a MATERIAL number. The procurement specification for the NAS6203–NAS6210 family (NAS4002) permits three alloys: 4140 (G41400), 4340 and 8740 (G87400). Which one the manufacturer uses is their choice; what binds you is not the material name but the heat-treat band: 1100–1240 MPa (160–180 ksi) Ftu, with controls per AMS-H-6875.
So the right question is not “why did 4140 arrive?” but “were the 160–180 ksi band and the finish requirements met?” On the certificate, look for: the heat-treat band, cadmium plate to AMS-QQ-P-416 Type II Class 2, a hydrogen embrittlement relief (AMS 2759/9) statement, and the UNJF-3A thread (MIL-S-8879).
If you need a specific alloy, you have to SAY SO at drawing level. If, for reasons of magnetic permeability, low-temperature toughness or supply-chain standardisation, you require 8740 specifically, put it on the order as a separate line — the NAS number will not do it for you.​‌​​‌​

We have to choose between 8740 and 4340. Which is better?

“Better” cannot be answered without naming the target strength band. That is exactly where the distinction lies.
If you will work in the 1100–1240 MPa (160–180 ksi) band: 8740 should be preferred. Two reasons. First, hydrogen embrittlement risk rises steeply with strength, and keeping 8740 in this band keeps the risk manageable. Second, thread rolling: in this band 8740 retains enough ductility, and a rolled UNJF-3A thread raises fatigue life substantially.
If you must go above 1240 MPa (180 ksi): move to 4340. Its nickel is 1.65–2.00 % (8740 has 0.40–0.70) and it hardens far deeper, giving better fracture toughness at the same strength. But your plating and baking discipline must be flawless — at high strength 4340 is markedly more hydrogen sensitive, and there is a substantial body of published work on delayed fracture of cadmium-plated 4340.
If the section exceeds ⌀75 mm: 4340 again. 8740 will not harden to the centre at those sizes.
And a third option: if your target is the 1900 MPa band, both are wrong; look at 300M or AerMet 100.​‌​​‌​

The part was tempered at 500 °C, the hardness was correct, but it broke on impact during assembly. What happened?

Almost certainly REVERSIBLE TEMPER EMBRITTLEMENT. And the most dangerous feature of that phenomenon is exactly what you describe: IT DOES NOT CHANGE THE HARDNESS.
500 °C sits right in the middle of the embrittlement band (375–575 °C). In that band, phosphorus, tin, antimony and arsenic segregate to prior austenite grain boundaries. The result: the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature rises and fracture toughness falls. But hardness and tensile strength barely move — so the part passes your routine quality control without trouble and reveals itself only under impact. That is precisely what happened to you.
“But 8740 has molybdenum — isn’t it immune?” — No. Molybdenum (0.20–0.30 %) reduces susceptibility but does not remove it. While one publisher writes that 8740 “is not subject to temper embrittlement”, a professional body recommends that no tempering cycle below 1100 °F (≈595 °C) be used on low-alloy steels. Those two statements conflict, and the second one is on the safe side.
Check two further suspects. First: the phosphorus value. If P on the certificate sits near the top of the band (say 0.030–0.035 %), susceptibility rises markedly. AMS 6322 quality pulls P to 0.025 % — ask for it on critical work. Second: how did you cool after tempering? A slow furnace cool recreates the damage as it passes back through the band.
What to do: (1) Temper at 620–650 °C instead of 500 °C and re-evaluate the target strength accordingly. (2) After tempering, cool RAPIDLY through 575 → 375 °C (in oil for heavy sections). (3) Alternatively stay below the band — but then take care not to land in the tempered martensite embrittlement band (200–370 °C). (4) Add Charpy alongside hardness as an acceptance criterion; hardness will not catch this damage.​‌​​‌​

Our cadmium-plated 8740 bolts fractured two days after installation. Is the material defective?

