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Aluminium alloy assembly with carbon steel fasteners

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PrintScaffold

Mechanical
Sep 8, 2006
453
Hello everyone!
If aluminium alloy assembly is held together with carbon steel fasteners (screws, washers, sometimes nuts as well) in the industrial environment, will there be an issue with contact corrosion? Shall we galvanize steel fasteners? If so, what is the recommended coating? Will zync work? Thanks!

 
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Pop open the hood of your car and have a look at the fasteners that hold your engine together.

There are many inorganic zinc coatings today that prevent galling with aluminum and have reasonable corrosion resistance.
 
Assuming that this isn't in a wet environment you should have no issues using coated steel fasteners.
Glav, Zn+Al, IOZ will all work fine.
Preventing galling and sticking is the first order.
And remember to use nice thick strong washers so that you don't crush into the Al.

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P.E. Metallurgy, consulting work welcomed
 
Steel screws have a fair chance of galling when self tapping into aluminum.
 
I've experienced totally seized steel bolts in aluminum engines. If space permits I pound it on the head with the biggest hammer available; this has given some success.

"Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but they are not entitled to their own facts."
 
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