Nuts · DIN 981

Property Class 12.9 Steel Bearing Lock Nuts (KM Series)

Mechanical properties, corrosion behaviour and the full dimensional range for this grade.

Property Class 12.9 Steel Bearing Lock Nuts (KM Series) are supplied to ISO 898-1 property class 12.9. Corrosion behaviour is requires plating or black-oxide protection, the material is magnetic, and the usable service range is commonly limited to approx. +300 °C; confirm against the coating and the load. In practice this grade is the highest common strength class, for high-load machine assembly.

Grade: ISO 898-1 property class 12.9
Corrosion resistance: Requires plating or black-oxide protection
Magnetic response: Magnetic
Service temperature: commonly limited to approx. +300 °C; confirm against the coating and the load

Property values are typical for the grade. Certified mechanical test data is available on request for production orders.

Property Class 12.9 Steel Bearing Lock Nuts (KM Series) combine the dimensional form of DIN 981 with the material properties of grade ISO 898-1 property class 12.9: requires plating or black-oxide protection, magnetic, service range commonly limited to approx. +300 °C; confirm against the coating and the load. This page summarizes the grade data, its corrosion behavior in service, the comparable grades, and the sizes supplied.

Why Choose Property Class 12.9 Steel for Bearing Lock Nuts (KM Series)

The highest common strength class, for high-load machine assembly. For bearing lock nuts (km series), this matters when requires plating or black-oxide protection is the primary requirement.

Mechanical & Physical Properties

Grade designation	ISO 898-1 property class 12.9
Magnetic response	Magnetic
Service temperature	commonly limited to approx. +300 °C; confirm against the coating and the load
Corrosion characteristic	Requires plating or black-oxide protection

Galvanic & Galling Considerations

For bearing lock nuts (km series) in steel, the dominant compatibility issue is hydrogen embrittlement at high property classes (10.9 and above) when electroplated. Plating must be followed by an appropriate baking treatment, or a non-electroplated finish (mechanical zinc, zinc flake) should be substituted.

Comparable Grades

For Bearing Lock Nuts (KM Series), class 8.8 is the comparable strength step. Move up when the joint preload approaches the proof load of the current class; move down when the joint is over-specified. For corrosion-critical service, switch to stainless A2 or A4.

Sizes of Bearing Lock Nuts (KM Series) Available in Property Class 12.9 Steel

Size	Thread size	Outer diameter D (mm)	Nut height m (mm)	Slot width (mm)	Slot depth (mm)	Matching tab washer	Reference standard
KM0	M10x0.75	18	4	3	2	MB0	DIN 981
KM4	M20x1.0	32	6	4	2	MB4	DIN 981
KM6	M30x1.5	45	7	5	2	MB6	DIN 981
KM8	M40x1.5	58	9	5	2.5	MB8	DIN 981
KM10	M50x1.5	70	9	6	2.5	MB10	DIN 981
KM12	M60x2.0	80	11	6	3	MB12	DIN 981

Technical Drawing

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Specification

Item / category Standard Size(s) Material / finish Quantity

Business Information

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Notes

Dimensions & Specifications (DIN 981)

Size	Thread size	Outer diameter D (mm)	Nut height m (mm)	Slot width (mm)	Slot depth (mm)	Matching tab washer	Reference standard
KM0	M10x0.75	18	4	3	2	MB0	DIN 981
KM4	M20x1.0	32	6	4	2	MB4	DIN 981
KM6	M30x1.5	45	7	5	2	MB6	DIN 981
KM8	M40x1.5	58	9	5	2.5	MB8	DIN 981
KM10	M50x1.5	70	9	6	2.5	MB10	DIN 981
KM12	M60x2.0	80	11	6	3	MB12	DIN 981

Materials & Grades

Select a material class to see the grades we supply it in. Each designation is listed with its ISO/EN, AISI/SAE, JIS and GB equivalents.

