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Fastener Plating Information

A listing of available fastener platings / finishes and information about them.

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Electro-Zinc & Clear

Zinc is the most popular of all commercial plating’s because it is relatively economical and offers good corrosion resistance in environments not subject to excessive moisture. A clear or blueish chromate finish is applied on top of the zinc to provide additional protection against white oxidation spots which can form due to moisture. Electroplating is the most common way of applying zinc coatings to fasteners. It is recommended by certain industry experts that case-hardened parts which are electro-plated should be baked after plating to minimize the risk of hydrogen embrittlement.

Electro-Zinc & Yellow

Yellow chromate offers a greater degree of protection from white corrosion than does clear chromate. Electroplating is the most common way of applying zinc coatings to fasteners.

Zinc Yellow to ASTM B633

The ASTM B633 standard was revised in 2007. One of the changes concerned the amount of time certain fasteners are baked to reduce the effects of hydrogen embrittlement. Prior to this revision, plated Grade-BD cap screws were required to be baked for at least 4 hours at a temperature of 190ºC to 220ºC. The new standard calls for these parts to be baked for at least 10 hours at 190ºC to 220ºC. All of the manufacturers we use for making Grade-BD cap screws meet this standard.

Electro-Zinc & Black

Black chromate offers a similar appearance to black oxide but with greater degree of protection that black oxide lacks. Electroplating is the most common way of applying zinc coatings to fasteners.

Electro-Zinc & Wax

A wax lubricant is added to the zinc coatings of certain fasteners to improve the ease of assembly. This is the standard plating for trilobular thread rolling screws as well as two-way reversible center-lock nuts. Case-hardened parts are still recommended to be baked after plating.

Mechanical Zinc & Clear

Mechanically applying zinc to fasteners reduces the risk of hydrogen embrittlement forming within the parts. This minimizes the need for the precautionary practice of baking the parts soon after plating. A clear or bluish chromate finish is applied on top of the zinc to provide additional protection against white oxidation spots, which can form due to moisture. It is common for lock washers made from spring steel to be plated this way to avoid brittleness after baking.

Mechanical Zinc & Yellow

This finish is identical to mechanical zinc but with a yellow chromate finish. This is the standard plating for high-alloy split lock washers and for tooth lock washers used with zinc yellow machine screws.

Electro-Zinc & Clear for Sockets

Socket cap screws can receive a zinc plating of 0.0002 inches thickness. A clear chromate finish is applied on top of the zinc to provide additional protection against white corrosion. The manufacturer must be notified prior to the thread rolling process that the parts are to be plated. The plated parts are then baked at 375ºF for 24 hours within one hour of plating then subjected to a 72-hour stress test.

Electro-Zinc & Green

Commercial zinc green is the finish applied to machine screws and thread-cutting screws that will be used a “grounding screws” in electrical applications.

1,000 Hour Electro-Zinc/Nickel

Zinc/Nickel is selected to achieve the highest resistance to corrosion with the smallest thickness of protective coating. Typically, the nickel content of the alloy finish is 12-15%. The finish will withstand a minimum 1,000 hour Salt Spray test.

1,000 Hour Silver Ruspert®

A three-layer coating consisting of (1) a metallic zinc layer, topped with a (2) chemical conversion film layer, which is finally covered by a (3) baked ceramic surface coating. The finished parts have a dull silver color and will withstand a minimum of 1,000 hour Salt Spray test.

Nickel

Nickel has more of a silver color to it than zinc and has similar corrosion resistant characteristics. It is the standard finish of cap nuts, countersunk finishing washers, brass spacers and standoffs, as well as other parts to achieve a more decorative appearance.

Tin

Tin plating is sometimes used on parts in the food handling industry because it resists organic acid. It improves the lubricity of steel and offers a high degree of corrosion resistance.

Silver

Silver is an excellent conductor of electricity. Its benefits are both decorative and protective as it resists thread galling when mated parts are under extreme pressure or exposed to extreme heat.

Cadmium & Wax

Cadium plating results in a smoother surface and greater resistance to white oxidation spots than zinc plating. However, cadmium is a much more toxic metal than zinc, which makes the plating process more difficult and costly. The standard most commercial platers use when applying cadmium is a minimum thickness of .0002 inches. A supplemental wax coating is often added as a lubricant when cadmium is used on prevailing torque lock nuts.

Hot-Dip Galvanized

Hot dip galvanizing is generally the most effective way to apply a sufficient thickness of zinc to threaded fasteners for the zinc to serve as a corrosion protectant is harsh environments. During the galvanizing process, steel reacts with molten zinc, forming layers of zinc-iron alloy layers, which are metallurgical bonded to the steel surface. This hard barrier has a low corrosion rate and resists mechanical damage. Bolts and nuts 3/8 inch diameter and smaller shall have a zinc coating with an average thickness of 0.0017 inches with no individual both having a coating of less than 0.0014 inches. Bolts and nuts over 3/8 inches diameter and all sizes if washers shall have a zinc coating with an average thickness of 0.0021 inches with no individual both having a coating of less than 0.0017 inches.

Baking of Case Hardened Parts

Electroplated screws, which are case hardened, should be baked for a minimum of 4 hours within the temperature range of 375-450ºF no later than 4 hours after the plating operations. However, this process does not guarantee that hydrogen embrittlement will not still be present after baking or that it will not occur at a later date while in service. Specialized testing or a substitute part may be required, depending on the application. This heat treatment practice is recommended for tapping screws, drywall screws, SEMS screws, clinch nuts and clinch studs.

Passivation of Stainless Fasteners

This process enhances stainless steel’s corrosion resistance. The fasteners are dipped in a solution, which removes surface imperfections and produces a slight film on the surface of the parts.

