Building Fasteners FAQ | Understanding Plating and Heat Treatments

Building fasteners are subject to moisture, pressure, wind and other forces that will wear away at the metal. In order to offer greater strength and durability these fasteners are often treated. Plating and heat treatments are two of the most common ways to increase the reliability of building fasteners, even in the most extreme conditions.

Plating Defined

The process of plating is used in many industries. Jewelry and collectibles are plated with gold and silver. Plating has made inroads in the field of nanotechnology using thin film deposition. And perhaps the most common reason for plating continues to be applied in the fastener industry – corrosion resistance and improved durability.

The plating process involves coating a conductive surface with a thin layer of metal, thereby improving or altering the strength and/or appearance of the object. Plating is often done using electrolysis and is more distinctly termed electroplating. Electrogalvanization is a well-known example of this process.

Cadmium plating was a popular process in the past, but has since fallen out of favor. Although the metal has been found to be toxic to the environment the benefits it delivers to the aerospace and military industries have caused cadmium plating (or simply cad plating) to retain its popularity there.

In most other industries cadmium has been replaced by zinc plating or, in some instances, alloy plating. Both of these processes provide high levels of corrosion resistance using an economical method.

Heat Treatment Defined

Heat treatment is similar to plating in that it also changes the strength of a metal through the process. The difference is that heat treatment works to actually alter the characteristics of the alloy or metal, making it stronger, harder, more durable, tougher and more ductile.

Any process that alters the physical properties of an alloy or metal through either cooling or heating is considered heat treatment. For some metals, both extreme heating and extreme cooling are used in the treatment process.

Building fasteners may go through the process of heat treatment in order to attain certification in a specific industry. Many projects that are subject to extreme conditions will need fasteners that have been through heat treatment, while others will get along well with fasteners that have been plated. Read through your specs carefully to determine which type is needed on your project.