Guide 03 · Fastener Reference Guide
Materials & Finishes
Choosing a material and finish to suit the environment.
Text version — searchable and screen-reader friendly
Materials & finishes This is a guide only, please always consult your engineer.
| Type of Finish | Icon | Base Material | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plain | PL | Steel | Natural uncoated fniish |
| Bright Steel | BS | Steel | Uncoated fniish |
| Black Phosphate | BP | Steel | Added protection when oiled with good lubricity |
| Black Zinc Plating | BZ | Steel | Zinc plating with black chromate treatment |
| Zinc Plating | ZP | Steel | Blue to blue–white silver colour |
| Zinc Yellow Plating | ZY | Steel | Zinc plating with yellow chromate treatment |
| Zinc Clear Plating | ZC | Steel | Zinc plating with clear chromate treatment |
| Galvanised | GAL | Steel | Protective zinc coating to steel or iron against rusting. Can be hot dip galvanised or mechanical galvanised |
| Hot Dip Galvanised | HDG | Steel | Rough grey finish with a thicker zinc coating for better corrosion resistance, making it suitable for outdoor use |
| Mechanical Galvanised | MG | Steel | A coating of zinc is applied to the part at room temperature by a mechanical process. No risk of hydrogen embrittlement |
| Chrome Finish | CF | Most Metals | Smooth and polished appearance. Moderate corrosion resistance |
Smooth and polished appearance. Moderate Chrome Finish Most Metals corrosion resistance
| Type of Material | Icon | Base Material | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminium | AL | Aluminium | Silvery–white metal. Lightweight, felxible and corrosion resistant. Can be alloyed with many difef rent elements to increase strength |
| Brass | BR | Brass | An alloy of copper and zinc. Good electrical and thermal conductivity |
| Nylon | NL | Nylon | Synthetic thermoplastic polymer |
| Stainless Steel | SS | Stainless Steel | Corrosion resistance steel |
| Stainless Steel G304 | A2 | Stainless Steel | Austenitic Stainless Steel containing approximately 18% Chromium and 8% Nickel good corrosion resistance. Suitable for outdoor and some water applications |
| Stainless Steel G316 | A4 | Stainless Steel | Austenitic Stainless Steel containing 16% Chromium, 10% Nickel and 2% Molybdenum, making it suitable for marine applications where there is exposure to salt and chlorinated water |
This is a guide only — please always consult your engineer.