Dril-Flex® Structural Self-Drilling Fasteners

Offers virtual immunity to hydrogen-assisted stress corrosion cracking

Dril-Flex® Structural Self-Drilling Fasteners

Product Information
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Dril-Flex fasteners are specially designed and
processed to help prevent hydrogen-induced brittle
failures. Each fastener undergoes the unique Flex
Technology® dual-hardening process to ensure
the optimal combination of ductility and hardness
Distinctive
required for maximum performance in the Àeld. circled
Elco® logo /ower-hardness
Testing of this product, in accordance with ASTM headmark (H5C  ² )
standards, has proven that Dril-Flex fasteners provide load-bearing section
the same resistance to hydrogen-assisted cracking provides ductility
Stalgard®
(HAC) as a Grade 5 fastener. Ànish
provides
corrosion
Higher-hardness
Unique Hardening and Finishing resistance
(H5C 5 min.) drill
Processes Provide High Performance point and lead
Hydrogen-Assisted Stress Corrosion Cracking threads for reliable
drilling
(HASCC) refers to a time-delayed failure that is
Features
aggravated or accelerated by hydrogen generated
‡ Self-drilling point
in the application. This is most often encountered
and associated with dissimilar metal applications ‡ Higher hardness (H5C 5 min.)
through the galvanic corrosion process. Most point and lead threads
self-drilling fasteners, including  fasteners, ‡ /ower-hardness (H5C  ² )
are case or similarly hardened, which provides the load-bearing threads
necessary hardness for drilling and tapping, but ‡ Silver Stalgard multi-layered
leaves the screws vulnerable to HASCC due to their corrosion resistant Ànish
high surface or core hardness.
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Dril-Flex fasteners offer the unique Flex Technology
‡ 9irtually immune to delayed HASCC
dual-hardening process. The self-drilling point and
brittle failures found with other
lead tapping threads are selectively hardened to
hardened fasteners
a minimum of H5C 5. The load-bearing portion
of the screw is held at or below the critical H5C ‡ 3rovides the same high resistance
 level. This reduced hardness level also meets to hydrogen-assisted failure as a
SAE - Grade 5 and ASTM A strength and Grade 5 fastener
ductility standards. ‡ 3recision self-drilling point ensures
consistent, reliable drilling and
Dril-Flex fasteners are then coated with silver
tapping
Stalgard Ànish to provide superior corrosion
resistance and enhanced galvanic compatibility. ‡ Eliminates separate drilling and
Fasteners coated with Stalgard Ànish typically tapping operations
show no red rust or other base metal corrosion on ‡ Corrosion resistance superior to
signiÀcant surfaces even after  hours of 5 ]inc- or cadmium-based Ànishes
neutral salt spray exposure (ASTM %).
‡ 3rovides enhanced galvanic
The combination of this unique dual-hardening compatibility in dissimilar metal
process and Stalgard Ànish results in a strong, applications
reliable fastener that can be used where other self- ‡ Approvals ,CC ES E5- /egacy
drillers would fail. Dril-Flex self-drilling fasteners 5eport C2/A (City of /os Angeles)
are the ideal fastening solution for demanding 5esearch 5eport 55
construction applications.
Selection Guide
L
Catalog Load-Bearing Carton Carton
No. Description Point Area Finish Qty. Weight
#10-16 With 5/16" Hex Washer Head
EAF - x   .5 Stalgard , 
EAF - x -  . Stalgard ,5 
EAF - x   .5 Stalgard , 
EAF - x -  . Stalgard ,5 5
#10-16 With #2 Phillips Pan Head

ED;5 - x   .5 Stalgard , 

#10-24 With #2 Phillips Wafer Head

E%/5 - x -  .5 Stalgard 5, 

#12-14 With 5/16" Hex Washer Head

EAF - x   . Stalgard 5, 5
EAF - x   .5 Stalgard , 
EAF - x -  . Stalgard ,5 
EAF55 - x - 5 . Stalgard ,5 
EAF - x   .5 Stalgard , 
EAF5 - x   .5 Stalgard , 
#12-14 With #3 Phillips Undercut Flat Head
E%/5 - x   .5 Stalgard , 
E%/ - x -  . Stalgard ,5 
1/4-14 With 3/8" Hex Washer Head
EAF - x   .5 Stalgard , 5
EAF - x -  .5 Stalgard , 5
EAF - x   .5 Stalgard ,5 
1/4-20 With 3/8" Hex Washer Head
EAF - x -  . Stalgard , 
EAF - x   . Stalgard ,5 5
EAF5 - x -  .5 Stalgard ,5 5
EAF - x - 5 . Stalgard , 
EAF - x -  . Stalgard , 5
EAF - x -  . Stalgard 5 
EAF - x   .5 Stalgard 5 
1/4-20 With #3 Phillips Undercut Flat Head

