Stainless Steel: The Most Preferred Raw Material for Fasteners Manufacturing

Stainless steel is one of the most preferred raw materials for almost all the stainless steel bolts & nuts manufacturers to produce a wide range of industrial fasteners. A large number of advantages are associated with stainless steel that make it an ideal material for producing fasteners such as nuts and bolts maintaining high quality, durability, and reliability.

Stainless steel: an overview

Stainless steel is a general term that is given to high corrosion-resistant steel alloys. However, some small variations in the components of alloys can make a big difference in the electrical and mechanical properties of stainless steel. As far as the core of a stainless steel alloy is concerned, it can include molybdenum, copper, chromium, nickel, and tungsten. A vast majority of the applied steel across the globe is carbon and alloy steel while stainless steel is an expensive option and does not have a robust but highly valuable market share. 

Why stainless steel is the most preferred raw material for fasteners manufacturers

Although stainless steel cannot be considered a rust-free material, it is well-known for its remarkability in offering unmatched corrosion resistance. Carbon steel when exposed to air can get pitted and heavily oxidized and it is where the corrosion begins. On the contrary, stainless steel when exposed to the same condition produces chromium oxide (Cr 2 O 3) on the surface that acts as a safeguard for the stainless steel protecting it from damages caused by acid, and in turn extends the product durability.

Some of the most common applications of fasteners made using stainless steel include the following:

• The components, tools, machinery, and a wide range of other equipment that are exposed to corrosive environments, saltwater, and certain chemicals
• Sanitary equipment
• High wear parts
• Components that are installed under high stress and extreme heat
• Components that call for superior class strength, durability, and stability.

Worldwide standards applied in the manufacturing of industrial fasteners including nuts, bolts, and a large number of others: 

• IFI - Industrial Fastener Institute
• DIN - Deutches Institue fur Normung
• ISO - International Organization for Standardization
• JIS - Japanese Industrial Standard
• ASTM - American Society for Testing and Materials
• ANSI - American National Standard Institute
• AISI - American Iron and Steel Institute.

Main stainless steel materials

There are mainly 4 variants of stainless steel used by the top stainless steel bolts & nuts manufacturers in India to produce high-quality bolts & nuts for aerospace engines and a large number of other applications. All these variants have their own corrosion resistance performances.

         
1. Austenitic Stainless Steel

18-8 300 series products are the main products made using this variant of stainless steel. The products under this category are cold working which is carried out to strengthen their mechanical properties. These products are widely used across industries for their outstanding corrosion resistance quality. 

 

2. Martensitic Stainless Steel

Material 410 is one of the most well-known stainless steels containing a lesser amount of Nickel and Chromium than Austenitic stainless steel. Just contrary to austenitic stainless steel, the corrosion resistance performance of this variant of stainless steel is not considered that good by the manufacturers of industrial nuts and bolts.  

3. Ferritic Stainless Steel

Ferritic Stainless Steel is one of the most popular kinds of steel. It is also known as the 430 series.  It is a cold working product just like Austenitic Steel and contains a very little amount of Nickel which in turn makes it lesser pricy but worsens corrosion resistance.   

4. Precipitation Hardened Stainless Steel

This variant of stainless steel is actually a modification based on 17-7 Austenitic Steel. With AISI coded 600 series, a high level of hardness is its primary characteristic. This type of stainless steel is used by industrial nuts manufacturers to produce bolts & nuts for aerospace engines.

Size, Lengths, and Threads at a Glance

• Stainless Steel Fasteners/ Bolts Size:  M10, M4, M16, M36 M2.5, M6, M30, M12, M8, M14, M2, M3, M20, M24, M5 to M160
• Length of Stainless Steel Fasteners : 3 mm to 200 mm
• Stainless Steel Studs, Bolts Threads: BSF, UNF METRIC, UNC, BSW, or as required.

Surface Coating of Stainless Steel Bolting Materials:       

• Zinc Coated Fasteners
• Cadmium Coated Fasteners
• PTFE Coated Stainless Steel Fasteners
• Xylon Coated Fasteners
• Phosphate Coated Fasteners
• Hot Dipped Galvanizing Coated Fasteners
• Teflon Coated Fasteners.

Some of the major industries that rely on Stainless Steel fasteners

A large number of industries make use of fasteners made using stainless steel. Stainless steel fasteners offer remarkable performance not only in normal environments but also under extremely hostile conditions. They are manufactured to combat the effect of different types of acids, chemicals, and seawaters. That’s the reason the demand for high-quality stainless steel fasteners is increasing across the globe. Some of the major industries that use them include the following:

• Food equipment
• Building decoration
• Medical equipment
• Marine industry
• Aerospace Industry
• Chemical Industry
• Public transportation system
• Electrical products
• Household applications
• Pumps, compressors, and valves.

The biggest selling points of fasteners made of stainless steel

Corrosion resistance is one of the most significant selling points of the fasteners made using stainless steel. As this material contains more than 10% of Chromium, a thin layer of chromium oxide is formed over its external surface. Thus, this layer provides the fasteners with complete protection from corrosion or degradation when they are exposed to any hostile conditions such as chemical reactions. Stainless steel resists even the internal and external hydrogen embrittlement.

Apart from it, the layer also capacitates the fasteners to self-repair. It should also be noted that while stainless steel is corrosion-resistant, it cannot be considered corrosion-proof. In case of improper installation or insufficient oxygen exposure, the chances of fastener corrosion might increase.

Concluding Remarks

Established in the year 2005 at Chopanki (Bhiwadi), Rajasthan, Caparo’s fasteners division is among the market leaders in fasteners manufacturing in India. The company has earned a formidable reputation as an unrivaled specialist in the in-house manufacturing of a comprehensive range of high-tensile standards and special fasteners. Some of the top offerings by the company include Cylinder Head & Connecting Rod Bolts, Axle Bolt, Transmission Bolts, Wheel Bolts, Shoulder Bolts, Studs, Flange Bolts, and Screws, Hex Flange Head Screw with Rib, Hex Flange Screw with the recess on the head, and Rivets.