A Fastener is a device that connects two or more materials together. The fastener is designed in the large series of materials varying from the steel to titanium, nickel wire, plastic or others. Most of materials are more processed in the different levels to specify the particular alloy combinations, hardening procedures and more. Moreover different materials are introduced with different coatings or plating to improve the rust protection nature and look of the fastening device.
Choosing the fastener materials is necessary because different materials offer different force, resistance to corrosion, galvanic corrosion nature and production expenditures. Few common materials used in manufacturing fasteners are detailed below:
Stainless Steel is an alloy combination of minor carbon steel and chromium for improved rust resistance features. This steel is good resistant to corrosion and economical and due to its anti rust features can be adapted by the metal, it does not lose its resistance nature if it is get scratched while an installation or when the steel is in operation. People think that stainless steel has high potential as compare to regular steel. But due to its low carbon content, it is impossible to harden the alloy. Thus when it is compared with the traditional steel, it is considered as stronger alloy however an unhardened steel fastener is appreciably weaker than the hardened steel fastener. Additionally the stainless steel possess less magnetic character than the regular steel however it has some categories of magnetic nature.
The 18 - 8 stainless steel grade consists of 18% chromium and 8% nickel and it is popularly used to manufacture fasteners. The stainless steel of 18 – 8 grade is equivalent to 304 stainless. Stainless steel 410 is of ASTM A276 kind 410 steel alloy. It has less magnetic and corrosion resistance nature through it can be hardened.
Steel is popularly used in the designing of fastener. The steel fasteners are introduced in the plain and surface processed materials like zinc plated, galvanized and chrome plated fasteners. The steel fasteners are basically introduced in the four levels. Various other levels are designed though these are rarely used. The popular steel grades are Grade 2, Grade 5, Grade 8, and Alloy Steel. Among of these grades the steel grades used for plating are Grade 2, 5, and 8. These are plated with silver or blonde zinc coating or galvanized to resist the corrosion.
The alloy steel bolts are manufactured from the high strength steel alloy those are further heat processed. The alloy steel bolts are generally not plated that tends to make dull black finish. These bolts have high strength though they are very fragile.
The silicon bronze is basically a simple bronze alloy made of copper and tin including small concentration of silicon. Bronze alloy is utilized under water operations. It is dominated over stainless steel in the construction of wooden boats and fasteners because it is featured with extremely high corrosion resistance and has larger strength than brass. Bronze and copper have almost same color and it offer better woodworking when used for appearance. However Nickel strip is preferably used in the production of fasteners.