Surface Treatment Processes Part Two:
Other Treatment Processes

In our previous blog, you read about the galvanization process that our products undergo prior to packaging and distribution. You also may have noticed the “Part 1” in the title. Well, here in our “Part 2” blog, we are here to talk about the surface treatment processes that you may not know about, other than galvanization.

There are numerous methods of treatment and they all vary on what kind of product we’re dealing with and what works best for said product. We evaluate what the bolt, nut, or other part is used for and treat it appropriately to give our customer the very best products.

There are so many different treatments because the various parts are used in a variety of ways.

Let’s just jump right into it; here are a few other treatment processes that are used to treat your favorite fasteners.

Mechanical plating: This mechanical/chemical process is used by placing the parts in a drum with powdered zinc and glass pellets. The pellets transfer the zinc powder to the surface of the part to be treated.

Black oxidizing of stainless steel: Some treatments are purely decorative, and that is true for this solution. This chemical process involves a hot, hydroxide solution.

Phosphate (Bonderizing, parkerizing, atramentizing): A great undercoat for painting, this process provides slight corrosion protection. It results in a gray to gray/black appearance once the treatment is finished.

Waterproofing/sealing: Used for plated parts, waterproofing and sealing includes dewatering fluid, as well as applying a wax seal. The wax film is invisible when dry.

If you would like more information about surface treatment processes, we would love to tell you all about them! Contact us any time at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com with your questions. Be sure to subscribe to our blogs to keep up with our new posts and learn more about our company!

Surface Treatment Process Part One: Galvanizing Treatments

Bossard Proven Productivity means providing products that you can rely on long-term. This means that we will do everything we can to assure reliable, trust-worthy materials.

For our fasteners, different surface treatment processes are used to make them last. Galvanization is a system that involves the immersion of the steel product into molten zinc that’s been heated to a temperature between 440°C and 470°C.

During galvanization, the steel is lowered inside the kettle until it matches the temperature. A benefit of using this type means that it generally takes less than ten minutes, depending on the thickness of the steel. With a dull and rough finish, it provides corrosion protection; with our “galvanization-passivation” process, it improves the appearance of the fasteners.

In order to prepare the steel for galvanization, among other preparations, it is first cleaned and rid of grease. Next, the product undergoes the treatment and endures a “post treatment” process. During the surface coating, a metallurgical reaction occurs, which is a diffusion measure that assures a regular thickness throughout the treated part.

The color may change after a certain length of time; however, this special treatment can last up to 50 years. Variation in length of time occurs based on the location of the steel. Under harsh conditions, its life will be closer to 25 years, rather than 50.

Similar to other technology, there are always new developments in this process, and Bossard Proven Productivity is always ahead of the game. Our clients are guaranteed innovation and reliability when working with our brand. We care for the parts we produce from engineering to production, always keeping our customers in mind.

We want to answer any questions you have about Proven Productivity, our fasteners and the Galvanization Treatment Process. Send inquiries to ProvenProductivity@bossard.com.

If you’ve ever tried to use fasteners for plastic materials, then you know the importance of this post. If you haven’t, then you will learn a little something about the process and things to consider before beginning your project.

Below, we have compiled a list of five things to know about fastening in plastic materials.

1. “Flexural Modulus.” What is it?
   Also known as “bending modulus,” it is the ratio of stress to strain in flexural deformation, or the tendency for a material to bend. In other words, it’s a ratio that tells you the flexibility of the plastic, and how it responds to the application of threaded fasteners.

   The lower the flexural modulus, the more the material will flow and form threads.

2. Fillers and Reinforcements. How are they used?
   Fillers and fiberglass reinforcements can affect at least one property of a thermoplastic, which means it can increase the strength and resistance of the plastic. They can also decrease shrinkage and increase the stiffness of the material.
3. Fastening in plastic materials: pros and cons
   Pros: Using thread forming fasteners in materials comprised of plastic have a low “fastener cost” and a large supply base.
   Cons: In contrast, there can be a high “fastening cost” using screws and inserts, with added inventory and handling of issues. There is also an expected longer cycle time of molding or insert driving.
4. “Thermal expansion”
   Plastic materials are prone to changing shape with added heat; this is only a problem if the materials have dissimilar expansion rates and if the temperature change is significant. Plastic expands with heat quicker than steel does, resulting in a gap which can form under the head of the fastener.
5. Guidelines to consider
   If you can, try to test fasteners in the application before committing to hard tooling. In addition, consider the ratio of drive-to-strip in the actual design. Lastly, keep drive gun speeds reduced in a 300-700 RPM range.

