Save money with plastic fasteners
Sometimes, the smallest things can make huge differences where business, efficiency, and profits are concerned. While plastic fasteners may seem like a tiny thing to worry about, they can actually save your business quite a bit of money if you know how to use them right.
Plastic fasteners are often the product of choice vs metal, when considering such factors as chemical, thermal, and electrical concerns. In many cases, plastic fasteners meet or exceed the same standards as metal fasteners, and they can make things easier on your business’s budget. Here’s how.
Plastic fasteners can be as strong as metal fasteners
Oftentimes, plastic fasteners include other materials, such as metal or glass fillers, which can increase the strength, stiffness, and temperature of the fastener, making them potentially as strong (or stronger than) metal fasteners. For example, plastic fasteners made with Isoplast (a brand name of Thermoplastic Polyurethane or TPU) compares very favorably with aluminum or magnesium, with ultimate tensile strength of 27,000 psi (or 186 MPa). 40% glass filled Isoplast is used in applications like flange nuts, bolts, hex nuts, U-Bolts, and channel nuts. It’s also used in protective cases in some iPhone shock cases and other smartphone cases. Other even stronger plastics like Epoxyglas FR-4 is is a material made up of composites of woven fiberglass cloth and epoxy resins – and its ultimate PSI is close to 45,000 which compares favorably with steel and brass – but less expensive.
Plastic Fasteners Can Withstand A Wider Variety of Conditions
Due to their very nature, plastic fasteners are capable of withstanding some conditions for which materials like metal or stainless steel are not intended. For example, plastic does not corrode or rust, and can be an excellent choice within products meant to be used in wet or damp uses. Plastic also does not conduct electricity, so it’s perfect for jobs where electricity or static charges are a consideration.
They Can Last Longer
Due to the durability of plastic, plastic fasteners often have a longer life span than metal fasteners. After all, metal can easily become rusty or damaged if it gets wet, which can drastically shorten its lifetime. As plastic is not capable of rusting, plastic fasteners are not prone to the same damage, so you won’t have to pay for replacement fasteners as your materials age or come into contact with liquids.
E & T Fasteners sells high quality industrial fasteners and components with a wide variety of materials, including plastic fasteners and machined fasteners. To discuss your particular project and the uses of plastic or metal fasteners within your application, please feel free to contact us.
