Bolts have become essential components for holding construction structures, machinery, and diverse things together, ensuring dependability and stability. They generally consist of a head, a threaded shaft, and in some cases, a nut. Right from construction and automotive industries to heavy machinery equipment sector, the application area of bolts is vast.
Bolts are made from different materials, including stainless steel and titanium, each with unique properties to meet specific performance requirements. Selecting the right bolt material becomes crucial to ensure strength, durability, and safety in various applications. This blog post will analyze popular bolt material types, their benefits, and use cases. To learn more about the recent developments in the global bolts market, kindly visit Coherent Market Insights’ latest report.
Common Bolt Materials and their Applications
Materials used in bolt production are critical as they determine the bolt’s longevity, strength, and suitability for several applications. Some of the most commonly used materials for manufacturing bolts include stainless steel, carbon steel, alloy steel, brass, and titanium. Among these, stainless steel, titanium, and carbon steel are often considered the best bolt materials for industrial applications.
- Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is one of the most commonly used materials for making bolts, owing to its strength and excellent corrosion resistance. The high chromium content of stainless steel makes it resistant to rust and staining.
Some grades of stainless steel, including 316, are non-magnetic, thereby making them beneficial in sensitive applications. Stainless steel bolts are gaining immense popularity in applications where moisture or corrosive conditions are present.
Popular Applications of Stainless Steel Bolts
Stainless steel bolts are widely used across industries like construction, food processing, pharmaceutical, and marine. They resist saltwater corrosion in boat building, docks, and offshore structures. Similarly, hygienic and corrosion resistance properties of stainless-steel bolts make them ideal for food processing plants, outdoor construction, and several other applications.
- Carbon Steel
Another popular material choice for manufacturing bolts is carbon steel. This can be attributed to its high strength, versatility, and cost-effectiveness. Carbon steel bolts offer excellent tensile strength, making them suitable for high-stress applications. They are also more cost-effective than their counterparts.
Popular Applications of Carbon Steel Bolts
Carbon steel bolts find usage in structural applications like buildings and bridges where high strength is critical. Other use cases of carbon steel bolts include heavy machinery assembly and engine components. Apart from these applications, carbon steel bolts are also widely used for general-purpose fastening in different industries.
- Titanium
Titanium possesses an exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, making it ideal for applications where weight reduction is crucial. Similarly, the excellent corrosion resistance, biocompatibility, and high temperature tolerance of titanium encourage its adoption for bolt manufacturing.
Popular Applications of Titanium Bolts
Right from automotive and aircraft manufacturing to healthcare equipment and medical implant construction, titanium bolts are used across diverse industries. This is mostly due to their high strength, lightweight, and biocompatibility features.
Choosing the Right Bolt Material
While choosing the right bolt material for high-duty applications, one has to consider parameters like strength, corrosion resistance, cost, temperature range, compatibility, and weight. For instance, stainless steel is perfect for corrosion-prone environments, while carbon steel offers high strength at a low cost. Similarly, titanium excels where weight and corrosion resistance are priorities.
