An All you need to know guide about Fasteners

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Fasteners are the most important component in manufacturing industries which is why it is important to
understand every aspect about them. Let’s dive into details of fasteners.

Can you imagine machines without nuts and bolts? Probably not, right? In fact, almost all processed
hardware both commercial such as mobiles, TV’s, cars, refrigerators, and TV as well as industrial such as
lathe machines and electrical equipment use fasteners of any kind.

Fasteners might seem the least interesting aspect of design, but they are very important components.
This article discusses the different types of fasteners, their uses, the materials used in their production,
different coatings for fasteners and how to choose fasteners.

What is a fastener?
Before exploring the types and uses of fasteners, let’s first define fasteners. Fastener is a term
describing a wide range of tools such as screws, washers, nuts, and bolts. All these tools have a common
objective of holding two objects mechanically together. Unlike glue, fastener can secure objects made of
metal, plastic, wood, and concrete. They hold together objects that can endure high levels of stress.

Different type of Fasteners and their uses

Fasteners can be classified mainly into two categories: Permanent and Non-Permanent fasteners. As
their names imply, a permanent fastener forms permanent joint and the latter, a temporary joint. This
versatility of having different types of fastening makes them high in demand.

Mechanical fasteners are commercially available in many sizes and forms. They have different types
which have several categories within themselves as well. Some of the most common types of fasteners
are summarized below:

 Screws: An externally threaded fastener with high durability and better grip strength
 Bolts: A partially threaded fastener that holds two parts together
 Nuts: It is internally threaded and fits into a bolt for securing objects and preventing loosening
 Rivets: It forms permanent joints between objects
 Washers: A flat disc that is used with a nut and bolt for load distribution
 Nails: A long and thin piece of metal used for joining objects
 Anchors: it is used for fixing objects to concrete surfaces

All these types discussed above have further categories and unique applications. Let’s dig into the
details of the fastener types and their uses.

Screws:
Screws are the most commonly used fasteners. They are highly versatile and durable. They have
external threads spanning across their whole length and their heads come in various shapes. Screws
require internal threads in objects for holding them together. They make threads into the object in
which they are inserted. This reduces the need of pre tapping.

There are many designs of screw fasteners commercially available. Some of these include:

 Machine screws
They are used for fastening two metallic objects. They are inserted into pre threaded holes.

 Deck screws
This type of screw fastener has coarse threads and a tapered head. They are used in outdoor
deck and wooden material to resist corrosion.

 Sheetmetal screw
These crews have sharp cutting threads for joining metal with other objects. They can cut
through sheet metals, plastics, and wood using their notched point.

 Drywall screw
They have coarse threads and tapered heads with fine tips to be inserted into drywall without
damaging the material.

 Hex Lag screw

These are large wood screws that are driven with a wrench instead of a screwdriver. They are
used in heavy duty applications.
Bolts:
Another common type of fastener is bolts. These two pieces work together for holding unthreaded parts
together. The bolt is a fastener with a straight, threaded shank and a head paired with a nut to clamp
objects together. Some of the various types of bolts include:

 Carriage bolts: These bolts have convex heads, square necks, and threads for fastening wooden
materials.

 Allen bolts: These bolts have a hexagonal socket in their head for use with an Allen wrench

 Plow bolts: With a flat head, countersunk, square neck and unified thread, plow bolts are heavy
duty fasteners.

 Flange bolts: They have a circular flange under their head that acts as a washer for load
distribution.
Nuts:
An important fastener that works in pair with a bolt is a nut. It is internally threaded to fit with a bolt of
the same size to improve the grip and provide increased torque. The different types of nuts include the
following:

 Wheel nuts: Also known as a lug nut, they are used for securing the wheels of vehicles.

 Cap nuts: They protect threads of the fastener by avoiding their protrusion.

 Flange nuts: Used widely in assembly lines, these nuts have a wide flange at one end. This
distributes the pressure and secures the part.

 Coupling nuts: They are elongated nuts for joining threaded rods. They also allow extending a
rod.

Material used for making fastener

The material used in the manufacturing of the mechanical fastener depends greatly on their
applications. A variety of materials are used in fasteners, from aluminum and brass to various grades of
steel. The material choice plays an important role in instilling properties such as strength, resistance to
corrosion and brittleness.

Let’s look into some commonly used materials for fasteners in industries.

Steel Fastener:
Steel is the most commonly used material for the manufacturing of mechanical fasteners. Around 90%
of fasteners are made of steel. The reason for its popularity is the durability and strength it adds to the
fasteners. They are used both as plain steel as well as steel with surface treatments like zinc plating and
galvanization.

Industries prefer using carbon steel for fasteners which have 4 standard grades of steel based on their
needs.

 Grade 2 which is used commonly for hardware is cost-efficient but less durable.
 Grade 5, also known as F grade, is commonly used in automotive industry because of its
improved strength by work-hardening
 Grade 8 are work-hardened more than Grade 5 so they are stronger than the rest grades and
are well suited for vehicle suspensions
 Alloy Steel are thermally treated at very high temperatures to improve their strength. They are
strong but may brittle

Stainless Steel Fastener

Stainless steel is an alloy that contains low carbon grade steel combined with chromium. Both these
constituent elements give different properties to the fasteners. The chromium provides high levels of
corrosion resistance while the low carbon steel contents provide nominal levels of strength. Some
commonly used grades of stainless steel are 18-8 Stainless, Stainless Steel 410 and Stainless Steel 316.

Aluminum Fastener
Aluminum is a lightweight metal with a high degree of corrosion resistance. Therefore, aluminum
fasteners retain their properties even if they sustain damages during use. Most manufacturers combine
elements such as zinc, silicon, magnesium, iron, copper etc. with the aluminum for their fastener
production.

Different types of coatings available with fasteners

Fasteners when exposed to harsh environmental conditions may lose their durability and their
resistance to corrosion. Coating the fasteners helps avoid these implications and helps improve their
performance. There are a variety of coatings commercially available, some of which are mentioned
below:

 Clear and Yellow Zinc: Zinc coatings are inexpensive and therefore the most popular coating.
Clear zinc fasteners have high resistance to oxidation. Both Clear Zinc and Yellow Zinc coated
fasteners are ideal for use in humid environments.
 Chrome and Nickel: They both improve corrosion resistance but are used for giving as aesthetic
touch to the fasteners.
 Grey phosphate: Grey phosphate coated fasteners have a better lifespan.
 Electro galvanized: This coating adds thin layers of zinc for protection against corrosion.
 Brass and Bronze: Both these metals have high resistance to corrosion and are visually
appealing, so they are used to add finishing touches to the fasteners.

How to choose fastener

Choosing the right fastener for your desired application is important. You should always ask three
questions while choosing fasteners:

 Which fastener type do you require?

  What application requires these fasteners?
 What properties do you need in your fastener?

Once you have answers for these questions, you will be clear about which fastener is perfect for you.
You can ensure high performance of your application by choosing the appropriate fasteners. This shows
how important it is to make the correct decision in selecting fasteners.