Fastener Material Selection and Bolt Grades

Fasteners are critical components for a number of applications, allowing for two or more components to be mechanically joined or affixed to one another, either in a permanent or non-permanent manner. Fasteners often range in complexity and grade, varying on what they are used for and the environment they will operate in. In an industrial setting, it is important to ensure that the industrial fasteners that are utilized for assembly and operations are of the correct material and grade to ensure optimal performance, service life, and more.

As the fastening industry continues to advance and make innovations, industrial fasteners are beginning to be engineered with their hardware application as the foremost consideration of design. This can be seen in newer developments, such as fasteners that present specific functional permanence. With such industrial fasteners, a permanent conjoining of components is made possible with a minimal amount of components for mating. This removes the need for more conventional methods, including welding, adhesives, and rivets. The benefit over these methods is that, while the fastening is permanent in its installation, it allows for components to be removed if needed without damaging components or fasteners. With considering the application of an industrial fastener first, manufacturers can also decide what materials would best suit the environments and stressors present to ensure high performance and reliability.

A majority of industrial fasteners are manufactured with the use of various metals including aluminum, brass, steel, stainless steel, titanium, and more. Materials are often decided upon for a specific use or property, as some types may feature a narrow range of fields for their application, such as with titanium metals. Across all fasteners, steel accounts for around 90 percent of production due to its tensile strength, durability, and formability. Steel also is cost efficient for production, allowing it to be a beneficial metal for industrial fasteners.

Stainless steel and aluminum are both corrosion resistant, allowing them to serve well in applications where there is a presence of various chemicals or corrosives as well as avoid surface scratching. In regards to aluminum, a variety of coatings may be implemented in order to adjust the properties of the fastener, such as increasing strength and melting points. With corrosion resistance, such fasteners are popularly used in applications such as outdoor areas, marine environments, coastal environments, and more.

Carbon steel in particular is a commonly used steel type for bolt fasteners, often coming in grades for designation and range in mechanical strength from 50 ksi to 300 ksi. Grades are typically noted by markings on the bolt head, and material grade identification charts may be used to confirm markings if needed. The Grade 2 bolt is the most common and cost-efficient type, and these industrial fasteners usually have no marking on their head. Grade 5 bolts are a major step up in strength, allowing for their use in more intense applications such as within automobiles. To denote their grade, three evenly spaced radial lines are placed on the head. Grade 8 bolts surpass the mechanical properties of the Grade 5 bolt, implemented within automotive suspensions and other highly demanding applications.

Due to the various strengths and weaknesses of fastener types and materials, it is always crucial to choose those that would best fit the application you have in mind. When it comes time to begin sourcing the industrial fasteners and graded bolts that you need for your operations, ASAP Industrials has you covered with everything you are searching for. ASAP Industrials is owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor, and we can help you find the HVAC products, hydraulics, machinery, and industrial tools that you are searching for, new or obsolete. As a premier supplier of parts for the industrial sector, we're always available and ready to help you find all the parts and equipment you need, 24/7x365. ASAP Semiconductor is an FAA AC 00-56B, AS9120B, and ISO 9001:2015 certified enterprise. For a quick and competitive quote, email us at sales@asapindustrials.com or call us at +1-714-705-4780.