Washers without chamfer DIN 9021-stainless A2 140 HV 20

The combination of strength classes for flat washers with those for bolts and nuts is governed by ISO 898-3:2018, Table 1. Washers with a hardness of 140 HV are suitable for applications with unhardened bolts up to strength class 5.8 and nuts up to class 5. Applications involving bolts of strength class 6.8 and nuts of class 6 must be checked during installation. Combinations with higher strength classes must not be used.

Stainless steel refers to alloyed or unalloyed steels that contain at least 10.5% chromium and less than 1.2% carbon. Colloquially, stainless steel is also referred to as stainless steel (NiRo), although not all stainless steel is the same as "stainless".

The term plain indicates a completely untreated, merely oiled, smooth surface for all DIN and ISO screws such as wood screws, hexagon head screws, threaded rods, nuts and many types of washers.

Stainless steels are defined in DIN EN 10088-1 as iron alloys containing at least 10.5 per cent chromium and no more than 1.2 per cent carbon. The multi-part DIN EN ISO 3506 series of standards applies to mechanical fasteners made from stainless steels. Grade A2 is classified as non-acid-resistant. Austenitic stainless steels cannot be heat-treated and achieve their different strength classes through cold working to varying degrees.