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Zinc vs Stainless vs Galvanized Fasteners
Stainless steel fasteners are made of stainless steel, not coated with it. So if the stainless steel is corrosion resistant to the
environment it is placed in, it can last forever. There are different grades of stainless steel with 316SS being a common
premium with 303 and 304 being common step downs from 316SS. The difference between 303 and 316 is the mixture of
metals.
Zinc plated and galvanized fasteners are made of steel with a sacrificial zinc coating. The coating is eventually consumed by
the environment. Galvanized coatings are almost always several times thicker than electroplated coatings, so galvanized
fasteners outlast zinc plated fasteners.
ZINC = Use indoors where corrosion is not a concern
GALVANIZED = Use Indoors or Outdoors where you need corrosion protection.
STAINLESS STEEL = Use where you want corrosion resistance.
Zinc plating is typically 3 microns thick, where Hot dip galvanizing is typically 50 microns thick .
Stainless steel fasteners are made of stainless steel, not coated with it. So if the stainless steel is corrosion resistant to the
environment it is placed in, it can last forever. There are different grades of stainless steel with 316SS being a common
premium with 303 and 304 being common step downs from 316SS. The difference between 303 and 316 is the mixture of
metals.
Zinc plated and galvanized fasteners are made of steel with a sacrificial zinc coating. The coating is eventually consumed by
the environment. Galvanized coatings are almost always several times thicker than electroplated coatings, so galvanized
fasteners outlast zinc plated fasteners.
ZINC = Use indoors where corrosion is not a concern
GALVANIZED = Use Indoors or Outdoors where you need corrosion protection.
STAINLESS STEEL = Use where you want corrosion resistance.
Zinc plating is typically 3 microns thick, where Hot dip galvanizing is typically 50 microns thick .