Black Phosphate

This is the standard finish for most drywall screws, particle board screws and retaining rings. It can have either a dull or bright appearance. No additional oil treatment is required.

Black Phosphate & Oil

The most common standard coating of black phosphate and oil is 1100mg per sq./ft., minimum. The oil serves as a rust inhibitor and a lubricant. Some fasteners with this plating are required to pass a salt-spray test, the duration and cost of which must be agreed upon between buyer and seller prior to the sale. Floorboard screws, frame bolts, Grade-GT locknuts and spring nuts are usually supplied with a black phosphate and oil finish.

Black Oxide

This is a “conversion coating” which means it is formed by a chemical reaction with the metal to form an integral surface, as opposed to an “applied coating” like zinc which bonds to the metal. Black oxide on steel offers no corrosion resistance unless an oil or wax finish is applied as a rust inhibitor. Black oxide on stainless steel yields excellent corrosion protection due to the properties of the base metal. For more information about black oxide see extra notes on bottom of this page.

Chrome

Chrome plating can be done in two ways: 1) A “hard chrome” finish deposits a thick layer of chrome on the part. This gives the fastener a very hard finish and superior wear resistance but does not offer much protection to corrosion; 2) A “nickel-chrome” finish is achieved by applying a flash of chrome on top of the nickel plating. This offers resistance to tarnishing and corrosion.

EcoGuard

Provides a silver-gray color and an incredibly high level of corrosion resistance. Rated to withstand a minimum of 1,000-hour Salt Spray test. No risk for hydrogen embrittlement and is free of toxic metals.

Dacro

Dacro is a pollution-free ceramic coating for fasteners used with treated lumber. The coating offers corrosion protection comparable to hot-dip galvanizing without discoloring the wood. Screws with a proper dacro coating can typically withstand a 500-hour salt-spray test. A dacro finish minimizes greatly the risk of hydrogen embrittlement so baking the part is not required after the finish is applied.

Blue Ruspert

Ruspert metal finish is a high-quality corrosion-resistant coating that is comprised of three layers: (1) metallic zinc; (2) a chemical conversion film (to resist corrosion); and (3) a ceramic surface coating that is baked.

Antique Brass

This is a brass finish that has been chemically darkened to appear similar to aged brass--a moderate brown color with golden hues. It is common in cabinet hardware.

Bright Brass

Bright brass is strictly a decorative finish that is commonly used with cabinet hardware. It offers minimal resistance to corrosion but will not stain when used in acidic woods.

Ceramic

Ceramic finish is also a barrier coating used to offer corrosion resistance. It is used, though not exclusively, on certain types of construction fasteners and typically provides over 500 salt spray hours or more of protection. Green ceramic is a common finish for cement board screws. Flat head deck screws are available in multiple colors of ceramic finish including green, red and tan.

BAKING OF CASE HARDENED PARTS

Electroplated screws, which are case hardened, should be baked for a minimum of 4 hours within the temperature range of 375-450°F no later than 4 hours after the plating operations. However, this process does not guarantee that hydrogen embrittlement will not still be present after baking or that it will not occur at a later date while in service. Specialized testing or a substitute part may be required, depending on the application. This heat treatment practice is recommended for tapping screws, drywall screws, SEMS screws, clinch nuts and clinch studs.

BAKING OF THROUGH HARDENED PARTS

Mechanical fasteners that are through-hardened with a core hardness above Rockwell C 39 and up to C 44 shall be baked for a minimum of 14 hours within a temperature range of 375-450°F. Through-hardened parts with a core hardness above Rockwell C 44 shall be baked for a minimum of 24 hours within a temperature range of 375-450°F. These requirements also apply to parts with hardened steel captive washers. These baking requirements are specified to offer relief from hydrogen embrittlement.

BLACK OXIDE

Black oxide is a conversion coating (as opposed to an applied coating) because it results from a chemical reaction with the iron present in the metal fastener and forms and integral protective surface. It is a color of the base metal, which neither removes nor deposits metal; therefore it adds, at the most, 5 to 10 millionths of an inch to the fastener’s dimensions. Likewise, it cannot chip, peel or rub off. Also, the item maintains 99% of its conductivity making black oxide a popular finish for electrical parts.

When a black oxide finish is specified, it is interpreted as “Black Oxide and Oil”. Other supplementary coatings such as wax or lacquer may be ordered, but fasteners with those finished are usually not available from a distributor’s stock.

Typically, the oil after-finish is dry to the touch, which gives the part a lustrous appearance and improved lubricity without excessive residue. The color is a deep black rather than the grayish-black appearance of a black phosphate, and remains consistent at temperatures as high as 900ºF. Black oxide also resists abrasions better than phosphate.

One of the most important advantages of black oxide is that there is almost no risk of hydrogen embrittlement because the process does not involve electro-plating nor does it require an acid-activation. Case hardened parts need not be baked after receiving a black oxide finish.

Black oxide neither enhances nor detracts from a fastener’s resistance to corrosion. The post-treatment oil application offers good indoor corrosion protection, but a zinc-plated part is more resistant to rust. However, parts with a black oxide finish will not suffer from white corrosion, which can occur over time with electro-plated parts. To avoid the risk of white corrosive particles (which can cause electrical shorts) many in the electronics industry opt for black oxide instead of zinc-plated fasteners.

The popularity of black oxide stainless fasteners is also growing. In addition to being used for decorative purposes, the finish reduces light glare and reflection, and makes the surface of the fastener smoother. The automotive aftermarket utilizes them in tail-light assemblies, luggage racks, grills and windshield wiper assemblies, to name a few.

Date: 
Thursday, May 7, 2020