Corrosion is making a big loss. Loss to industries worldwide due to corrosion is huge, estimated at as much as billions of dollars per year. The fight against this loss is gaining strength through greater knowledge of corrosion and through the use of stainless steel fasteners and materials. The use of such fasteners lengthens the life span of equipment, reduces maintenance and repairs, and can prevent injury or death from products.

The stainless steel fasteners serve the functions of both a lock washer and a fastener. As the fastener is tightened, in the fastener the prongs are drawn inward until they exert pressure on the root of the thread on the fastener. When the fastener is tightened, the base of the fastener, which is arched, elastically deforms and applies a force to the fastener, which locks it from loosening under vibrations.

There are many different types of steel fasteners, mostly dependent on the shape of the fastener, how they attach to the work piece, and what type of screw can be used. Most types are designed for either machine screws or sheet metal screws. Some stainless steel fasteners do not attach to the work piece. These are usually shaped as a rectangle, a flange fastener, or a hex fastener; the rectangular fastener is also known as a flat-style fastener. The stainless steel fasteners that attach to the work piece usually are some form of a J-fastener or U-fastener.