Global Fastener News

May 24, 1993 FIN – A cooperative effort between fastener manufacturers and raw material suppliers has provided the basis for a new Industrial Fasteners Institute Standard 140 entitled, “Carbon and Alloy Steel Wire, Rods and Bars for Mechanical Fasteners”.
While standard steel grades for rods and bars have been in existence for many years, and have (with modifications or restrictions of one or more elements) long been used for cold forming, this new IFI-140 presents a distinct selected series of 20 steel grades for cold forming. These 20 grades which include 11 carbon, 2 boron and 7 alloy are now designated IFI steel grades and should be sufficient to produce the vast majority of all headed products being manufactured. The economic and technical benefits of this voluntary standard will best be realized if its provisions are widely adopted. The resulting proliferation of grade choices will achieve economies of scale for mills and offer opportunities to advance quality of raw materials used in cold forming and the finished products manufactured from these improved material grades.
A significant area of improvement is in the decarburization control and measurement for cold heading rods and bars. A method to measure based upon the location of the worst decarburization position is specified in the new 23-page document.
A new pictorial method for rating spheroidization is provided. Requirements for maximum depth of surface imperfections have been established. Maximum limits for mechanical properties of carbon and alloy grades are documented for the first time to assist fastener manufacturers match raw material capabilities to product needs.
Size tolerances for rod and bar are reduced for IFI grades, reflecting the industry consensus that this advancement would significantly improve control of cold working. Users of fasteners should benefit by improved uniformity and reduced variation expected to be realized from these IFI material grades.
Industrial Fasteners Institute, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, is an association of leading North American manufacturers of bolts, nuts, screws, rivets, pins, washers as well as precision and formed parts. Leading suppliers of materials, machinery, equipment and engineered services are associate members of IFI.
IFI’s headquarters address is: IFI, East Ohio Building, 1717 E. 9th Street, Suite 1105, Cleveland, OH 44114-2879.  ©1993/2015 Fastener Industry News.
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