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 – Seawater Intake Screen

A desalination plant used solid SUS316 rivets (6mm) to join stainless steel panels. After 24 months, no pitting appeared. The customer credited the molybdenum content of SUS316 rivets for the long service life.

Case 2 – Chemical Storage Walkway

A chemical manufacturer used semi-hollow SUS316 rivets to attach fiberglass grating to a steel frame. The environment included sulfuric acid vapors. These fasteners showed no degradation after 18 months, while 304 rivets failed within 6.

Case 3 – Floating Dock Hardware

A marina replaced galvanized rivets with solid SUS316 rivets. After two saltwater seasons, they remained rust-free and retained full clamping force.

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%.

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.