Wednesday 16th Apr 2025
For Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), ensuring the longevity and reliability of your products is crucial, and fasteners play a key role in maintaining structural integrity. Corrosion in fasteners can lead to product failure, increased maintenance costs and even reputational damage.
However by strategically protecting your components, you can significantly reduce the risk of rust and deterioration.
Below are 5 essential tips to help you prevent corrosion in your fasteners and ensure long-term performance.
1. Understand Your Environment
The first step in preventing corrosion in your fasteners is understanding what is causing them to deteriorate. By assessing the environment your components will be in, you can ensure you’re taking steps to reduce the risks. This includes determining whether your part will be exposed to moisture, humidity, extreme temperatures or chemicals.
As a fastener is exposed to these factors, oxidation soon follows which leads to rust and the weakening of your fasteners. By identifying the factors that contribute to the deterioration of your products, you can then select the right materials and protective measures.
2. Choose The Right Materials
To avoid corrosion, choosing the correct material for your parts is the first line of defence. This includes choosing materials that naturally resist rust like stainless steel, aluminium or copper.
Stainless steel in particular is corrosion resistant as it contains at least 10.5% chromium. When exposed to oxygen, chromium reacts with it to form a thin layer of chromium oxide which is passive and self-repairing. This protective layer is important in preventing rust from triggering.
3. Implement Corrosion-resistant Designs
Thoughtful engineering can play a crucial role in preventing rust in the first instance by minimising the chances of corrosion developing.
Design features to consider include reducing water traps such as crevices, sharp angles or overlapping surfaces. You may also consider using domed heads to allow water to run off more easily. Ensuring a correct fit is important too, as unnecessary movement can increase mechanical wear.
4. Utilise Coating Options
Applying an effective coating to your fastener is also a smart strategy for protection, setting your component up for success. The following coatings are particularly helpful:
- • Zinc plating: Acts as a sacrificial anode in the presence of oxygen and moisture, protecting the base metal.
- • Powder coating: Forms a durable, continuous barrier that prevents rust-causing elements from reaching the metal surface.
- • E-Coating: Also known as electrocoating, this method applies a thin, electrically bonded layer that provides strong barrier protection.
- By using these protective coatings, you also help extend the lifespan of your components, maintaining the integrity of your projects.
5. Create a Regular Inspection Routine
This may seem like a simple step, but by regularly inspecting your fasteners for signs of rust, wear or damage, you can minimise the risk of project failure and rising maintenance costs.
To keep your fasteners in top condition, make sure to thoroughly clean your products, removing built-up dirt, grime and moisture that could lead to corrosion. If you do find any corrosion, address it immediately by cleaning, re-coating or replacing the affected fastener.
Give Your Fasteners the Best Chance Against Corrosion
While these tips apply throughout the lifespan of your fasteners, the design, manufacturing, and finishing stages are especially important for ensuring long-term durability.
At Clevedon Fasteners, we can help you ensure your fasteners are optimised in terms of design and production, taking into account your application and the environment they’ll be used in. If you have an upcoming project,
get in touch with us today and we’ll help you find the best options for success.