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Electroless plated flat head screw

Hi,

We have an application where two 6061-T6 aluminium parts are assembled together with M3 black oxide flat head screws. The aluminium parts are not coated. The application concerns wheelchair components which can from time to time be exposed to outdoor weather (rain, snow, moisture, freezing). Most of the time, the components are inside a house.

We have some problems with the flat head. After few week of operation, they rust. We have consider using stainless steel screws but I think galvanic corrosion could occur after some time.

1. I believe if we had some electroless nickel plated screws we would resolve the rust problem. Do you think it would be a good solution?

2. I tried to find some suppliers of such electroless plated screws without success. Any suggestion where to look for it?

Thank you, Tony

Tony Leg
Product Designer - Quebec, Canada
October 20, 2011

Actually, SS screws are more compatible with both the Ni and the aluminum than coated steel parts. The SS should be cheaper than plated ones and coating failures are N/A with SS.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
October 21, 2011