Stainless Steel38 Carbon Steel66 Alloy Steel41 Bearing Steel5 Spring Steel25 Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys21 Brass17 Bronze11 Copper8 Titanium and Titanium Alloys18 Nickel and Nickel Alloys22 Iron-Nickel and High-Temperature Alloys10 Tool Steel and Specialty Hardened Steel9 Structural and Construction Steel9

Stainless Steel

Austenitic Stainless Steel

A1 AISI 303 · SAE 303 · SUS303 · EN 1.4305 · X8CrNiS18-9
A2 AISI 304 · SAE 304 · SUS304 · EN 1.4301 · X5CrNi18-10 · 06Cr19Ni10
304L AISI 304L · SUS304L · EN 1.4307 · X2CrNi18-9 · 022Cr19Ni10
302 AISI 302 · SUS302 · EN 1.4310
305 AISI 305 · SUS305 · EN 1.4303
A4 AISI 316 · SAE 316 · SUS316 · EN 1.4401 · X5CrNiMo17-12-2 · 06Cr17Ni12Mo2
316L AISI 316L · SUS316L · EN 1.4404 · X2CrNiMo17-12-2 · 022Cr17Ni12Mo2
321 AISI 321 · SUS321 · EN 1.4541 · X6CrNiTi18-10
310 / 310S AISI 310 · AISI 310S · SUS310S · EN 1.4845
302HQ AISI 302HQ
A3
A5
347 AISI 347 · SUS347 · EN 1.4550 · X6CrNiNb18-10
309 / 309S AISI 309 · AISI 309S · SUS309S

Martensitic Stainless Steel

AISI 410 SUS410 · EN 1.4006 · X12Cr13 · 12Cr13
AISI 420 SUS420J1 · SUS420J2 · EN 1.4021 · EN 1.4028 · 20Cr13 · 30Cr13
AISI 431 SUS431 · EN 1.4057 · X17CrNi16-2
C1
C3
C4
AISI 440A
AISI 440B
AISI 440C SUS440C · EN 1.4125

Ferritic Stainless Steel

AISI 430 SUS430 · EN 1.4016 · X6Cr17 · 10Cr17
F1
AISI 434
AISI 444

Precipitation-Hardening Stainless Steel

17-4 PH AISI 630 · UNS S17400 · SUS630 · EN 1.4542 · X5CrNiCuNb16-4
15-5 PH UNS S15500
17-7 PH UNS S17700

Duplex and Super Duplex Stainless Steel

Duplex 2205 UNS S31803 · UNS S32205 · EN 1.4462
Super Duplex 2507 UNS S32750 · EN 1.4410
D2
D4
D6
D8
Lean Duplex 2101 UNS S32101
Super Duplex S32760 UNS S32760 · EN 1.4501

Carbon Steel

Low-Carbon Steel

SAE 1006
SAE 1008
SAE 1010
SAE 1018
SAE 1020
Q195
Q235
SAE 1012
SAE 1015
Q215
ML08
ML08Al
ML10
ML15
ML20
SWRCH6A
SWRCH8A
SWRCH10A
SWRCH12A
SWRCH15A
SWRCH18A

Medium-Carbon Steel

SAE 1035
SAE 1045
S45C
C45
SAE 1030
SAE 1040
SAE 1050
30
35
40
45
50
S35C
S40C
S50C
C35
C40

High-Carbon Steel

SAE 1060
SAE 1070
65Mn
SAE 1065
SAE 1075
SAE 1080
SAE 1085
SAE 1090
SAE 1095
60
65
70
75
80
85

Cold-Heading Steel

SWRCH22A
10B21
SWRCH22K
SWRCH25K
SWRCH30K
SWRCH35K
SWRCH40K
ML20Mn
ML25
ML30
ML35
ML40
15B25

Alloy Steel

Chromium Steel

40Cr
45Cr
AISI 5140
SAE 5140
AISI 5120
SAE 5120
SCr420
SCr440

Chromium-Molybdenum Steel

35CrMo
42CrMo
AISI 4140
SCM435
SCM440
42CrMo4
30CrMo
AISI 4130
SAE 4130
SAE 4140
AISI 4142
AISI 4145
SCM415
SCM420
SCM445
EN 1.7220
EN 1.7225
25CrMo4
34CrMo4