E%/ - x   .5 Stalgard 5 

E%/ - x   .5 Stalgard 5 

5/16-18 With 3/8" Hex Washer Head

EAF 5- x -  .5 Stalgard , 

5/16-24 With 3/8" Hex Washer Head

EAF 5- x -  .5 Stalgard , 

EAF 5- x   .5 Stalgard , 

EAF is for aluminum applications 21/<.

Fasteners shown are in-stock. 2ther head styles, threads, lengths and drilling capabilities can be produced to meet speciÀc application needs.
IMPORTANT: to ensure proper performance, only the load-bearing area should be engaged in the material being fastened.
 COMPARISON TO STAINLESS STEEL FASTENERS EMBRITTLEMENT TESTING
 series stainless steel fasteners will not rust, and, because of Embrittlement testing of Dril-Flex fasteners
their low hardness, they also provide high resistance to hydrogen was performed in accordance to ASTM
embrittlement failures. However, because plain-Ànished stainless steel is F-, ´Standard Test Method for
galvanically incompatible with certain building materials ² including steel Measurement of Hydrogen Embrittlement
and aluminum ² it can cause other problems (see chart) when combined in Steel by the ,ncremental /oading
with these materials. Stainless steel fasteners trigger a sacriÀcial action Method”. Fastener lots were tested to
in the aluminum or steel panel, which can lead to degradation of the determine their Threshold Stress /imits for
panel and loosening of the fastener. both ,nternal Hydrogen Embrittlement and
Environmental Hydrogen Embrittlement.
The dual-hardening process Galvanic Series Threshold Stress /imit is the stress level
allows Dril-Flex® fasteners Anodic End below which no time-dependent cracking
to provide high strength Metal/Alloy EMF (v) will occur. Above this level, subcritical
and resistance to hydrogen Magnesium................................... -. cracking that leads to time-delayed
embrittlement failures. Their Zinc.............................................. -. fracture or embrittlement may occur if
unique Stalgard® Ànish provides Alum (5, , ).............. -.5 the fastener is exposed to a hydrogen
corrosion resistance several ,ron, /ow Alloy Steels..................... -. environment.
times greater than other Alum ().................................. -.
commonly-used Ànishes. /ead............................................. -.55
Embrittlement Test Results
Fasteners coated with Stalgard  Chromium Steel..................... -.5
‡ Dril-Flex fasteners have a hardness
Ànish typically show no red rust 1aval %rass................................... -.
Brass, Bronze................................ -.5
range of H5C  ² , which is roughly
or other base metal corrosion equivalent to a SAE Grade 5 fastener
on signiÀcant surfaces even Austenitic Stainless ( Series).... -.
1ickel........................................... -.5 (H5C 5 ² ).
after  hours of 5 neutral
Silver............................................  ‡ Dril-Flex fasteners showed resistance
salt spray exposure (ASTM
Gold............................................. 5 to the effect of hydrogen-assisted
%).
Cathodic End cracking when loaded to 5 of their
,f the environment is corrosive tensile strength. This is within accepted
enough to signiÀcantly affect ,n the presence of moisture, industry guidelines for in-service loading
the Stalgard Ànish, the potential materials higher on the list will be conditions.
sacriÀcial to materials lower on the
for signiÀcant degradation of list. The greater the EMF differential, ‡ Dril-Flex fasteners showed no
the aluminumstainless steel the greater the sacriÀcial action degradation or failures in tensile
assembly would also exist. of the anode to the cathode in a strength below their Ultimate Tensile
galvanic cell.
Strength.

SHEAR AND PULL-OUT VALUES

Pull-out Tests – Steel Pull-out Tests – Aluminum
3ull-out values shown are in lbs. 3ull-out values shown are in lbs.

