It is vital that bolts are produced from the right material. If an inappropriate metal or material is used, the bolt may experience fatigue, corrosion, or failure during service.
Most commonly, bolts are made from steel alloys, such as stainless steel, low carbon steel, and chromium as this offers the best protection against corrosion and corrosive environments. To further enhance the performance of steel, bolts may undergo additional treatments such as plating, coating, or galvanization.
Titanium, Cupro Nickel and Aluminium, Inconel are also used to manufacture bolts depending on their end use.
Bolts are commonly made from stainless 18-8 steel, containing 18% chromium and 8% nickel. Another type of steel that is more resistant to corrosion is stainless 316, and is often used in salt water and chlorine environments. Bolts may also be made from stainless 410 material, which is a more durable steel but less resistant to corrosion.
Alloy steel is a high-strength material that can be heat treated to produce durable bolts.