Hot and Exposed Fasteners – Is Exotic the Answer?
by Andrew du Plessis – Alloy Wire International
Fasteners, manufactured using steel wire, provide a product with strength and deliver a good competitive price. However, there are instances where this type of fastener, when placed in certain applications would likely result in a premature failure, leading to costly downtime or even catastrophic failure. For example, parts within an aircraft engine will submit fasteners to extreme temperatures and mechanical stresses.
Often the answer can be found in using wire in an Exotic alloy, also known as ‘High Performance’ or ‘Super’ alloys. These Exotic alloys are made up of alloying elements such as nickel, chromium, cobalt, molybdenum and tungsten for example.