Knowing the Different Materials of Washers
If you are asked to buy washers, you should first know the type of washer needed, the size and what materials it is made of. Washers are thin plate usually with a hole in the middle that is used to spread the load of the fasteners be it a screw, bolt, pin or nut. It can also decrease the likelihood of loosening over time. Typically, washers are disk-shaped.
Washers are famous for its numerous applications. It is crucial that you know what you need so making a decision is easier. There are three types of washers – plain washers, spring washers and locking washers. The most common type is the plain washer or often called flat washer. It helps in distributing the load and preventing the damaged to the repaired surface. According to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), there are different flat washers – Type A and Type B. Type A have broad tolerance while Type B has restricted tolerances.
The spring washers are used to avoid the loosening and tightening of the tremors. The locking washers are considered to secure the fasteners. After the types, the next thing to know is the size. How is the size determined? In washers, size is determined based on nominal values and gaged values. Nominal values refer to the size based on the inner diameter of the washer. The gaged values, on the other hand, refer to the thickness of the washers.
You should also keep in mind the materials used by washers. The materials are categorized in two things – metallic and non-metallic materials.
Metallic washers
Metallic washers are in the following form:
A. Steel: it can be carbon steel, 304 stainless steel, spring steel and 316/316A stainless steel.
B. Metals: it can be aluminum, brass, bronze, copper, iron, titanium, and zinc. If you are looking for aluminum flat washer manufacturer, you can find online with good reputation.
C. Alloy: it can be In conel based alloy, silicon bronze based alloy, monel based alloy and hastelloy.
Non-metallic materials
Non-metallic washers are in the following form:
A. Plastic: it can be thermoplastics, polyethylene and Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).
B. Nylon: it can be Nylon 6, Nylon 66, Tecamid and Nylatron.
C. Specialty non-metallic materials: it can be fibers, mica, bimetals, ceramics, leather,
felt and ceramics.
The price of the washer will depend on the type, size and materials used. However, it doesn’t stop there. You have to consider the corrosion resistance of the washer so you will know that it can last a long time. Non-metallic materials are corrosion-resistant but if you consider metal washers, you have to check for the corrosion resistance. Considering a washer based on its corrosion resistance properties should be a priority. Corrosion resistance means how a substance endures damage caused by chemical reactions and oxidation.
There are many techniques that improve the corrosion resistance of the metals. The most sufficient for many applications is phosphating. It integrates zinc-phosphate layer with corrosion protection oil. Another technique is called browning, which coats the surface with oil. There is also metallic coating like nickel, zinc, and cadmium. The electroplating protects the washer by using any metal as its surface coating.