Nickel-Chromium-Molybdenum Steel

AISI 4340
SAE 4340
40CrNiMo
SNCM439
EN 1.6511
36CrNiMo4

Boron Alloy Steel

10B22
10B21
15B21
15B25
20MnTiB
20Mn2B
35VB
40MnB

Bearing Steel

GCr15
AISI 52100 SAE 52100 · UNS G52986
SUJ2
100Cr6 EN 1.3505
GCr15SiMn

Spring Steel

Carbon Spring Steel

SAE 1065
SAE 1070
SAE 1075
SAE 1080
SAE 1095
65
70
75
80
65Mn

Silicon-Manganese Spring Steel

60Si2Mn
60Si2MnA
SUP6
SUP7

Chromium-Vanadium Spring Steel

50CrVA
SAE 6150
AISI 6150
SUP10

Stainless Spring Steel

AISI 301
SUS301
EN 1.4310
AISI 302
AISI 304
AISI 316
17-7 PH

Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys

Commercially Pure Aluminum

1050
1060
1070
1100

2xxx Series Aluminum

2024
2011
2014
2017

5xxx Series Aluminum

5052
5083
5754

6xxx Series Aluminum

6061
6061-T6
6063
6082
6082-T6

7xxx Series Aluminum

7075
7075-T6
7005
7050
7075-T73

Brass

Free-Cutting Brass

C36000
H62
HPb59-1
C3601
C3602
C3604
CuZn36Pb3
CuZn39Pb3
EN CW614N
EN CW617N
H65

Lead-Free Brass

C69300
C27450
CW510L
CW511L

Naval Brass

C46400
CuZn39Sn1

Bronze

Silicon Bronze

C65500
C65100
C65600

Phosphor Bronze

C51000
C52100
CuSn6
CuSn8

Aluminum Bronze

C95400
C95500
C63000
CuAl10Ni5Fe4

Copper

C11000
T2
C10100
C10200
C12200
T1
TU1
TU2

Titanium and Titanium Alloys

Commercially Pure Titanium

Grade 2
Grade 1
Grade 3
Grade 4
TA1
TA2
TA3

Alpha-Beta Titanium Alloys

Grade 5
Ti-6Al-4V
TC4
UNS R56400

Low-Interstitial Grade

Grade 23
Ti-6Al-4V ELI
UNS R56407

Other Titanium Fastener Alloys

Ti-6Al-6V-2Sn
Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo
Beta-C titanium
Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al

Nickel and Nickel Alloys

Commercially Pure Nickel

Nickel 200
UNS N02200
Nickel 201
UNS N02201

Inconel Alloys

Inconel 625 UNS N06625
Inconel 718 UNS N07718
Inconel 600 UNS N06600
Inconel 601 UNS N06601
Inconel 686 UNS N06686
Inconel X-750 UNS N07750

Monel Alloys

Monel 400 UNS N04400
Monel K-500 UNS N05500

Hastelloy Alloys

Hastelloy C-276 UNS N10276
Hastelloy C-22 UNS N06022
Hastelloy B-2 UNS N10665
Hastelloy B-3 UNS N10675
Hastelloy X UNS N06002

Other Nickel Alloys

Alloy 20 UNS N08020
Alloy 625
Alloy 718
Alloy 825 UNS N08825
Alloy 925 UNS N09925

Iron-Nickel and High-Temperature Alloys

A286

A-286
UNS S66286
EN 1.4980

Invar

Invar 36
Alloy 36
UNS K93600
FeNi36

Alloy 42

Alloy 42
UNS K94100
FeNi42

Tool Steel and Specialty Hardened Steel

AISI D2
AISI H13
SKD11
Cr12MoV
AISI O1
AISI A2
AISI S7
SKD61
9CrSi

Structural and Construction Steel

ASTM A36
Q235B
Q355B
S355JR
Q235C
Q355C
S235JR
S275JR
S355J2

Applications & Industries

Bearing Lock Nuts are bought for a small number of well-defined jobs. These are the ones we ship them for. Stocked from KM0 to KM12 (size designation).

