Types Of Fasteners You Can Use In High Temperature Settings
Whenever you are involved in design, there are times when you will come across a number of challenges, one of the most common of which is having to design an item that is going to be used in a very high temperature environment. This represents a number of challenges, since you have to ensure that the product you end up with can function in such environments and last long as well.
One of the things you should never compromise on is the quality of the fasteners you use in such settings. Using the wrong type of fastener is a bad idea, since it means that the product you end up with may not be of the quality that you want it to be. Fortunately, there are a number of fastener types that are ideal for use in such settings, and you should consider using some of them when designing such products. Some of these include:
Special alloys
Alloys have been used to manufacture fasteners that are going to be used in very high temperature environments. A very good example of this is in the aerospace industry, where some of the items used are exposed to temperatures in the order of a thousand degrees Fahrenheit. In such cases, metals in element form may not be good enough since most of them end up melting. However, alloys are designed in such a manner as to combine two or more elements in such a manner that the net effect is a product that will be very strong and resistant to such heat.
If you are going to use fasteners in such a setting, it’s important to ensure that you ask your fastener vendor to provide the specific alloys you are interested in. It’s always a good idea to ask for them as early as possible so that they can go through the process of sourcing them for you if need be.
Coated fasteners
One can also attempt to use fasteners that have a coating that reduces heat damage. However, when doing this, it’s important to remember that wise selection of the right coating is important. The ASTM specifies that any fastener should only be used in an environment where the temperatures will stay within half the melting point of the fastener’s coating. This is therefore something that you would need to take into account when buying such products.
There are different varieties of stainless steel that can be used in environments where high temperatures are anticipated. These include ferritic, duplex and austentitic steel. Each of these has different performing temperatures, so you may need to consult your vendor first for this information before figuring out which one to get.
In summary, there are many options you can choose from if you are interested in getting fasteners that can be used in very high temperature environments. The key to getting the right ones is understanding the details of the performance of each type of fasteners in such conditions, and then picking the ones that suit your application most.
