Screws are universal tools. They are used in almost every scenario, and their use isn’t limited to any one industry. One can find screws and bolts being used in almost everything around them. In terms of selecting the right screw for the job, there are some things that people should keep in mind. The criteria of selection boils down to the physical characteristics of a fastener, which include the raw materials used to make it, the kind of chemical coating applied on top, fastener’s diameter, it’s length, type of head, and it’s type of thread.
Type of Material used in making Screws
Screws are made from numerous materials, and the choice of material mainly depends on the overall use. Some of the popular materials that are widely used for screw manufacturers are:
Steel: Steel’s overall low cost is the main reason why it is such a popular choice for construction of screws, but steel screws are also heavier compared to other metals and aren’t ideal for scenarios where keeping the weight low is a crucial objective.
Copper: Due to their malleability and corrosion resistance, copper screws have become a popular choice in situations where risk of corrosion is higher. Copper is also comparatively lighter than many metals.
Aluminium: Aluminium isn’t suitable for high stress situations, but aluminium screws are just about the lightest out there.
Titanium: Titanium has a perfect blend of strength and weight, but it is costly, and thus it is mainly used in scenarios where design and performance trump cost.
Chemical Coating
Most screws are covered in a chemical coating of some sort to further add to their durability, corrosion resistance and appearance. Copper, ceramic and zinc are amongst the popular coating options, which are used to give fasteners extra strength and resistance against corrosion.
Type of screws head
Screws come in all sorts of head types nowadays. Many are proprietary, but there are some which have stood the test of time and are still the preferred choice for most operations. Popular choices of screw heads include: Slotted, Phillips, square and star.
Type of screws thread
Screws are widely available in a variety of thread options. The choice of a screw’s thread mainly depends on whether the operation will focus on its speed or the security of the fit. Coarse threads cater to quicker assembly, but they lack in terms of thread engagement when compared to fine threads.
Apart from the above qualities, it is also important to choose on the right fastener grade. Fasteners are graded according to the following:
Tensile strength is the maximum load a material can withstand before it breaks or fractures.
Yield strength is the maximum amount of load at which the fastener starts to exhibit a specific deformation.
Poof Load is the axial tensile load that the material withstands without any evidence of any permanent set.
Grade markings are segregated into two main heads, Imperial and Metric. The imperial fasteners are the ones which are measured on the basis of imperial units of measurement (inches), on the other hand, metric fasteners are the ones which are measured using the metric units (centimetres).
Selecting the Right Vendor
Screws are available in a number of specifications, some of the popular forms of fasteners are Patta self-drilling screws, Hp self-drilling screw, roofing screws, wood screws etc.
For more information about different kinds of fasteners, nuts and bolts check out BDN fasteners, as we are amongst the leading Industrial manufacturers, suppliers and exporters of almost all forms of fasteners in the country. We provide a wide range of products in regular as well as in metric shapes and specifications.