Almost certainly not the material — the PROCESS. What you describe is the textbook definition of DELAYED FRACTURE from hydrogen embrittlement.
The signature: the part comes out of plating sound, its hardness is right, it passes the tensile test — and then it fractures under constant load, hours or days later, without warning. The fracture surface is typically intergranular and initiates at a thread root or a notch.
Why 8740? Because its established aerospace target band is 160–180 ksi (1100–1240 MPa), and that band is inside the susceptible zone. The published thresholds say extended baking above 180 ksi, highest susceptibility above 200 ksi, and approved exemption below 120 ksi.
Checklist — ask in this order:
1. Was the bake performed, and HOW MANY HOURS after plating did it start? AMS 2759/9 requires a start within 1–4 hours of plating. This is the most frequently violated rule. “We baked the next morning” largely explains the failure.
2. Were the temperature and time right? 190–218 °C (375–425 °F) for 2–24 hours, at the long end for high-strength parts.
3. What was used for pre-plate cleaning? Acid pickling and electrolytic cleaning also charge hydrogen. High-strength parts should be cleaned mechanically.
4. Was any cold forming or thread rolling done AFTER plating? If so, new stress concentrations were created.
5. Is the supplier’s ASTM F519 qualification current? A change of plating line or bath chemistry requires requalification.
6. Were the bolts over-torqued? Delayed fracture requires static stress, and excess preload raises the risk. Cadmium has a low friction coefficient — it produces higher preload at the same torque.
What to do: send the fractured parts for fractography (looking for the intergranular signature), extract the bake start time from the plating records, and add AMS 2759/9 and ASTM F519 to the order text. Verify the process before blaming the material.​‌​​‌​

