| Stainless steel fasteners are made of steel | | | | of, or in cooperation with, nickel, to |
| that has been mixed with at least a ten | | | | roughly the same effect, but at a lower cost. |
| percent compound of chromium, and possibly | | | | |
| other metals, so that the steel doesn't rust | | | | Carbon can also be used to reinforce the |
| or corrode. This makes stainless steel | | | | steel compound. When subjected to heat, these |
| fasteners great for outdoor conditions, where | | | | fasteners can become hardened and |
| there is a lot of water or moisture. | | | | strengthened to create finer elements, like |
| | | | the point of the screw, as well as the |
| Especially if you are building something that | | | | threads. |
| supports a substantial amount of weight, such | | | | |
| as humans, you will need to use stainless | | | | Depending on what your fastening needs are, |
| steel fasteners. Steel all by itself can rust | | | | you will be buying different types of |
| until it breaks, and nobody wants that. | | | | stainless steel fasteners for different |
| | | | fastening jobs. |
| When stainless steel fastening systems such | | | | |
| as nuts and bolts are employed, they tend to | | | | Here's an interesting side note: stainless |
| meld together. This is due to the chromium | | | | steel has a long history. The first |
| layer on the surface of the stainless steel | | | | non-corrosive object still currently in |
| being exposed to oxygen for a short time | | | | existence is an artifact from India called |
| before fastening. When the pieces are screwed | | | | the Iron Pillar of Delhi, which was a |
| together, the oxygen is taken out of the | | | | high-phosphorous-content iron pillar. Modern |
| equation, solidifying the bond. This process | | | | stainless steel was invented in the early |
| is called "galling". | | | | part of the 20th Century, by a number of |
| | | | inventors and researchers simultaneously. The |
| There are other types of stainless steel | | | | first stainless steels were made of 10-18% |
| fasteners that resist becoming brittle at | | | | chromium, along with significant amounts of |
| lower temperatures. These stainless steel | | | | carbon. Thanks to these inventors, stainless |
| screws are infused with nickel. The nickel | | | | steel fasteners became a very widespread, |
| also works to de-magnetize the stainless | | | | low-cost reality. |
| steel. Manganese can also be used in place | | | | |