Fastener material guide
Material quality for screws, rivets, nails and sealing washers
Choose fastening materials with the real application in mind
Material quality affects corrosion resistance, strength, compatibility and sealing performance. In our fastening range, screws, blind rivets, nails and sealing details are built from different material systems, so the material choice should be made just as deliberately as dimension, clamp length or drill capacity.
Our catalogue separates carbon steel, aluminium, stainless steel, copper, blind rivet combinations, washer metals and EPDM rubber. That gives buyers, contractors and technical teams a clearer basis when the fastening detail must match both the job itself and the long-term demands placed on it.
Key material systems across our fastening range
Screw materials
Choose screw material according to corrosion demands, substrate and fastening function. Our catalogue separates carbon steel, aluminium, stainless steel and Marutex, which makes it easier to judge when a more standard material is enough and when a more specialised choice is worth it.
See the screw material overview on page 101 in the catalogue
Blind rivet material combinations
Choose blind rivets by the full body-and-mandrel combination, not only by the rivet body. Unite groups combinations such as aluminium and steel, stainless and stainless, steel and steel, and copper and steel separately, which gives a better basis for matching the rivet to the job.
See the blind rivet material combinations on page 101 in the catalogue
Nail materials
Use nail material as a deliberate choice when exposure, surrounding materials or finish requirements make it relevant. The material overview separates carbon steel, stainless steel and copper nails, which helps keep even simpler fixing details aligned with the wider build-up.
Sealing washers and EPDM
Choose sealing washers as part of the whole fastening system when weather-tight performance matters. Unite separates washer metal and rubber quality, with steel, aluminium and stainless options plus high-quality EPDM that is described for weather, ozone and wear resistance.
See the sealing washer and EPDM data on page 101 in the catalogue
Marutex for self-drilling stainless applications
Choose Marutex when the job calls for a self-drilling stainless screw for harsh environments rather than a more standard stainless reference. In our Unite catalogue, the Marutex section on pages 7-12 gives the deeper context around material composition, long-life positioning, drilling performance, RISE testing and type approval.
See the Marutex material and approval detail on pages 7-12 in the catalogue
Verification and consistency
When long-term reliability matters, look beyond the nominal material name. We describe regular checks of surface treatments, zinc-layer control and accelerated corrosion testing to help maintain uniform quality across the range.
See the verification and testing summary on page 100 in the catalogue
Detailed material data in our catalogue
The catalogue below gives the clearest material overview behind our fastening range, including screw materials, blind rivet combinations, nail materials, washer metals and EPDM data. It is the quickest way to compare how different fastening types are built from different material systems.
For the environment itself, use our guide to corrosion classes. For the deeper logic behind stainless alloys and Marutex, use our stainless steel guide.
Page 100 - Surface treatment, verification and testing
Page 101 - Material quality for screws, blind rivets, nails, sealing washers and pipe flashers
Page 7 - Marutex overview for harsh environments
Page 9 - Marutex material composition and stainless steel basics
Page 10 - Reasons to choose Marutex, including long life and drilling performance
Page 11 - RISE testing, corrosion classification and quality control
Page 12 - Marutex type approval and production control
Need help choosing the right material quality?
Material quality is easier to get wrong than many buyers expect. The right choice is not only about corrosion resistance, but also about the fastening type, the surrounding materials, the sealing detail and whether the fixing must drill, clamp or seal in a demanding environment.
We help contractors, fabricators and technical buyers compare material options faster and move towards a solution that fits the job with more confidence.
How do I choose between carbon steel and stainless steel fasteners?
Start with the service environment and the role of the fastener. Carbon steel can be the right direction when the fastening solution is designed around the correct surface treatment and the exposure level is appropriate, while stainless steel becomes more relevant when corrosion resistance and longer-term exposure matter more.
That is why we recommend judging material quality together with the real environment, not only by looking at the fastener shape or size.
Is material quality only about the screw body?
No. Material quality can also sit in the mandrel, the washer metal and the sealing rubber. Blind rivets are built from body-and-mandrel combinations, and sealing washers rely on both the metal part and the EPDM part to perform properly over time.
That is why a good material decision looks at the whole fastening detail, not only the visible screw or rivet body.
Why does the full blind rivet combination matter?
Because a blind rivet works as a combined material system, not as one single material. Aluminium and steel, stainless and stainless, steel and steel, or copper and steel combinations can behave differently in service, so the body and mandrel should be judged together.
This is also why the catalogue separates the combinations clearly instead of treating all blind rivets as materially interchangeable.
When does sealing washer material matter as much as the screw itself?
It matters most when the fixing must also seal against weather, water or long-term exposure. In those situations, the washer metal and the EPDM quality are part of the real performance of the fastening, not an afterthought.
If the screw is right but the washer detail is wrong, the finished result can still be weaker than intended.
When is Marutex worth considering instead of a more standard stainless reference?
Marutex is worth closer attention when the application calls for a self-drilling stainless screw for harsh environments or where the material choice needs stronger technical backing than a more standard stainless reference. In our Unite catalogue, the Marutex section on pages 7-12 gives the deeper context around material composition, drilling performance, RISE testing and type approval.
That makes it especially relevant when corrosion resistance, drilling performance and long-term confidence all matter in the same fastening decision.
Can Unite help us choose the right material quality for a specific project?
Yes. We help customers compare fastening type, material system, sealing detail and exposure level so the final choice fits the real job better. That is often the fastest way to avoid unnecessary uncertainty between carbon steel, stainless steel, Marutex, rivet combinations and washer options.
When the material question affects both performance and service life, it is usually worth discussing the build-up before ordering.