Thread forming Oval-head screws hexalobe DIN 7500CE-steel zinc plated blue M3x25mm

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.

Case hardening is used to impart significantly greater hardness to the surface layer of steel workpieces and to improve their mechanical properties. Case-hardened workpieces are characterised by increased wear resistance, a tough core and enhanced fatigue strength.

TORX (from the English word ‘torque’) is the registered word mark for a screw drive profile, the standard designation for which is ‘internal six-lobe’ (English: ‘six lobe, internal socket’). With the six-lobe internal socket, the screw and tool are subjected to less radial stress than with the traditional internal hexagon, and consequently suffer less damage. Torque is transmitted more directly via the radial parts of the tooth flanks rather than via the faces of the hexagon.