Jul 18, 2014

Stainless Steel Fasteners for Projects

You may be familiar with all the benefits that come from choosing stainless steel fasteners for your projects, but you may not know exactly why stainless is so superior to other construction materials. While you have the option of using titanium, plastics, common steel or other materials for structural fastening, none has proven to be as resilient as stainless steel. Here’s a deeper look into what makes this product so unique and superior.

The Make-Up of Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is composed of an alloy of low-carbon steel with about 11.5% of chromium to enhance the corrosion characteristics. In fact, because of the addition of chromium, stainless steel has proven to be one of the most corrosion-resistant materials available for the price. Since the anti-corrosive properties of stainless steel are built into the metal, it cannot lose any resistance from scratching, installation, or regular wear-and-tear.

Stainless steel has also proven to be a strong metal alloy. The lateral load strength of stainless steel is about 20% more than common steel.

The Difference Between Regular Steel and Stainless Steel

It’s a fairly common misconception for people to believe that stainless steel is much harder than regular steel. The fact is, stainless steel cannot be hardened like regular steel can because of the low carbon content that stainless steel possesses. It can be stronger and more durable than an unhardened steel product, but it is often weaker than hardened steel.

Another key difference between regular steel and stainless steel is the magnetic properties. Most grades of stainless steel are not likely to be as magnetic as regular steel. You may need to take this into consideration when planning your projects with fasteners.

While choosing stainless steel fasteners for your next job may be the best decision, it’s important to take a few precautionary steps for storage and installation. Ensure the stainless is always stored in a cool, dry place and don’t store other contaminants with it that could deny oxygen to the metal surface. By protecting your structural fasteners, you’ll always have one handy for the next project. Call (800) 603-6887 today to learn more about castle nuts and other construction supplies available at Copper State.