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MATERIALS FOR FASTENERS.

4.1 MATERIALS:
Fasteners come in a variety of materials. Selecting a material should be based
on such considerations as environment (corrosive or temperature extremes), weight,
magnetic properties, stresses, reusability, and expected life.
To keep costs down, use standard materials. Specifying a fastener material with a
specific chemical analysis adds time and cost. Often, a standard fastener can be altered
by heat treating, cold working, or coating to meet special needs.
Steel:
Most fasteners are made from steel. Specifications cover a broad range of
mechanical properties that are indicated by a bolt-head marking system that identifies
the fastener by grade. For example, SAE grades 2, 5, and 8 are most often specified.
Common steels are SAE 1010 (machine screws, carriage bolts, and other fasteners
without critical strength requirements); SAE 1018, 1020, 1021 (bright cap screws,
special items); SAE 1038 (high-strength bolts, studs, nuts, cap screws); SAE 1041,
1045, 1330, 1340 (special high-strength requirements), and SAE 1100 series
(resulfurized -- usually for nuts).
Aluminum:
Aluminum alloys are the least costly, by volume, of all fastener metals. Aluminum
fasteners are classified as hardenable and nonhardenable and weigh about one-third as
much as steel. Some grades equal or even exceed the tensile strength of mild steel. The
metal polishes to a high luster, has high thermal and electrical conductivity, is
nonmagnetic, can be hardened by alloying, and has high corrosion resistance. Typical
fastener alloys are 2024-T4 (cold-formed bolts, screws, rivets, machine-screw nuts),
2011-T3 (milled-from-bar nuts, screws, bolts), 1100 (cold-formed rivets), and 6061-T6
(nuts).
Brass:
This metal is worked easily into shape and has adequate strength. Tensile strength
or hardness is improved by cold working. Some brasses have a greater tensile strength
than mild carbon steel, along with a higher resistance to corrosion. The metal is
nonmagnetic and takes a high luster.
Copper:
One of the most malleable of all metals, copper also has good corrosion resistance and
the highest conductivity of all the no precious metals. Copper is alloyed with silicon
and manganese or aluminum for greater strength. Lead is added to give free-machining
qualities. Typical alloys are high-silicon bronze, type A (hot-forged bolts, nuts; milled_____________________________________________________________________

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from-bar bolts, nuts, setscrews); low-silicon bronze, type B (cold-formed bolts, nuts,
rivets, screws); silicon-aluminum bronze (hot-forged products requiring special
properties); and cupro-nickel, a copper-nickel alloy used for high strength and
resistance to saltwater corrosion.
Nickel:
Fasteners can be made from commercially pure (99.4%) metal, Monel, or Inconel.
They are used where toughness, immunity to discoloration and corrosion, and strength
at high temperatures are desired.
Pure nickel: Ideal for applications involving contamination, and strength retention at
both high and subzero temperatures.
Monel: Combines relative economy with adaptability to cold heading and roll
threading.
Inconel: Excellent for fasteners that must retain high strength and oxidation resistance
at temperatures up to 1,600F.
Stainless steels:
Fasteners of this metal are used where corrosion, temperature, and strength are
problems. They also produce a mirror like finish. There are three basic types:
Martensitic: Magnetic and hardenable. Common fastener alloys are Types 410, 416,
and 431.
Ferritic: Magnetic and not hardenable by heat. Can be cold worked with reasonably
good results. Used for economic reasons, and where corrosion-resistance requirements
are not too severe. Best fastener alloy types are 430 and 430F.
Austenitic: Nonhardenable, nonmagnetic, and offers the greatest degree of corrosion
resistance. Typical alloys are 18-8 and 300 series.
Titanium:
Fasteners made from this material are used chiefly on aircraft. Titanium has excellent
corrosion resistance and good high-temperature performance. These fasteners are most
commonly used in joints loaded in shear but are also used in tension-loaded joints.
Beryllium:
Exceptionally lightweight, beryllium fasteners are about 40% as heavy as titanium.
Brittleness is a limitation to widespread use. Beryllium bolts are used primarily for
applications where the shear requirement is at least 60 ksi.
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4.2 MATERIALS COMPOSITION

Normally used material grades to obtain required property class are shown in the
following chart.
MATERIAL
PROPERTY
CLASS
MATERIAL
GRADE

