How to prevent corrosion in fasteners is vital, as corrosion can result in product failure, increased maintenance, and damage to the company’s reputation. Those who strategically protect their components can reduce the risk of rust and deterioration. Clevedon Fasteners offers five tips to help prevent corrosion in fasteners and ensure performance.
Understand the Environment Before You Begin
The first step in combating corrosion is to understand the cause behind the deterioration. By assessing the environment that the components will be in, users can ensure they are taking the steps to reduce the risks. This includes determining whether a part will be exposed to humidity, moisture, chemicals or extreme temperatures.
As a fastener is exposed to these factors, oxidation soon follows, which leads to rust and the weakening of your fasteners. Those who identify the factors that contribute to the deterioration of their products can choose the right materials and protective measures.
Material Selection: Your First Line of Defence
Choosing the correct material for the parts is the first line of defence to avoid corrosion. This includes choosing materials that naturally rust, such as aluminium, copper or stainless steel.
Stainless steel is corrosion resistant as it contains at least 10.5% chromium. When exposed to oxygen, chromium reacts with it to form a thin layer of chromium oxide, which is passive and self-repairing. This protective layer is important in preventing rust from triggering.
Design Smart to Minimise Risk
Thoughtful engineering can help prevent rust in the first instance by minimising the chances of corrosion developing.
Design features to consider include reducing water traps such as crevices, overlapping surfaces or sharp angles. Users may also consider utilising domed heads to allow water to run off more easily. Ensuring a correct fit is important too, as unnecessary movement can increase mechanical wear.
Coat for Protection and Extended Lifespan
Applying an effective coating to a fastener is also a smart strategy for protection. The following coatings are particularly helpful:
• Powder coating: Forms a durable, continuous barrier that prevents rust-causing elements from reaching the metal surface.
• E-Coating: Also known as electrocoating, this method applies a thin, electrically bonded layer that provides strong barrier protection.
• Zinc plating: Acts as a sacrificial anode in the presence of oxygen and moisture, protecting the base metal.
By using these protective coatings, users also help extend the lifespan of their components. How to prevent corrosion in fasteners often starts with coating strategy.
Inspect Regularly and Act Quickly
Regularly inspecting fasteners for signs of rust, wear or damage can minimise the risk of project failure and rising maintenance costs.
To keep fasteners in top condition, it is important to remove built-up dirt, grime and moisture that could lead to corrosion. Those who find any corrosion can address it by cleaning, re-coating or replacing the affected fastener. How to prevent corrosion in fasteners involves consistent, proactive checks.
Avoid Costly Mistakes with the Right Specification
Selecting the correct fastener may seem like a small detail, but an incorrect specification can result in structural failures and rising costs. In the following article, Clevedon Fasteners explores some of the most common risks and how to avoid them.
Structural Failures: A High Price for Poor Fit
Using a fastener that is not rated for the material, load or environment can lead to a part failure, which can cause major structural issues. For instance, applications exposed to moisture, chemicals, extreme temperatures or vibration require fasteners with specific properties. From sheared bolts, to loose joints or collapses assemblies, the incorrect specification can create safety risks for workers and bystanders.
Clevedon Fasteners can provide assistance in finding the best fastener spec for a build, ensuring safety within the workplace and reliability.
Prevent Delays with Accurate Specs
Fasteners with specs that do not meet the necessary project requirements, whether due to incorrect thread, material or size, often lead to complications during installation. This can result in rework and costly delays if the issue is discovered too late.
Additionally, incompatible or low-grade fasteners are more prone to premature wear or corrosion, leading to increased maintenance or early replacement.
Clevedon Fasteners offers early technical input to ensure fasteners are fit for purpose.
Ensure Compatibility from the Start
Utilising the wrong thread types, head styles or lengths can create complications during the assembly, including misaligned fixings and tool incompatibility. It is important to get the specification right from the outset to ensure an efficient build.
Good specification ensures fasteners integrate with materials, tools and manufacturing processes.
Final Thoughts: Get Fasteners Right from Design to Installation
When working with Clevedon Fasteners, every detail of the project is considered, including initial design ideas, technical requirements and potential challenges.
