Fastener materials and coatings are an essential aspect of the performance and longevity of your equipment. How and where you’ll the fastener will dictate what materials and coatings you should consider.
Besides having many options for materials and coatings, you also have options for grades of the various materials. These grades give you insights into the hardening process the manufacturer uses or alloy materials mixed in.
Some considerations when choosing your materials and coatings include:
When replacing an existing fastener, you should aim to replace it with a comparable one. It might seem like getting a stronger fastener is the way to go, but that carries risks with it. Sometimes a stronger, harder fastener is actually more brittle.
Be sure you’re using the right equipment for the job by reviewing these overviews of fastener materials and uses.
Fastener materials are generally stainless steel, steel, silicon bronze, brass, or aluminum. Here’s a look at each of these materials and what they’re good for.
One of the most corrosion-resistant materials for the price is stainless steel. It is an alloy with inherent properties that make it anti-corrosive. Additionally, you can rest easy knowing that if you scratch the metal while installing, it will maintain its anti-corrosive properties.
Because of its low carbon content, stainless is actually not as strong as regular steel. It cannot undergo the same heat treatment that makes steel so hard. You need to be very careful when installing stainless steel fasteners because they can seize up when you’re installing them. Another term for this process is galling.
Another characteristic of stainless steel is that it is less magnetic than regular steel. There are three different types of stainless steel you should be aware of:
Steel is a very common material for popular fasteners. You can get fasteners that are entirely steel or get some with different treatments that could aid you in your use of the equipment.
Generally, steel fasteners come in four grades. While other grades exist as well, they are not nearly as common or easy to find. Here’s a look at the major steel grades and what you need to know about them.
Bronze fasteners are made of copper and tin with a little bit of silicone. That’s why they are also sometimes called silicon bronze. The most common use for these fasteners is in seawater.
These highly corrosion-resistant fasteners are very strong compared to stainless steel. That's why you'll see them in boat construction since they're reliable but also at low risk of corrosion.
Bronze fasteners are more expensive than other types of fasteners, but their strength and durability make them long-lasting.
Brass is made up of copper and zinc. Although it is corrosion-resistant, its use cases are limited because it is so soft. These fasteners are also electrically conductive. It is an attractive fastener, though, which is why people still use it despite its challenges.
Aluminum is inherently corrosion resistant, just like steel. That means that scratches won’t affect its corrosion resistance if something happens during transport or installation. These fasteners are very lightweight.
However, their lightweight property also means they are softer than other fasteners. Adding silicon can help make these fasteners stronger.
In addition to the materials a fastener is made of, you can also choose from various coatings that will impact their durability and use. There are three main fastener coatings to choose from.
Zinc helps with making a fastener more corrosion resistant. The zinc plating gives the fastener a silver or gold appearance. While the coating can help make the fastener more corrosion resistant, it does break down in saltwater environments, leading to rust.
Hot dip galvanizing adds a thick coating of zinc to the metal. It helps make the fastener extremely corrosion resistant.
Because the coating is so thick, it is not compatible with standard nuts. You’ll need to use galvanized nuts as well, which are larger to accommodate for the thick coating. These fasteners are ideal for outdoor conditions, especially in seawater.
Chrome plating provides both corrosion resistance and an attractive, shiny finish. But because of the use of chrome, these fasteners are more expensive than zinc. Chrome is often added to stainless steel fasteners to add even more corrosion resistance. The great news about using chrome-plated stainless steel is that they are still corrosion-resistant after the chrome is scratched or damaged.
When you’re unsure about what materials are best for your project, contact the experts at Eurolink Fastener Supply Service. We help you source hard-to-find fasteners and set up simple, recurring orders when you need them.