4.6, 4.8, 6.8

or 4&6

8.8, 9.8
or 8&9

AISI 1030
EN 5
20C8
EN-5K
EN-15B
EN-8

15B21
15B25
34Cr4
EN-19B
41Cr4
AISI 4130

10.9, 12.9
or 10&12

Table 4.1 Mtl grades for

required property class

EN-19B
AISI 4130
EN-24
34Cr4
41Cr4

The material composition of different grades of steel is shown below:

Cr

Mn

Si

EN3B/
EN32B

0.25
MAX

1.00
MAX

1.35
MAX

0.06

0.06

190/240

EN1A

0.07/
0.15

0.80/
1.20

0.10
MAX

0.07

0.20/
0.30

180/230

EN1A (L)

0.07/
0.15

0.80/
1.20

0.10
MAX

0.07

0.20/
0.30

180/230

EN8M

0.35/
0.45

1.00/
1.30

0.25
MAX

0.06

0.12/
0.20

229 MAX

EN8M

0.35/
0.45

0.60/
1.00

0.05/
0.35

0.06

0.06

240 MAX

EN8D/
CK45

0.40/
0.45

0.70/
0.90

0.05/
0.35

0.06

0.06

230 MAX

EN9

0.50/
0.60

0.50/
0.80

0.05/
0.35

0.06

0.06

270 MAX

EN19
(SAE
4140)

0.35/
0.45

0.50/
0.80

0.10/
0.35

0.05

0.05

0.90/
1.50

EN31

0.90/
1.20

0.30/
0.75

0.10/
0.35

0.05

0.05

1.00/
1.60

235 MAX

SAE
52100

0.98/
1.00

0.25/
0.45

0.15/
0.30

0.03

0.025

1.30/
1.60

235 MAX

EN45

0.55/
0.60

0.70/
1.00

1.50/
2.00

0.05

0.05

250 MAX

EN42J

0.75/
0.90

0.60/
0.80

0.35
MAX

0.05

0.05

250 MAX

EN8A

0.33/
0.38

0.70/
0.90

0.05/
0.30

0.06

0.06

240 MAX

SAE 8620

0.18/
0.23

0.70/
0.90

0.15/
0.30

0.04

0.04

0.40/
0.60

Ni

Mo

Hardness
(BHN)

GRADE

0.20/
0.40

0.40/
0.70

194/234

0.15/
0.25

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4.3 Hardness Conversion Table:

HARDNESS CONVERSION TABLE

Tensile
strength
(N/mm2)
285
320
350
385
415
450
480
510
545
575
610
640
675
705
740
770
800
820
850
880
900
930
950
995
1030
1060
1095
1125
1155
1190
1220
1255
1290
1320
1350

Brinnel
Hardness
(BHN)
86
95
105
114
124
133
143
152
162
171
181
190
199
209
219
228
238
242
252
261
266
276
280
295
304
314
323
333
342
352
361
371
380
390
399

Vickers
Hardness
(HV)
90
100
110
120
130
140
150
160
170
180
190
200
210
220
230
240
250
255
265
275
280
290
295
310
320
330
340
350
360
370
380
390
400
410
420

Rockwell
Hardness
(HRB)

Rockwell
Hardness
(HRC)

56.2
62.3
66.7
71.2
75
78.7
81.7
85
87.1
89.5
91.5
93.5
95
96.7
98.1
99.5
23.1
24.8
26.4
27.1
28.5
29.2
31
32.2
33.3
34.4
35.5
36.6
37.7
38.8
39.8
40.8
41.8
42.7

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1385
1420
1455
1485
1520
1555
1595
1630
1665
1700
1740
1775
1810
1845
1880
1920
1955
1995
2030
2070
2105
2145
2180

409
418
428
437
447
456
466
475
485
494
504
513
523
532
542
551
561
570
580
589
599
608
618

430
440
450
460
470
480
490
500
510
520
530
540
550
560
570
580
590
600
610
620
630
640
650

43.6
44.5
45.3
46.1
46.9
47.7
48.4
49.1
49.8
50.5
51.1
51.7
52.3
53
53.6
54.1
54.7
55.2
55.7
56.3
56.8
57.3
57.8

Table 4.3 Hardness conversion table

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