SUS316 Rivets

In marine, chemical, and coastal environments, standard stainless steel fasteners often fail within months. SUS316 rivets contain 2–3% molybdenum, offering superior resistance to saltwater attack. They are available in both semi-hollow and solid configurations, produced via precision cold heading.

Nuote Metals has supplied cold-headed SUS316 rivets to offshore and chemical processing customers for over a decade. This guide provides real-world case data, full specifications, and verifiable quality documentation.

Real-World Applications

Case 1 – Outdoor Folding Chair (Aluminum Frame, SUS316 Rivets)

A brand of portable camping furniture experienced rust spots on their folding chair rivets after just one season of outdoor use. The original 304 stainless rivets showed pitting near coastal campsites. They needed a fastener with true marine‑grade corrosion resistance—without changing the assembly process.

We supplied SUS316 rivets (5mm diameter, 12mm barrel length, passivated finish) for the chair’s pivot joints. The 316 grade added 2–3% molybdenum, delivering over 1,000 hours of salt spray resistance. The semi‑hollow cavity allowed the same pneumatic setting tool to be used with no adjustments. After two years of field use across 10,000 chairs, Nuote Metals received zero reports of rust or loosening. The customer now specifies SUS316 rivets for all their outdoor products.

Case 2 – Case 2 – Garden Art Pruning Shears (Stainless Blades, SUS316 Rivet)

A manufacturer of high‑end garden shears wanted a pivot rivet that would never stain the blades or bind over time. Standard rivets trapped debris and developed dark corrosion rings. The shears were often left outdoors in damp garden sheds. The customer needed a fastener that matched the corrosion resistance of their premium stainless blades.

We recommended SUS316 rivets (4mm diameter, 10mm barrel length, passivated) for the pivot point. The semi‑hollow tail expanded gently into the precision‑ground hole, eliminating lateral play. The 316 grade’s molybdenum content prevented the black staining seen on lesser rivets. After three seasons of testing on 500 shears, Nuote Metals confirmed no pivot‑related failures. The garden tool brand now markets their shears as “fully marine‑grade stainless,” including the rivet.

Different Material of Rivets We Make

We make different materials of Rivets, such as brass rivets, steel rivets, stainless steel rivets, aluminum rivets, and copper rivets.

1. Brass Rivets, including brass solid rivets, brass semi-tubular rivets, brass tubular rivets.

Click  to view more about our brass rivets.

2. Stainless Steel Rivets,including stainless steel solid rivets,stainless  steel semi-tubular rivets, stainless steel tubular rivets.

Do you want to know more about our stainless steel rivets? just click 

3. Aluminum Rivets, including aluminum solid rivets, aluminum semi-tubular rivets, aluminum tubular rivets.

If you want to know more about our aluminum rivets, please click 

4.  Copper Rivets, including copper solid rivets, copper semi-tubular rivets, copper tubular rivets.

Click  to get more information of our copper rivets.

5.  Steel Rivets, including steel solid rivets, steel semi-tubular rivets, steel tubular rivets.

If you want to get more information of our steel rivets, please click 

Technical Parameters

All SUS316 rivets described here are cold-headed from certified SUS316 wire (UNS S31600), conforming to ASTM A276. Nuote Metals provides mill test certificates with each shipment.

Material Composition (Typical)

Dimensional Specifications – Semi-Hollow

Dimensional Specifications – Solid

Mechanical Properties (Cold-Headed)

Cold Heading Process

The cold heading process used by Nuote Metals for these rivets involves:

1. Wire drawing to precise shank diameter
2. Cut-off to blank length
3. Progressive heading blows (forming head and, for semi-hollow types, extruding the cavity)
4. Trimming of flash
5. Passivation to restore corrosion resistance
6. Optical sorting for 100% dimensional inspection
7. This cold-working increases surface hardness by 15–20%.

To know more about our production process, please visit our video below:

Certifications and Documentation

• Document Scope
• ISO 9001:2015 Quality management
• Mill test certificate Chemical & mechanical properties per coil
• RoHS / REACH Compliance declarations
• Certificate of Conformance Signed per batch

Nuote Metals includes these documents with every shipment.

Transparent Policies

• Samples – 10 free pieces (customer pays shipping)
• Minimum order – 2,000 pcs (semi-hollow), 1,000 pcs (solid)
• Lead time – 7–10 business days for standard sizes
• Tooling – No charge for standard head styles
• Returns – Defective parts replaced at no cost

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: How do SUS316 rivets compare to 304 in salt spray testing?

A: ASTM B117 testing shows them withstanding 1,000+ hours before red rust appears, versus 120–200 hours for 304. The molybdenum in SUS316 rivets stabilizes the passive layer against chlorides.

Q2: Can semi-hollow SUS316 rivets be used with plastic or fiberglass?

A: Yes. Their lower setting force (≈30% of solid rivets) makes them ideal for softer materials. Nuote Metals recommends a barrel length 1.0–1.5mm longer than the material stack, plus a backing washer for thin plastics.

Q3: Are SUS316 rivets magnetic after cold heading?

A: Cold heading induces slight magnetism (permeability 1.2–1.6). For non-magnetic applications, specify annealed SUS316L rivets—this restores permeability below 1.01. Nuote Metals can supply them with a small surcharge.

Q4: What is the maximum grip length for solid SUS316 rivets?

A: They can be produced up to 50mm overall length for 8mm diameter. For longer grips, consult our engineering team.

Why Choose Nuote Metals for These Rivets

• Cold heading specialization for semi-hollow and solid forms
• In-house passivation – no subcontracted delays
• Full traceability – MTC and CoC with every order
• Stocked sizes – 3–8mm diameters, round/oval/flat heads
• Free samples – evaluate before production

Contact Nuote Metals today for a quote or sample pack of SUS316 rivets.