Shank screws with slot and conical head DIN 427 / ISO 2342-14H zinc plated blue M3x6 mm

Slotted screw drives are the oldest form of rotary drives for fastening screws. The Schltz is usually manufactured in a pressed or milled version. Because of its uneconomical processing method (slow, unwieldy), the slot is increasingly disappearing in favor of other drives (hexagon socket, cross slot, hexagon socket).

Hardness classes are specified for set screws and similar fasteners that are not subject to tensile stress, which are regulated for stainless austenitic steels in ISO 3506-3 and for carbon steel and alloy steel in ISO 898-5. ISO 3506-3 defines the two hardness classes 12H and 21H, ISO 898-5 defines the four hardness classes 14H, 22H, 33H and 45H. The hardness class designation 14H means 140 HV (Vickers hardness).

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.

Blue galvanised finishes are produced either by electroplating in accordance with DIN EN ISO 4042 or by mechanical plating in accordance with DIN EN ISO 12683. For fasteners with a hardness exceeding 390 HV, there is a risk of hydrogen embrittlement during galvanising (electrolytic process). This necessitates specific measures (such as annealing), although these do not provide a 100 per cent guarantee against embrittlement.