Eyebolts DIN 580-case-hardened steel C15E hot-dip galvanized M16

Steel is an iron-carbon alloy with a maximum carbon content of 2% by mass. The steels achieve their intended physical and mechanical properties through various hardening, annealing and tempering processes. It is also possible to harden the edge zone by surface hardening, case hardening or nitriding. Well-known steel grades are structural steels, free-machining steels, case-hardening steels, nitriding steels, tempering steels, tool steels and stainless steels.

In hot-dip galvanising, a zinc coating is applied to the component by immersing it in molten zinc and then spinning it off. DIN EN ISO 10684 restricts its application to steel fasteners with standard threads ranging from M8 to M64, as well as strength classes up to 10.9 for bolts and 12 for nuts. The average coating thickness for fasteners is 50 micrometres, which ensures corrosion protection for many years.

According to the chemical composition, C15 (1.0401) is an unalloyed quality steel, C15E (1.1141) is an unalloyed stainless steel, with the difference being the permissible sulfur and phosphorus content. Both types of steel are classified as case-hardened steels depending on their intended use (carbon content less than 0.20%). The materials in this category are characterized in their initial state by good processing properties when machining and forming.