Monthly Archives: February 2017 here

lap-joint-flangeQ: When is it best to use a lap joint flange? A:   Lap joint flanges are good for very expensive materials like tantalum and zirconium and other specialty alloys like Hastelloy or Inconel due to reduced cost of sleeve vs solid flange. Lap joint flanges are unique in that they … Continue reading

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Q: What is the difference between Zirconia and Zirconium? A:   Zirconia is a ceramic made from ZrO2 and Zirconium (Zr) is a refractory metal element found on the periodic table. So while Zirconia is made from Zirconium they are VERY different.

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Q: Are ceramics fragile? Do I have to worry about them breaking compared to metals? A:   Compared to metals ceramic fasteners are indeed fragile. Unlike a metal, there is very little yield before it fractures. Additionally ceramic fasteners and susceptible to thermal shock.

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Q: Why does Zirconia cost more than Alumina? A:  1) Raw material cost: Aluminia is far more abundant, whereas Yttrium oxide which is a stabilizer for Zirconia ceramic, is a rare earth element. 2) Shaping costs: Due to its higher density it takes approximately 10x longer to grind down and shape … Continue reading

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Q: What advantages does Zirconia have over Alumina? A:   Usually for most high temperature or electric insulator applications where ceramics are needed, alumina ceramic fasteners are the most popular choice due to their properties and relatively affordable price compared to zirconia fasteners. However sometimes the extreme properties of zirconia fasteners … Continue reading

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Q: Need to replace a standard steel washer with a non-conductive material. A:   After speaking with this customer, I learned that he needed to replace a standard steel washer with a non-conductive material for a critical bolted joint. These washers needed to withstand 70°C temperatures while maintaining preload. He … Continue reading

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Q: Can you provide alternative for a nylon pan head screw? A:   Here the customer needed an alternative to nylon. Resistance to electrical fields was a primary concern. In addition, he also needed a material that had a better dissipation factor than nylon. In this situation we would recommend PEEK. It … Continue reading

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Q: Need help with specific needs regarding Polyimide fasteners and their high temperature capabilities A:   This Italian company was developing a new client oven.  They were interested in Polyimide fasteners and their high temperature capabilities. In particular they needed: Usability to 300°C Capability with metal connections Heat and electric … Continue reading

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Q: We need advice on a material that will deliver a tensile strength of 210 to 250 ksi, as well as help us protect against galling. The attaching areas are stainless steel Grade 8. A:   For this instance, we would suggest MP35N. This alloy was developed specifically for high … Continue reading

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Q: I’m using a high temperature vacuum furnace at 2500F. What type of material do you suggest using and is there any advantage of using a metal over a ceramic? A:   Under vacuum conditions with little to no oxygen present, there are some metallic options for fasteners which include … Continue reading

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Q: Is Alloy 330 Magnetic? A:   Though alloy 330 does contains iron and chromium, it also contains nickel. The nickel component is what helps to strengthen the protective qualities of the chromium however, the presence of nickel also makes this metal non-magnetic. The reason is that the presence of … Continue reading

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Q: Can dissimilar (also called galvanic) corrosion occurs between Inconel bolts and regular carbon steel? A:   Anytime you have dissimilar materials you have the potential for galvanic corrosion.  For this to happen the materials need to be wet or in some kind of solution. If they are dry it’s … Continue reading

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lock-nut-chartA lock nut resists loosening from vibrations and torque. Specialty material lock nuts offer the ideal solution to many extreme applications environments. They combine the unique properties of specialty materials, with the secure locking feature of a lock nut to prevent failures in the field.

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