Top Benefits Of Plastic Fasteners In Marine Applications

If you’re working in the marine or boating manufacturing industries, then you should learn more about the potential and perks provided by plastic fasteners in your niche. Let’s elaborate.

1. You will avoid problems associated with rust

With just a few exceptions – gold, platinum and palladium – all metals corrode and develop rust, particularly if they’re constantly exposed to salty and wet conditions. Needless to point out that rust “eats” through the metal and accelerates corrosion, weakening the strength of the fastener. By employing plastic fasteners for your marine applications, you can be certain to prevent all issues resulting from rust and corrosion.

2. Certain plastics are saltwater-resistant

In the eventuality that you want to be certain you can rely on your marine fasteners without having to bother with constant maintenance, then choose materials known for their saltwater-resistant properties, like PVC, Isoplast and PET for instance. The aforementioned plastics have distinct properties that make them ideal materials for marine environments, including but not limited to chemical inertia, high strength to weight ratio, the inability to absorb water or the fact that they’re unaffected by corrosive substances (saltwater, diesel, fuel additives, gasoline, etc).

3. Plastic fasteners can be reinforced with steel

If you want to take advantage of the plastic’s amazing resistances and the steel’s strength at the same time, then you could always opt for a plastic fastener with a metal core. Most of the plastics mentioned here can be used in tandem with metal to create durable and resilient fasteners that can take a beating.

4. Plastic materials are UV resistant

Perhaps the most amazing thing about certain plastics – polyimides or FEP - is that they are capable of withstanding the effects of the damaging UV rays even in space. This is why they have been successfully used in the creation of the International Space Station and the Hubble Space Telescope. If you decided to use plastic fasteners for marine applications, then make sure to purchase bolts and screws made from materials that don’t absorb UV energy; plastics that absorb UVs tend to develop free radicals that corrode the material faster.

5. Stainless steel is prone to staining in the marine environment

Stainless steel is commonly obtained by adding chromium to the steel alloy. What few people know is that when the exterior layer is exposed to oxygen, it tends to turn to chromium oxide and hence, becomes prone to scratches and dents.
But wait, isn’t stainless steel popular because it can withstand and maintain its luster, even in wet weather conditions? Yes, stainless steel is capable of maintaining its shiny coat in rainy conditions and this why it is commonly employed in the external architecture of buildings. On the other hand, saltwater integrates chlorine that attacks the thin exterior layer of the stainless steel and weakens the fastener in time. Once this protective coating is gone, the steel will be prone to corrosion.
Still, while plastic fasteners will help you avoid numerous headaches in the future, that doesn’t automatically mean you should never use metal fasteners for marine, boating or aquaculture applications. Take note that some metal fastener manufacturers utilize extremely strong stainless steel alloys, which make their screws and bolts suitable for the harsh marine conditions.