Silver Plating Fasteners Service

Improving the performance of your product with silver plating for fasteners

The role of the humble fastener has changed significantly over the last few years. With new technologies and industries, the fastener is now required to perform under a number of stresses, over a range of applications.

From extremes of temperatures to exposure to chemicals, the fastener has to withstand a lot during its lifetime. Critically, manufacturers need to know that they can rely on its performance over the lifetime of their products.

Compatible Materials & Preparation

Silver plating is suitable for mild steel, stainless steel, brass, copper alloys and high-tensile fasteners. Each material requires specific preparation stages such as activation, cleaning cycles and undercoat treatments to ensure strong adhesion and long-term durability. These processes help the plated fastener perform reliably under heat, pressure and chemical exposure.

Traditional methods for modern applications

Many manufacturers in industries such as aerospace, automotive, defence and electronics have turned to the traditional method of silver plating to provide them with superior performance for many modern applications.

Application Example: High-Temperature Exhaust Systems

A recent application involved silver-plated fasteners used in exhaust assemblies operating at temperatures above 600°C. The silver layer provided stable lubrication, anti-seize protection and consistent torque performance, allowing easy removal even after long-term thermal cycling.

Why it makes sense to use silver plating for fasteners

Whatever type of fastener, screw or bolt you use on your products, you need to know that it is ‘up to the job’. Silver plating for fasteners can solve a range of problems concerning fasteners and can improve their properties. There are several reasons why you should choose to have your fasteners silver plated. Here’s just a few benefits it offers:

• Excellent corrosion resistance to a number of chemical substances.
• Excellent anti-galling and anti-fretting due to its low friction and great lubricity, even under high temperatures.
• Enhanced electrical properties such as excellent conductivity and great solderability.
• Silver does not degrade even at high temperatures.
• Oxidation resistant. Because it does not oxidise at high temperatures, silver is perfect for use in exhaust systems.

Technical Performance Summary

Typical performance metrics include coating thicknesses between 3–25 microns, stable lubrication up to around 650°C, electrical conductivity above 90 percent IACS, excellent anti-galling protection and consistent installation torque due to predictable friction behaviour. All coatings are tested for adhesion, visual finish and thermal-shock resistance.

Industry Specification & Quality Assurance

Silver plating can be applied to ISO, DEF-STAN and AMS specifications, including AMS-QQ-S-365 for aerospace applications. Each batch undergoes controlled chemical monitoring, coating-thickness measurement and full inspection records to ensure consistent quality and reliability for critical industries.