Q: My customer is having an issue with his stainless steel fastener bending. They are being used in a high-heat application running at approximately 1600F. Is this normal? Any ideas?
A: This is definitely expected at these temperatures. If temperature and strength are you main focus, I would suggest either Inconel 600 screws or Alloy 330. Inconel is known for it’s high temperature strength offering a yield strength of 84ksi and a usable temperature limit of about 1800F. Inconel’s could used in air or in a vacuum. Alloy 330 is another alternative as it has very similar high temperature properties but would be best suited inside a vacuum to minimize oxidation.