One Monroe EFI, headquartered in Canton, MA, is ready to help you navigate the wide range of fasteners available on the market. Will your fasteners be exposed to harsh conditions where corrosion is a concern, such as exposure to fresh or salt water or chemicals? If the answer is “yes”, stainless steel nuts and bolts are the right choices. Contrary to popular belief, stainless steel is not stronger than other steel, but it provides superior resistance to rust, staining, and corrosion.
Stainless steel nuts and bolts are a mainstay of the fastener industry. Made from a steel alloy containing a minimum of 10.5 percent chromium, there are over 150 different grades of stainless steel and many finishes available. When selecting stainless steel fasteners, it’s important to remember:
- The higher the type number, the greater the corrosion resistance.
- The greater the corrosion resistance, the lower the strength of the steel.
- Stainless steel is a relatively poor electrical conductor, making it a good choice for applications requiring low conductivity.
Stainless steel nuts and bolts come in many grades. The two most commonly used grades are 304 and 316, with 316 being more corrosion-resistant than 304. The rule of thumb is that if stainless steel hardware is in a corrosive environment, 316 is preferable, particularly if the fastener is visible. Grade 316 stainless steel is less likely to “tea-stain” or develop a brown discoloration that can be cosmetically unattractive.
To ensure stainless steel nuts and bolts work smoothly, we recommend that all fasteners have their threads lubricated before assembly to reduce the risk of the threads locking up – a condition known as galling. We have found the most risk of galling is with larger stainless steel fastener threads (M16 upwards), and also when using Nyloc nuts. To learn more about stainless steel nuts and bolts, contact the experts at One Monroe EFI. We’ve got an excellent inventory of stainless steel fasteners for commercial, military, medical, and food industry applications, to name just a few.