Bossard Proven Productivity is full of tips and tricks to bring our customers the best results possible. For more information about our fasteners or production, contact us anytime at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com.

Here at Bossard, we search for the “hidden potentials of fastening” by looking beyond what others can see in order to boost your productivity.

There’s a reason that bigHead is the leader in the growing industry of embedded fasteners. With new designs being introduced to the market every day, custom bigHeads are ahead of the pack.

Take a look at the advantages of molding bigHeads below and see the unlimited possibilities behind the custom products. BigHead manufactures strong, reliable, quality fasteners to make your job a whole lot easier.

Strength – Embedded bigHeads retain tensile strength. The bigHead is encased in the material due to the way that material flows through the perforations in the base. Because of this process, we’ve produced a more efficient part because of its light weight.

Time – The use of bigHeads in the molding process sets the fastener into its material before assembly takes place. This time-saving procedure ensures immediate access and security for the beginning of assembly.

Precision – Our perfectly innovative procedure of embedding the bigHead in an injection molded part makes sure that the fastener will be in the correct position accurately, every time. Bossard is consistently exceeding customers’ expectations because of our promise of quality. We never disappoint.

Aesthetics – Our mold in applications foster a molded material surface that is smooth, with the ability to create a reliable fastening point.

You can see how our custom bigHead parts have opened the door to new design possibilities. Our intuition of potential beyond the surface is what allows our engineers to dream up fasteners that assure our customers efficient installation and strong bonds. bigHead’s formula of strength, time, precision and aesthetics reflect the time and dedication put into their manufacturing process.

There’s always more to learn from Bossard Proven Productivity. Surf through our website and contact Bossard at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com anytime for more information. We look forward to hearing from you.

Anatomy of a Fastener

Our products speak for themselves; we produce quality fasteners efficiently and better than any other company out there. So, what’s our Proven Productivity-secret to manufacturing a fastener that our customers trust? We’ve conducted a list to break down the “anatomy” of our fasteners to give you a peek inside the production process.

Cold Forming
What is it? Cold forming is the process of forging metals at near room temperatures with high speed and pressure.

Why do we use it? This cost-efficient use of raw material moves the metal so wire can be smaller than the finished part. Cold forming also offers us an uninterrupted grain flow.

The alternative to cold forming is “screw machining.” This method interrupts that grain flow we mentioned. In addition, the blank needs to be as wide as the largest diameter of the product and as long as its final length.

Heading Process
What is it? Heading is the process of forming the fastener—it is pushed through what we call a “die.” The die presses the mold, shaping our fastener precisely and perfectly. Our process includes the ratio of one die to one blow heading, one to two, and two to three processing. This particular operation plays a large factor in the cost-effectiveness of cold forming, as well as it contributes to the strength of the final result.

Materials
Here at Bossard, Proven Productivity, we use a wide variety of materials in the production of our fasteners. It takes high quality products to produce high quality products and that’s exactly what we do in the manufacturing of Bossard fasteners.

• Low carbon steel
• Medium carbon steel
• Alloys
• Aluminum
• Stainless steel
• High technology alloy
• Tool Steel

Thread Rolling
Last, but certainly not least, our fasteners enter the process of “thread rolling.” This involves rolling the threads on the shank using thread dies. A threading die is a block with a slanted ridge in the shape of threads.

Now that you have caught a glimpse into the manufacturing of your favorite fastening materials, you can see how it takes care and precision to produce a brand you love. We would love to hear your questions and comments, so contact us anytime at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com.

FASTEKS KLIPKO® Cage Nuts

Simple installation, flexible, stable, and easy to handle: FASTEKS KLIPKO® cage nuts live up to the Bossard Proven Productivity standard. These single-part hollow thread nuts are easy to install without the need for reworking. They are used to connect materials and surfaces for a reliable bond, while equalizing the tolerance of the equipment.

