ASTM A194 Grade 2H Hex Nuts

High Temperature & High Pressure Steel Hex Nuts for Oil & Gas Applications.

NUBOTECK manufactures ASTM A194 Grade 2H Hex Nuts which are applied to critical bolted joints used in refineries, petrochemical plants, offshore platforms, LNG facilities, pressure vessels, valves, heat exchangers and piping systems.

What is ASTM A194 Grade 2H?

Grade 2H is the most widely specified steel bolting material extensively used for pressure vessels, valves, flanges, and fittings for high-temperature service. Grade 2H hex nuts provide excellent strength, toughness and reliability, making them the preferred choice throughout the oil & gas industry.

ASTM A194 standard governs the requirements specifically for Grade 2H. However, the requirements given in ASTM A194 are said to be fully achieved, only when the generic/ common bolting requirements of ASTM A962 have been fully met.

Oil & Gas Applications

Specification API 20E introduces enhanced requirements for manufacturing process control, qualification testing, traceability, metallurgical examination and documentation. These checks and controls are in addition to the regular requirements given for this grade by the ASTM standards (ASTM A194, ASTM A962)

Manufacturing Process

ASTM A194 Grade 2H hex nuts are manufactured from carbon steel which is quenched and tempered to achieve the required mechanical properties. Proper heat treatment ensures optimum strength, toughness and reliability for high-pressure service conditions.

Typical manufacturing sequence:

  • Raw Material Verification
  • Heat Treatment - Austenitizing, Quenching, Tempering
  • Mechanical Property - Verification
  • Hot Forming
  • Machining
  • Threading - Rolling/ Cutting
  • Inspection & Testing
  • Documentation and Certification

API-20E requirements for Hardness Testing of Bars:

In case of heat treatment using induction process, all readings for hardness must be within 3 HRC. Conversion between hardness scales shall be in conformance with ASTM E140. Test frequency shall conform to ASTM F1470-19, Table 3, sample size A

Raw Material (Steel) Manufacturing

Manufacturing Parameter ASTM/ API-20E BSL-1 API-20E BSL-2 API-20E BSL-3
Melting Practice Basic-oxygen, Electric-furnace, Vacuum Induction Melting (VIM) Electric-furnace, Vacuum Induction Melting (VIM)
  Molten steel may be vacuum treated prior to or during pouring of the ingot or strand casting. The primary melting may incorporate separate degassing or refining and may be followed by secondary melting such as electroslag remelting or vacuum remelting
  The steel shall be fully killed. When steel of different grades is continuously cast identification of the resultant transition material is required. The steel producer shall remove the transition material by an established procedure that positively separates the grades
    Secondary refining or ladle refining, shall be performed. When multiple heats of the same chemical composition range are sequentially strand cast, the heats shall be separated by an established procedure such that intermix material shall not be supplied (ASTM A962/A962M)
Casting Continuous, Ingot Continuous, Ingot Ingot
    Top pouring during Ingot casting not permitted unless the VIM is used
Reduction Ratio 4.0:1 Min 4.0:1 Min 10.0:1 Min

Cleanliness (Metallurgy)

Testing ASTM/ API-20E BSL-1 API-20E BSL-2, BSL-3 Test Technique
Inclusion content   Severity Level Number 2 for thin, 1.5 for thick, all categories ASTM E45 Method A
Macrostructure S2, R2, C3 S1, R1, C2 ASTM E381 and ASTM A962
Grain size   Size 5 or finer ASTM E112
Microstructure Predominately tempered martensite. After heat treatment longitudinal direction at ¼T
Banding  
  • Figure 1 is not permitted
  • Band hardness > 470 HK is not permitted
ASTM E384, after heat treatment longitudinal direction at ¼T

Chemical Composition

Element ASTM/ API-20E BSL-1 API-20E BSL-2 API-20E BSL-3
Carbon 0.40 Min    
Sulfur 0.050 Max 0.025 Max 0.015 Max
Phosphorus 0.040 Max 0.025 Max 0.015 Max
Manganese 1.00 Max    
Silicon 0.040 Max    
Vanadium     0.05 Max
Niobium     0.05 Max
Boron (residual)   0.0005 Max 0.0005 Max

Mechanical Properties

Property ASTM Requirement API-20E Requirement
Hardness (<= M36 <= 1.5") 24 - 35 HRC 24 - 34 HRC
Hardness (> M36 > 1.5") Max 35 HRC Max 34 HRC

Available Sizes

Diameter Range

1/2" to 2-1/2"

M12 to M64

Product Forms

  • Heavy Hex Nuts
  • Hex Nuts
  • Custom Thickness Nuts

Stud Bolts Complementing ASTM A194 Grade 2H Nuts

API-20E BSL-1 API-20E BSL-2 API-20E BSL-3
ASTM A193 B7 ASTM A193 B7 ASTM A193 B7

Need ASTM A194 Grade 2H Heavy Hex Nuts?

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