Hex head bolts are one of the most common fasteners in the industrial and construction fields. Their reliable performance and wide applicability make them the first choice for various projects. This article will comprehensively explore the characteristics, uses, production processes, common materials and industry standards of Hex head bolts to help you choose the right product.
What is an external Hex head bolt?
An external Hex head bolt, also known as a hexagonal head bolt, is named after its hexagonal head. It is designed to be easy to install and remove using a wrench or other tools. External Hex head bolts are suitable for metal-to-metal connections and can also be used to fix metal to other materials.
Hexagonal head design: provides good torque transmission capability, easy and secure installation.
Full or semi-threaded structure: different thread coverage ranges can be selected according to application requirements.
Multiple materials and surface treatments: adapt to various environmental requirements, including high-strength applications and corrosion-resistant scenarios.
Application areas
Mechanical equipment: used to fix mechanical parts and provide high-strength connections.
Structural Steel Engineering: plays a key role in steel beams, steel plates and frames.
Automobile industry: used for engine parts, chassis fixing and suspension systems, etc.
Daily decoration: used for furniture, door and window installation and other household projects.
Production process of Hex head bolts
The production process of Hex head bolts is designed to ensure their high strength, durability and dimensional accuracy, and mainly includes the following steps:
Raw material preparation
Select carbon steel, stainless steel, alloy steel or other materials for specific purposes to ensure that strength and environmental requirements are met.
Cold heading
Use cold heading equipment to quickly form the head and shank of the bolt to ensure that the hexagonal structure of the bolt head is complete and dimensional.
Thread rolling
The thread is formed by a die rolling process. This process not only improves the strength of the thread, but also avoids the material loss that may be caused by traditional cutting processes.
Heat treatment
The bolts are usually quenched and tempered to increase tensile strength and hardness.
Surface treatment
Galvanizing, hot-dip galvanizing, electrophoresis, phosphating or other surface treatments are performed according to application requirements to enhance corrosion resistance.
Quality inspection
Automated testing equipment is used to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the bolt size, thread accuracy and surface treatment quality.
Common materials for Hex head bolts
Carbon steel
Advantages: economical and practical, suitable for general use.
Disadvantages: prone to corrosion in humid environments.
Stainless steel
Advantages: excellent corrosion resistance, suitable for outdoor and high humidity environments.
Disadvantages: relatively low tensile strength and high price.
Alloy steel
Advantages: high strength, suitable for high load and high temperature environments.
Disadvantages: corrosion resistance depends on surface treatment.
Titanium alloy
Advantages: light weight, high strength, excellent corrosion resistance.
Disadvantages: expensive, only used in high-end fields such as aerospace.
Surface treatment types for hexagon bolts
Electrogalvanizing
Provides basic corrosion protection and is suitable for indoor environments.
Hot-dip galvanizing
Forms a thicker protective layer and is suitable for outdoor and humid environments such as bridges and dock projects.
Phosphating
Enhances coating adhesion and is often used in industrial equipment.
Black oxide treatment
Provides rust resistance and is mainly used for indoor applications.
Industry standards for Hex head bolts
International standards
ISO 4014: Standard for half-threaded Hex head bolts.
ISO 4017: Standard for fully threaded Hex head bolts.
American Standard
ASME B18.2.1: Defines the size and tolerance requirements for imperial Hex head bolts.
German Standard
DIN 931: Standard for half-threaded Hex head bolts.
DIN 933: Standard for fully threaded Hex head bolts.
National Standard
GB/T 5780: Standard for general purpose Hex head bolts.
GB/T 5782: Standard for high-strength Hex head bolts for steel structure engineering.
These standards ensure that bolts have consistent quality, size and performance for the global market.
How to choose the right Hex head bolt?
Choose by application
High load environment: choose high-strength alloy steel bolts or high-strength bolts.
Wet or corrosive environment: stainless steel or hot-dip galvanized bolts are preferred.
Choose by thread type
Half-threaded bolts: suitable for applications requiring shear force.
Fully threaded bolts: suitable for scenarios requiring tension.
Choose by industry standards
Make sure the bolts meet relevant standards such as ISO, DIN or ASME to meet quality and performance requirements.
In Conclusion
Hex head bolts play an important role in the industrial and construction fields due to their high strength, ease of use and wide applicability. By understanding their characteristics, production processes, materials and industry standards, you can better choose the type of bolts that suit your project needs. Whether it is stainless steel bolts for high-load scenarios or carbon steel bolts for general use, Hex head bolts are always a reliable fastening choice.