Common datasheet errors — check these before you order

1. “8740 is a case-hardening (carburizing) steel” — WRONG. A published distributor page describes 8740 as “produced for case hardening”. 8740 is at 0.38–0.43 % carbon and is a THROUGH-HARDENING steel. The carburizing grade in the same family is 8620 (0.18–0.23 % C). The family-number similarity is what causes this error.
2. “200 °C temper → 60–62 HRC” — METALLURGICALLY IMPOSSIBLE. A published table states this. In a steel at 0.38–0.43 % carbon, as-quenched martensite peaks at roughly 57–58 HRC; after tempering at 200 °C it should sit in the 52–55 HRC band. 60–62 HRC requires carbon above about 0.6 %. Treat that entire table with suspicion.
3. Two irreconcilable annealed hardness values circulate. One source gives 201 HB, another 220–260 HB. They cannot describe the same condition.
4. Two different quenched-and-tempered yields are published. For the same Rm (930–938 MPa) and the same hardness (269 HB), one publisher gives 550 MPa and another 620 MPa — a 13 % gap. Do not make it an acceptance criterion.
5. Thermal conductivity and expansion conflict. Conductivity is quoted as 39 and as 46.6 W/m·K; expansion as ≈13 ×10⁻⁶ /K and as 6.6–11.9 ×10⁻⁶ /°C — two irreconcilable sets. Do not trust a single published number in a shrink-fit calculation.
6. A single “8740 strength” number is published. The same steel can sit anywhere between 695 MPa (annealed) and 1240 MPa (aerospace band). Any mechanical value quoted without a condition and a section is meaningless.
7. Tempering curves are given with no section size. The published 8740 tables typically belong to ⌀25 mm and ⌀50 mm specimens. The same values cannot be reached at the centre of a ⌀100 mm bar.
8. “8740 is not subject to temper embrittlement” — CONFLICTING. Molybdenum (0.20–0.30 %) reduces susceptibility; it does not confer immunity. A professional body recommends no tempering cycle below 595 °C on low-alloy steels.
9. Two different embrittlement phenomena get confused. Tempered martensite embrittlement occurs at 200–370 °C and is IRREVERSIBLE; temper embrittlement occurs at 375–575 °C and is REVERSIBLE. Different mechanism, different cure.
10. If an 8740 page mentions “475 °C embrittlement”, that page is a copy-paste. That phenomenon concerns steels at 15 % chromium and above; 8740 has 0.40–0.60 %.
11. The COOLING RATE after tempering is never mentioned. Rapid cooling through 575 → 375 °C prevents the embrittlement dissolved at high temperature from returning. That one step explains many “the heat treatment was right but the part came out brittle” cases.
12. “AMS 6322 = 8740” — INCOMPLETE. AMS 6322 tightens the chemistry to P ≤0.025 % and S ≤0.025 % (against 0.035 % and 0.040 % on the ASTM side). The ASTM A322 bar in your rack may not satisfy an AMS 6322 order.
13. AMS numbers are used interchangeably. 6322 bars/forgings/rings, 6323 mechanical tubing, 6325 and 6327 bars and forgings (different combinations), 6358 sheet/strip/plate, 7452 bolts and screws, 7456 studs, 7496 flash-welded rings. They are not interchangeable.
14. “NAS6203 = 8740” — WRONG. Under NAS4002, 4140, 4340 or 8740 may be used. The NAS number does not fix the material; it fixes the heat-treat band (160–180 ksi).
15. Hydrogen embrittlement is not mentioned, or is waved away as “it gets baked”. The real requirements are numerical: 190–218 °C, 2–24 hours, start within 1–4 hours of plating, AMS 2759/9, verification by ASTM F519. A “bake-out” commitment with no specification number is not a commitment.
16. How critical the baking window is goes unstated. Delay reduces the effectiveness of the bake. “We baked the next day” is a nonconformance.
17. The TORQUE–PRELOAD effect of cadmium is ignored. Cadmium is slippery and produces higher preload at the same torque. If the finish changes, torque values must be recalculated.
18. Welding on a plated part is suggested. Cadmium fume is toxic and it causes liquid metal embrittlement. The plating must be stripped completely first.
19. Cutting speeds are quoted HIGHER than 8620’s. 8740 carries twice the carbon and is harder; if the published turning speed is 305–370 m/min while 8620’s is 245–335 m/min, the two sets are internally inconsistent. Read them as ceilings.
20. The European equivalent is presented as settled. The 1.6546 ↔ 40NiCrMo2-2 cross-reference is common but could not be independently verified. Compare the chemistry line by line before issuing a dual certificate.
21. Product analysis and heat analysis get confused. The heat band is C 0.38–0.43 % · Mn 0.75–1.00 %; the published product-analysis tolerance is C 0.37–0.44 % · Mn 0.70–1.05 %. Do not reject a conforming certificate over this.
22. The threading method is left out of the specification. In aerospace the thread is rolled, and rolling after heat treatment gives the highest fatigue life. A cut thread on the same bolt gives markedly lower life.
23. “8740 behaves almost like stainless” — WRONG. The passivity threshold is 10.5 % Cr; 8740 has 0.40–0.60 %. It rusts and it depends on plating.
24. NACE compliance is claimed. The limit is 22 HRC; 8740 in the 160–180 ksi band is roughly 34–40 HRC. It is not suitable for sour service.​‌​​‌​

