Fasteners are not all the same. Standard steel fasteners can rust and will fail when stressed. Because of this, they are not the best fasteners for use in, for example, substation earthing systems, offshore platforms, and desalination plants. Using the correct fasteners will help decrease the cost of downtimes and reworks. This article examines the benefits of copper fasteners.
Stainless steel bolts are favored fasteners because they are inexpensive and easy to source. However, there are many instances that call for fasteners with significantly better electrical conductivity. Moreover, stainless steel bolts are not suitable as fasteners for use in explosive atmospheres and in the marine environment.
The following are benefits of using copper fasteners.
Electrical Conductivity — When speaking of electrical bus and grounding connections, copper fasteners are the clear choice. They are 100% conductive compared to stainless steel fasteners which only have 2.3% conductivity.
Non-Magnetic and Spark-Free — Fasteners that are to be used in the oil and gas industry and some chemical plants will have to be of this nature.
Cryogenic Capability — Copper fasteners are ductile enough to serve the LNG industry and meet their requirements of extreme temperature service when compared to other fasteners.
Not all copper bolts are the same. Selecting the appropriate alloy is particularly important when choosing the correct bolt for your application and environment.
Alloy Conductivity Best Use C10100 (OFE) 101% IACS High-voltage busbars C11000 (ETP) 100% IACS Earthing, marine, general industrial C14500 (Tellurium) 93% IACS Precision instrumentation, automotive connectors C12200 (DHP) 85% IACS Plumbing brackets, pipeline U-bolts
For a Saudi Aramco approved substation project, C11000 ETP to ASTM F468 is the most likely specified alloy. C14500 Tellurium is a great choice for automotive connectors and precision panel instrumentation. C14500 has an excellent machinability rating of 90% and a decent conductivity rating.
There is a great deal of diversity in the specifications and usages of copper bolts. The following is a non-exhaustive sample:
Earth and grounding bolt assemblies for power substations.
Hazardous zonenon-sparking fasteners on offshore oil and gas platforms.
Bolts on carriage and hex assemblies for marine use.
Seawater resistant fasteners on desalination plants.
Stud bolts for cryogenic starting gas liquified natural gas (LNG) systems.
Bolts for Jetties and other marine structures that are protected with patina.
Non-sparking fasteners to H2S resistant steel for bolted brackets on petrochemical plant pipelines.
What to Consider When Sourcing Copper Bolts for Industrial Projects in Saudi Arabia
Important considerations for Sabic, ADNOC and Saudi Aramco approved projects are:
Make sure to include a request in your quotation for EN 10204 3.1 Mill Test Certificates. For most major oil and gas customers, stock must be third party tested.
Validate the UNS number and don’t rely on the trade name alone. While C11000 and C10100 look similar, they have significant differences regarding conductivity.
Before installation, always check the torque specifications. Field practice typically results in over-torqued copper hardware. The low tensile strength of copper in comparison to steel can exacerbate the problem.
To prevent galvanic corrosion, use bi-metal washers between copper bolts and stainless-steel hardware.
Pipingmaterial.sa is a useful website to find trustworthy stockists who sell verified copper bolts in Dammam, Riyadh, Jubail and Al Khobar. Their bolts are always in stock and offer expedited shipping. Pipingmaterial.sa offers connections to stockists who are approved by SABIC and Saudi Aramco and do not utilize a middleman, resulting in a zero percent commission.
Identifying the benefits of copper fasteners in comparison to standard steel fasteners in specific environments is a key factor. Finding the appropriate supplier with the appropriate alloy and mill certifications is critical. Copper fasteners are a specialized choice and take some additional effort, but they are the clear choice.
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