Pro-Tips for Choosing Screw Material

When considering the choice of material there are certain variables that need to be taken into consideration. Proper material selection is based upon 5 important criteria:

• Mechanical Properties: The alloy’s strength should be given a special emphasis. The specific alloy type for the application is designated with the combination of the alloy’s strength and the corrosion resistance factor.
• Corrosion Resistance: This is the main reason for designating a particular type of metal. When selecting a material, you must identify the following: the level of corrosion resistance required and the corrosive environment expected. When corrosion is a problem, the use of stainless steel may be necessary.
• Fabrication Operations: This is HOW the material is to be processed. Factors to consider here are: the steel’s ability to be machined, welded, cold-headed, etc.
• Total Cost: The OVERALL value figure of the alloy is determined starting with the initial alloy price, the installed price, and the effective life expectancy of the finished product.
• Material Availability: This is the final consideration that needs to be taken into account when choosing the most economical and practical metal. The availability of the raw material (and special material in particular) must be considered.

Components Of Material

There are generally one or more materials which will perform satisfactorily in a given environment. We provide this information as a service to our customers to assist in choosing a suitable alloy for a diverse range of applications.

Aluminum

The most abundant metal in the earth’s crust, it is bluish and silvery-white, very light, malleable, and ductile with high heat and electric conductivity. It is non-magnetic and 1/3 the weight of steel with good corrosion resistance against certain chemicals and acids but weak resistance against other elements.

Austenitic

A crystal structure formed by heating steel (corrosion-resistant steel) chromium, and nickel to a high temperature where it forms the characteristics of 300 series stainless steel (the most popular of the stainless alloys). The highest level of corrosion resistance in the stainless family, cannot be hardened by heat treatment, and are almost always non-magnetic. Sometimes heat and friction in cold forming can cause austenitic stainless to take on slight magnetism, but the corrosion resistant properties remain the same. There are a variety of austenitic grades with huge varieties of usages.

Copper

A ductile, malleable, reddish-brown element that is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity. It is non-magnetic with low to average strength and good corrosion resistance. Brass and silicone bronze gain their strength from the addition of other metals, such as silicon.

Brass

The most common alloy of copper. It is approximately 2/3 copper and 1/3 zinc. It has high electrical conductivity, non-magnetic with low to average strength and good corrosion resistance. Brass and silicon bronze gain their strength from the addition of other metals, such as silicon.

Monel

Approximately 2/3 nickel and 1/3 copper. It has good strength and excellent corrosion resistance against salt water and in high temperatures.

Steel

A hard, strong, durable, malleable alloy of iron and carbon. It contains other elements such as manganese, chromium, nickel, molybdenum, copper, tungsten, cobalt or silicon, all depending on the desired alloy properties.

Titanium

A silvery gray, low-density, lightweight, highly corrosion-resistant, and high strength metal.