COMPARISON
TWO CRITERIA, EACH READ FROM A SINGLE SOURCE FAMILY. (1) NICKEL AND CARBON: all three bands are taken from the same place, the bar producers’ handbooks that reprint the SAE J404 / ASTM A29 chemistry (Steel Dynamics Bar Data Handbook, TimkenSteel Practical Data for Metallurgists), so the nickel difference is compared under one specification logic. (2) DEPTH OF HARDENING: for each grade a SPECIFICATION or PRODUCER table is used that shows, within that grade’s own heat-treatment logic, what remains in the core as the section grows. Hardness and tensile figures collected from different sources are NOT placed side by side; every row states where its number comes from. 8740 DOES NOT SHARE THE HEAT-TREATMENT LOGIC of the other two, and this table deliberately shows it under a separate logic.
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GradeUNSW.-Nr.Alloy typeCarbonNickelChromiumMolybdenumHardenabilityResulting hardnessAMS coverageTypical use
AISI 8620G86200 (hardenability-band grade 8620H = H86200)​‌​​‌​1.6523 · EN 10084 20NiCrMo2-2 (former DIN name 21NiCrMo2) – close equivalent, bands not identicalCARBURIZING (case hardening). Low-carbon core plus a carbon-enriched hard case.​‌​​‌​0.18-0.23%0.40-0.70% (nominal 0.55% in the AMS titles)​‌​​‌​0.40-0.60% (AMS nominal 0.50%)0.15-0.25% (AMS nominal 0.20%)​‌​​‌​SHALLOW. In the EN 10084 core table as printed by Saarstahl the requirement falls quickly with section: at least 1100 N/mm2 tensile up to 16 mm diameter, at least 800 N/mm2 from 16 to 40 mm, at least 700 N/mm2 from 40 to 100 mm. The Jominy end-quench curve runs from 41-49 HRC at 1.5 mm down to roughly 20-24 HRC at 40 mm (Rodacciai, Lucefin and Ovako all print the 8620H band).Case: in the Lucefin measured curve 64 HRC at 0.25 mm depth and 57.5 HRC at 0.65 mm. Core: Lucefin gives 354-438 HB for 11 mm diameter and 249-339 HB for 30 mm.​‌​​‌​6274 (bars, forgings, mechanical tubing, forging stock; aircraft quality) · 6276 (same forms; VAR) · 6277 (same forms; VAR or ESR) · 6375 (welding wire; vacuum melted).General industrial gears, ring and pinion sets, shafts, pins and bushings, chain parts, hydraulic pump bodies, plastic moulds.​‌​​‌​
AISI 9310G93100 (G93106 for vacuum-remelted product)​‌​​‌​NO W.Nr. EQUIVALENT VERIFIED ACROSS FOUR SOURCES. Two independent international cross-reference tables contain no row for 9310 at all. The widely quoted 1.6657 / 14NiCrMo13-4 match does not hold chemically; see the contradictions list.CARBURIZING (case hardening). Low-carbon but HIGH-NICKEL core plus a carbon-enriched hard case.​‌​​‌​0.07-0.13%3.00-3.50% (nominal 3.25% in the AMS titles)​‌​​‌​1.00-1.40% (AMS nominal 1.2%)0.08-0.15% (AMS nominal 0.12%)​‌​​‌​DEEP. Although its carbon is about half that of 8620, its core hardness is far higher: Carpenter gives 331-363 HBW in the core of the carburized part, NASA measured 38 HRC in the core of carburized 9310 spur gears and a second NASA report gives a nominal 40 HRC. This is the effect of NICKEL, not of carbon.Case: 60-62 HRC (Carpenter); 60 HRC with a 0.97 mm (0.038 in.) case on the NASA test gears and a nominal 58 HRC in the second NASA report. Core: 331-363 HBW (Carpenter) · 38-40 HRC (NASA).​‌​​‌​6260 (bars, forgings, tubing; air melting accepted) · 6265 (same forms; VACUUM CONSUMABLE ELECTRODE REMELTING – VAR REQUIRED) · 6267 (same forms; ESR OR VAR REQUIRED). Cleanliness is called out through AMS 2300 / 2301 / 2304.Aircraft and helicopter engine gears and pinions, transmission gears, heavy-duty shafts, clutch parts, piston pins.​‌​​‌​
AISI 8740G87400​‌​​‌​1.6546 · 40NiCrMo2-2 (cross-reference tables give DIN name 40NiCrMo22, UNI 40NiCrMo2, JIS SNCM240) – found in three sources, band not verified element by elementQUENCH AND TEMPER. NOT A CARBURIZING STEEL; its carbon is too high for case hardening.​‌​​‌​0.38-0.43%0.40-0.70% (nominal 0.55% in the AMS titles)​‌​​‌​0.40-0.60% (AMS nominal 0.50%)0.20-0.30% (AMS nominal 0.25%)​‌​​‌​INTERMEDIATE. In the ASTM A320 table Grade L7C is guaranteed at 125 ksi (860 MPa) tensile and 105 ksi (725 MPa) yield for diameters of 65 mm (2 1/2 in.) and under, while in the same standard the 4340-based Grade L43 carries the same band up to 100 mm (4 in.). The section-strength figure is read from these two rows; no second independent diameter table was found.THERE IS NO CASE-CORE DISTINCTION. One structure is aimed at through the section. The ASTM A320 L7C hardness CEILING is 321 HBW / 35 HRC.​‌​​‌​6322 (bars, forgings, rings and stock for forging or flash-welded rings; aircraft quality) · 6323 (mechanical tubing) · 6325 (bars and forgings; heat treated to 105 ksi / 724 MPa tensile) · 6327 (bars and forgings; heat treated to 125 ksi / 862 MPa tensile) · 6358 (sheet, strip and plate; aircraft quality). THERE IS NO AMS NUMBER CARRYING A REMELTING (VAR / ESR) REQUIREMENT.Aircraft engine bolts and fasteners, axles, drill tool joints, drill and reamer bodies, piston rods, ASTM A320 Grade L7C low-temperature bolting.​‌​​‌​

