Fasteners Materials Used in Aircraft Manufacturing

The aviation industry is constantly keeping up with technological advancements in the aerospace realm, ensuring that materials they use to manufacture their products are of the highest quality. For example, as fasteners find employment in a wide range of aviation applications, with nearly one million being used on a single aircraft alone, they must be produced with top-quality materials. In general, aircraft fasteners range from bolts and nuts to rivets and washers, many of which work in tandem to hold different parts together.

In an aircraft engine, bolts and nuts work alongside one another and are manufactured to withstand the extreme pressure and temperature conditions they are subjected to during flight. While these fasteners are generally lightweight, safe, and durable, they are continuously being improved and modified to meet the ever changing standards of the aviation industry. Apart from the engine, other areas of an airplane that benefit from these fastening devices include the fuselage, wings, empennage, nose, pylons, nacelles, flight control surfaces, and more.

Characteristics of Aerospace Fasteners and the Standards They Must Meet

Although each fastener is responsible for fulfilling a specific role, they all provide high-precision and high-quality attachments for an array of aerospace applications. Some of the major characteristics of aircraft fasteners are that they:

Perform well under harsh operating conditions
Offer high shear, fatigue, and tensile strength
Are equipped with self-sealing and self-locking capabilities
And feature high corrosion and oxidation resistance

Due to the stringent requirements of the aerospace industry, any parts and components used in applications within this sector must meet certain high-quality management standards. For instance, AS9100, BS9100, and EN9100 standards must be met for the design and manufacturing of aerospace goods, while AS9120, BS9120, and EN9120 standards must be met for the production and distribution of these goods.

Bolts

Bolts serve as the most important tools used in the aerospace industry, many of which are MS bolts, close tolerance bolts, NAS internal wrenching bolts, or AN bolts. In terms of material composition, they are usually made from unplated corrosion-resistant steel, zinc-plated corrosion-resistant steel, cadmium aluminum alloys, or anodized aluminum alloys.

Nuts

Nuts have threads on them also nuts are among the most important fasteners in the engines of various aircraft. These fasteners are typically made of cadmium plated carbon steel, stainless steel, or anodized 2024T aluminum alloys.

Screws

Unlike the other fasteners, screws used in the aerospace industry are made from lower-strength materials.

Rivets

Rivets have a smooth cylindrical shaft, a head on one end, and a shank that aligns with the preformed holes of the materials they are meant to join together. Generally, they find use in applications where there is a need to join two or more metal sheets or plates.

Conclusion

Emergent Aviation is a leading distributor of high-quality fasteners that can be used in a wide range of aerospace applications. With over 2 billion new, used, obsolete, and hard-to-find items in our inventory, we are equipped to fulfill an array of operational requirements from a diverse set of industries. As an AS9120B, ISO 9001:2015, and FAA AC 00-56B accredited business, we can proudly guarantee the caliber of our offerings. More than that, we operate with a strict quality assurance program that includes flaw detection testing, in-depth document verifications, and more.

To commence the procurement process for any item in our catalogs, we invite you to fill out and submit an RFQ form with as much information as you can regarding your needs, such as target prices, desired quantities, and delivery deadlines, among other key details. Within 15 minutes or less of submission, you can expect a custom response. If you would like one-on-one assistance from one of our experts, do not hesitate to reach out via phone or email; we are available around the clock!