Composition of stainless steel fasteners

Stainless Fasteners are one of the most commonly used fastener materials in construction. They are strong, reliable, durable, and corrosion-resistant. They are also relatively inexpensive and cosmetically attractive, making them a popular choice for many industries.

Several types of stainless-steel fasteners are available to meet various applications. The most common type is SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) 304 stainless steel, which features 18% chromium and 8% nickel.

The 304 series is the most commonly used stainless-steel alloy to produce a variety of industrial fasteners. The 304 alloy is a good choice for most types of applications, as it offers excellent resistance to oxidizing acids and other chemicals.

Another type of stainless-steel fastener is SAE 316 stainless steel, which offers greater corrosion resistance than the 304 variety. It features 16-18% chromium and 10-14% nickel, as well as 2% molybdenum.

Fabrication methods for stainless-steel fasteners include cold heading and machining. The cold-heading method involves squeezing wire into die and punch cavities to shape a fastener. This approach can be faster than machining and results in a more resilient product overall.

Machining is a more traditional way to make stainless-steel fasteners. In production runs that involve larger numbers, machining may be the preferred fabrication method.

Stainless-steel fasteners are often made in zinc plating, which creates corrosion resistance and gives the bolts a shiny finish. However, some stainless-steel fasteners are untreated or contain no zinc plating.