Additional information
Nickel difference​‌​​‌​THE DECIDING DIFFERENCE IS NICKEL. In 8620 and 8740 nickel sits in the 0.40-0.70% band; in 9310 it is 3.00-3.50%, roughly SIX TIMES as much. Nickel forms no carbide; it strengthens the ferrite in solid solution and lowers the transformation temperature of austenite, so martensite and bainite still form in slowly cooling heavy sections. The practical consequence is this: 9310 has the LOWEST CARBON OF THE THREE (0.07-0.13%) and still holds 331-363 HBW (about 35-39 HRC) in the CORE of the carburized part, while 8620 at 30 mm diameter sits in the 249-339 HB band. THE DIFFERENCE IS NOT IN SURFACE HARDNESS: both carburizing grades reach a case of roughly 58-62 HRC, because case hardness is set by the carbon DIFFUSED IN DURING CARBURIZING, not by the steel’s own carbon. The difference is how deep into the section the core that carries that hard case stays strong.
AMS difference​‌​​‌​THE SECOND DIFFERENCE THAT DECIDES AN ORDER IS THE MELTING REQUIREMENT. For 9310, AMS 6265 REQUIRES VACUUM CONSUMABLE ELECTRODE REMELTING (VAR) and AMS 6267 permits ESR or VAR, while AMS 6260 accepts air melting. On the 8620 side remelted numbers also EXIST: AMS 6276 (VAR) and AMS 6277 (VAR or ESR). For 8740 THERE IS NO AMS NUMBER WITH A REMELTING REQUIREMENT; the highest level is the ‘aircraft quality’ wording of AMS 6322, and that is NOT a remelting requirement. A specification calling for remelted material cannot be met with 8740.
Ortak sinir​‌​​‌​NONE OF THE THREE IS STAINLESS. Chromium runs from 0.40 to 1.40% and no passive layer forms; protection comes from plating, phosphating, oil or paint. All three are low-alloy steels, so post-plating hydrogen relief baking and the risk of hydrogen embrittlement at high hardness apply to all three. Choosing between the grades does not solve a corrosion problem.
The table is built WITHOUT INVENTED NUMBERS: every hardenability row states which table its figure was read from, and hardness values from different sources are not equated with one another. 8740 IS NOT SHOWN AS A CARBURIZING GRADE here. Its carbon is 0.38-0.43%; carburizing it would over-carburize the surface and leave no toughness, because the core is already hard. 8740 is quenched and tempered. The effect of nickel is not ‘harder’ but ‘hard deeper’. The case hardness of the two carburizing grades is of the same order; the two grades separate in the core. 9310 and 8620 have AMS numbers carrying a remelting requirement; 8740 does not. In an aerospace order this is the most concrete discriminator between the grades. This is a comparative summary. For all three grades the order must be tied to the AMS or ASTM number that matches the product form.

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