Fasteners in Aerospace

In the world of aerospace, every component, no matter how small, plays a critical role. These parts ensure safety, reliability, and performance. Among these essential components are fasteners. While they may seem insignificant compared to the larger systems at play, fasteners are an important part of aircraft integrity, holding together the structures that go up in the sky.

Fasteners in aerospace applications are subjected to some of the most demanding environments and rigorous standards, as they should be. They must withstand extreme temperatures, high stresses, and constant vibration while maintaining their integrity over long periods. The failure of even a single fastener can have catastrophic consequences, making the selection and quality assurance of these components paramount.

To ensure the utmost safety and performance, aerospace fasteners are governed by stringent standards set by organizations such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Here at Knapp Fasteners, we’re certified by the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI) and ISO certified. Below we’ll cover some of the various standards that these organizations oversee.

1. Material Selection: Aerospace fasteners are typically made from high-strength materials such as titanium or stainless steel. These are chosen for their excellent strength-to-weight ratios, corrosion resistance, and ability to perform under extreme conditions.

2. Manufacturing Processes: Precision is extremely important in manufacturing aerospace fasteners. Advanced manufacturing techniques such as cold heading, thread rolling, and heat treatment are employed to ensure uniformity, strength, and reliability. Each fastener must be produced to exact specifications, with tolerances often measured in microns.

3. Mechanical Properties: Aerospace fasteners must meet specific mechanical property requirements, including tensile strength, shear strength, and fatigue resistance. These properties are critical to ensure that the fasteners can withstand the forces they will encounter in service.

4. Quality Control: Quality assurance processes are rigorous. Non-destructive testing methods, such as X-ray inspection, ultrasonic testing, and magnetic particle inspection, are used to detect any internal defects. Additionally, fasteners are often subjected to destructive testing to verify their mechanical properties. Typically fasteners for aerospace require quality documentations to be provided such as MTR’s, C of C’s, DFARS, RoHS, etc.

There have been many innovations in the aerospace industry as they continuously seek to improve the performance and efficiency of aircrafts. One of the main improvements have been lightweight fasteners which reduce the overall weight of the aircraft which is a constant goal in aerospace engineering. Lightweight fasteners do not compromise the strength or performance in these situations. Aerospace fasteners are often self-locking which prevent loosening under vibration and stress. This increases safety and reliability. They’re extremely beneficial in applications where maintenance access is limited. Another innovation is the corrosion resistant coatings that are available. Advanced coatings and surface treatments can be applied to enhance their resistance to corrosion which extends the usability life of the fastener.

As the aerospace industry continues to evolve, so will the demands placed on fasteners. Emerging technologies will drive new requirements for fastener performance and reliability. Fastener manufacturers need to stay at the forefront of these developments, continuing to innovate and meet the rigorous standards that ensure the safety and success of aerospace endeavors. Overall, fasteners may be small but their importance is large in the aerospace realm.

We’re certified by the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI) and ISO 9001:2015. We would love to provide you aerospace fasteners as we have done with many other clients. If you have any questions or would like a quote on aerospace fasteners, please reach out to our sales team at sales@knappfast.com.