Below, we have featured three cage-nuts that are tailored to your needs.

• FASTEKS KLIPKO® Standard cage nuts
  The standard cage nut is clipped from the back with ease using pliers. The standard cage nut design can be extended as needed once installed. It comes in stainless and galvanized steel with seven thread size options.
• FASTEKS KLIPKO® Earthing cage nuts
  This variation is designed to enter the coating to ensure a secure fit with the other materials. Similar to the standard cage nut, this fastener is offered in stainless and galvanized steel with six thread size options.
• FASTEKS KLIPKO® Front-mounting cage nuts
  Opposite of the standard cage nut, the front-mounting cage nut is anchored from the front. Install it easily after paint with a screwdriver or a metal strip; remove and re-use as desired. Like all other cage nuts, this variation is made of stainless or galvanized steel, with three thread sizes available.

Bossard has partnered with KVT since 2012 to produce fastening technology that will revolutionize our various customers’ projects. The result of our intricate planning and engineering is quality and reliability.

Check out their website for full product descriptions and product lists. We have a wide variety of designs, as well as tools for cage nuts. Have questions? Contact us anytime at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com.

Custom bigHead® Parts

Although there are 400 standard bigHeads to choose from, we understand that those may not work for everyone. With over 5,000 custom bigHeads, we are dedicated to supplying fasteners that work for our customers. bigHead has the ability to create drawings and prototypes in their own factory where all design and manufacturing takes place. You can trust Bossard to test the samples and feed you the results so you can assure your custom bigHead will be nothing short of satisfactory.

Since 1966, bigHead fasteners have been ahead of the competition in every way. The market-leading performance comes from a unique weld process which results in a strong and reliable product. Work with us to find the perfect way to turn your vision into reality. bigHead will collaborate with you to bring out your ideas and creativity to design a fastener that’s exactly what you need. We use our innovative expertise to give you constructive feedback on your strategy. Next, we will test and refine your design to assure that you’re getting exactly what you need for assembly and operation.

Check out these examples of unique fasteners, which were created in collaboration with our customers:

Nacelle Fastener
This custom fastener is made from 316 stainless steel to protect against corrosion. Its unique design can be color-matched and is lightning strike protected.

Limpets
Designed to meet each of our customer’s preferences, these bigHeads are enveloped in polyurethane. The low-profile fasteners are ultrasonically welded into position, making them secure and precise.

3 Tang Quilt Pin
We collaborated with our customer who needed a head with bendable “tangs.” This unique design was created to retain insulations blankets.

Download the template from our website to send us a sketch of your design idea. Explore our website for more information about the design and production process. If you have any questions about custom bigHead parts, feel free to contact us anytime at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com.

Nylon lock nuts are used across a wide variety of industries, including in appliances, computers, furniture, medical equipment, vehicles, sheet metal, and aircraft. Heavier nylon insert lock nuts are used in buildings, on bridges, and in railroad equipment.

Because these types of locknuts are nylon, they are not suitable for use in applications that require elevated temperatures or that come into contact with certain types of chemicals. The locknut does provide a seal against gas and moisture.

The nylon insert locknut comes with an insert that fits the threads of the screw it is placed on and causes a gripping action due to the friction it creates. This, in turn, lessens the chance that the nut will become loose because of vibrations.

Although the name nylon insert locknut creates the impression that they actually lock, they do not. Depending on the amount of vibration in the application that the locknut is used for, the parts may become loose. However, they will not come apart because of the friction that results between the locknut and the threads.

The torque that is needed is just enough to run the nut down the threads and firmly seat it. The thread should protrude over the rolled collar and the end of the screw should protrude above the nut body once it is seated. Nylon insert locknuts can be adjusted or removed a limited number of times after the first use, however, the friction factor decreases after each use.

An expert in the fastener industry should be consulted to determine whether the use of nylon insert locknuts is suitable for your particular application. Please contact ProvenProductivity@bossard.com if you have any questions about nylon insert locknuts and their uses.