As you might have noticed, Leyton Fasteners recently announced an expansion of the number of nuts, bolts, washers, and machine screws (to name but a few) we are offering to those in the maritime sector.
But marine fasteners are different for a number of reasons, and there are factors that you need to take into account to ensure that you find the correct fastener for the job. Top of that list is corrosion.
Why Corrosion Adversely Affects Marine Fasteners More than Any Others
It might sound obvious, but it’s worth mentioning all the same. Marine fasteners have to be ultra-resistant to corrosion simply because they receive so much more exposure to the elements, particularly salt water and sea spray.
You can’t afford for fasteners critical to the structure of your maritime vessel to rust and fail. The risks involved are simply too significant. You need to have peace of mind that your fasteners will stand the time of time.
That’s why you will tend to pick stainless steel as the material for marine fasteners, with its robust defences against corrosion agents such as acids, alkalines, salt, and water. But before we walk you through the different grades of steel fasteners for your maritime requirements, there’s another form of corrosion to consider – galvanic corrosion.
What is Galvanic Corrosion?
Technically galvanic corrosion can take place anywhere, not just abroad marine vessels. However, it’s worth mentioning all the same since we are on the subject of corrosion.
In short, galvanic corrosion can happen when dissimilar metals make contact. For example, this might happen on your sailing boat if you use stainless steel screws and blind rivets to secure hardware onto the aluminium spars.
So it could be the case that you revert to aluminium fasteners for non-critical fastening tasks whereby you don’t require the tensile strength of stainless steel.
Picking the Right Grade of Stainless Steel for Your Marine Requirements
Your specific choice of fastener materials will depend largely on its purpose. However, we find that most marine fasteners boil down into two categories – A2-304 and A4-316. Their main characteristics and properties are as follows:
- A2-304 grade has good corrosion resistance and can be used for outside work and inside boats. However, we would not recommend it for use in severe or hostile marine conditions.
- A4-316 grade has a greater corrosion resistance than A2-304 and is often used in hostile and severe environments such as sea spray.
If you need any further advice on which fasteners to choose, our team is always on hand to discuss your options.
What Other Steps Can You Take to Protect Your Marine Fasteners from Corrosion?
While picking the correct stainless steel grade for your application is a good start, there are other steps you can take to protect your fasteners from corrosion. Anti-corrosion grease is an excellent place to start. These products offer protection against acidic and alkaline substances, such as sea spray.
At Leyton Fasteners, we offer LanoShield, a well-regarded, 100% natural anti-corrosion grease that comes in 5L containers complete with a hand sprayer. It’s salt-water-resistant (which is obviously crucial for marine applications) and boasts a power wash resistance of 300 psi.
Pick Up Your Marine Fasteners from Us Today
At Leyton Fasteners, we supply a broad spectrum of fasteners to the marine and maritime industries. Based in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, we offer the following fastener types and accessories:
- Nuts
- Bolts
- Washers
- Machine screws
- Chain
- Wire rope
- Various shackles
- Thimbles
- Hinges
- U bolts
- Pins
- Rings
And so much more!
For further information regarding our marine fasteners and accessories, simply give us a call for a quote on 0151 355 8045 or send us an email at sales@leytonfasteners.co.uk, and we’ll have a price back to you on the same business day.