Screw Point Drill Steel Screw Point Drill Aluminum 6063-T5

Size Type Cap. 18 16 14 12 1/8 3/16 1/4 5/16 Size Type Cap. 1/8" 1/4" 3/8"
-  .5  5  55  -  .5
-  .  5     -  .  
-  .  5  5   -  .  
-  . 5     5  -  .  5 
5-  .  5  5  5-  .  5

Shear Tests – Steel Shear Tests – Aluminum

Shear values shown are in lbs. Shear values shown are in lbs.
Steel Aluminum 6063-T5
Screw Point Drill
Screw Point Drill 18-18 18-14 16-16 14-14 1/8"- 3/16"- 1/4"- Size Type Cap. 1/8" - 1/8" 1/8" - 1/4"
Size Type Cap. gage gage gage gage 3/16" 1/4" 12 gage -  .5 
-  .5   
-  .  
-  . 5  55 
-  . 5     -  .  
-  . 5  5 5    -  .  
5-  . 5 5 
5-  .  

12TE All test setups and dimensions were as limited and outlined in A,S, Test Method for Mechanically Fastened Cold-Formed Steel Connections (CF-)
document. 3erformance values listed are ultimate values obtained under laboratory conditions. Appropriate safety factors should be applied for
design purposes.
 SPECIFICATIONS DESIGNING WITH DRIL-FLEX® FASTENERS
Applications: Download CAD Àles from our web site at
Metal (including aluminum) to steel structurals like www.elcoconstruction.com or contact Elco
those found in curtainwall and solar panel systems Construction 3roducts for a free disk containing CAD
drawings and speciÀcations.
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Dual-hardened fastener with self-drilling point and QUALITY CONTROL
self-tapping thread that meets SAE - Grade 5
and ASTM A strength and ductility requirements, Dril-Flex fasteners are produced under lot control
which provides a maximum load-bearing area of conditions. Each production run is sampled and
______. checked for two key conditions. First, that the lower
hardness zone extends down the shank to the
Approvals/Listings: length speciÀed, and second, that the hardness in
‡ ,CC ES E5- /egacy 5eport that zone is per the speciÀcations. Documentation is
‡ C2/A (City of /os Angeles) 5esearch 5eport retained for a period of Àve years. /ot numbers are
55 marked on every box of product.
Diameters:
, , , 5

Head Styles:
Hex washer, undercut Áat, pan and wafer custom
heads styles available

Thread Form:
Self-tapping

Point Type: Actual load-bearing

area varies per
Self-drilling fastener size.
3lease refer to chart QUALITY FLEX TECHNOLOGY® PRODUCTS
Material: on page  of this
Special alloy steel brochure for more ‡ Bi-Flex™ bi-metal self-drilling fasteners with
information. Stalgard GB coating for metal applications,
Finish: including aluminum, in demanding environments
Silver-colored ‡ Aggre-gator® bi-metal anchors with Stalgard
Stalgard® corrosion-resistant Ànish withstands a GB coating for concrete applications, including
minimum of  hours salt spray raised exposedwet areas
per ASTM B standards circle
‡ ConFlex® large diameter masonry fasteners with
Elco®
Inspection logo
Stalgard coating in  and  diameters
,n-place inspection can be made ‡ AllFlex™ stainless steel thread-forming and thread-
hex washer
by identifying the special Dril-Flex head shown cutting screws with Stalgard GB coating
headmarking. This is a combination of ‡ Alumi-Flex™  stainless steel drill screws with
two markings an Elco® logo surrounded by a raised Stalgard GB coating
circle.
9isit www.elcoconstruction.com for more information
Installation Tools: on these and other quality fastening systems from
Standard .5 min. amp screw gun that has a torque- Elco Construction 3roducts.
limiting andor depth-sensitive nose piece

Elco Construction Products

 .err Drive ‡ Decorah, ,A 5
.5. ‡ Fax 5..5
www.elcoconstruction.com
Elco®, Stalgard®, Dril-Flex®, Flex Technology®, Bi-Flex™, Aggre-gator®, ConFlex®, Alumi-Flex™, iForm™ and ,nfastech™ are trademarks of ,nfastech ,ntellectual 3roperties 3te /td.
AllFlex™ is a trademark of Alloy Fasteners, ,nc. Avdel® is a registered trademark of Avdel U. /td.
‹ ,nfastech ,ntellectual 3roperties 3te /td. All rights reserved. 5ev.