Industries that specify Bearing Lock Nuts

Pumps & electric motors Shaft-end retention during rebuild.
Bearing assemblies Setting and holding bearings on adapter sleeves and threaded seats.
Gearboxes & spindles Axial location of shaft-mounted bearings.
Maintenance & MRO Replacements matched to the existing bolt class, thread and finish.
Building services Threaded rod, channel and suspension assemblies.
Machine building & OEM The clamping counter-face on studs and bolts throughout an assembly.

Typical applications

used with the matching MB tab washer — the nut alone is not locked
setting a bearing on a tapered or threaded shaft seat
tightened with a C-spanner or pin wrench into the slots
joints re-torqued at a service interval
completing a bolted joint on a stud, rod or bolt
locking an adjustment so it cannot drift

Service conditions to specify against

Marine and coastal: Available in A4 (316) stainless for chloride exposure — coastal structures, pool halls, water treatment and deck hardware, where A2 will eventually pit.
High load: Supplied in ISO 898-1 property classes, so the joint can be designed to a stated proof load and tightened to a calculated torque rather than by feel.
Vibration: Specified where cyclic load would loosen a plain nut or screw — rotating plant, rail, mobile equipment and anything that is not re-torqued in service.
Match the class: A nut below the bolt property class strips before the bolt reaches its own limit — pair class 8 nuts with 8.8 bolts, class 10 with 10.9.

Full application guide: where Bearing Lock Nuts are used, how to specify them, and the cases they are wrong for

Inside the plant

Manufactured in our own plant

This part is cold-formed, threaded, heat-treated and finished in-house. The stages below are where its class and finish are actually decided.

01

Cold heading

Wire rod is drawn to size and cold-formed into blanks. Forming rather than cutting keeps the grain flow continuous around the head, which is where a bolt is most likely to fail.

Head dimensions and under-head radius checked at set-up and per shift.
02

Thread rolling

Threads are rolled between hardened dies rather than cut. Rolled threads are stronger in fatigue than cut threads and hold pitch and flank angle far more consistently across a batch.

Go / no-go ring gauges to ISO 965 tolerance class 6g.
03

Heat treatment

Quench-and-temper brings carbon and alloy steel to the property class ordered — 8.8, 10.9 or 12.9 — with the furnace charge tracked so a finished lot can be traced back to it.

Core hardness and tensile tested per lot to ISO 898-1.
04

Surface treatment

Zinc, zinc-nickel, hot-dip galvanizing, black oxide, phosphate and Dacromet, selected against the service environment rather than against the price list.

Coating thickness and neutral salt spray hours to ISO 9227.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I move from ISO 898-1 property class 12.9 to class 8.8 for Bearing Lock Nuts (KM Series)?

Step up to class 8.8 when the joint preload approaches the proof load of the current class. The higher class adds preload at the same diameter, often saving size and weight.

Is Property Class 12.9 Steel prone to hydrogen embrittlement?

Class 10.9 and above can be susceptible to hydrogen embrittlement when electroplated. Specify post-plating baking, or use mechanical-zinc / zinc-flake finishes which avoid the cathodic plating step.

Which finish is best for outdoor Bearing Lock Nuts (KM Series)?

For outdoor service in steel, hot-dip galvanizing gives the longest life; zinc-flake (Geomet/Delta-Tone family) gives a thinner film with excellent salt-spray performance; standard zinc plating is the lowest-cost option for general indoor / shielded outdoor use.

What's the service temperature limit for Property Class 12.9 Steel?

The practical service range is commonly limited to approx. +300 °C; confirm against the coating and the load.

How do I request a quotation?

Use the technical drawing on this page to pick the exact configuration, then submit it with the quote form. We respond within one business day.