Steel Rivets

These products are used for mechanically joining parts and components. This fastening method is applied where welding is not permitted. Materials used in manufacturing comply with national and international standards.

Design

Fasteners are designed for mechanically joining parts and elements. They are used in industries where welding parts is not possible due to material properties or the risk of explosion or fire. Not only metal elements can be riveted, but also fabrics, and occasionally wood.

A rivet is equipped with a special protrusion that simplifies fixing by securing from one side. The diameter of the product matches the diameter of the hole into which the fastener is installed — this minimizes movement between parts and simplifies installation.

Structurally, it is a solid metal shank with a mushroom-shaped head on one end. During installation, the shank is passed through the hole so that the head rests against the edges of the parts being joined. The opposite end of the shank is then upset, with or without heating.

Materials

Rivets are made of soft material so that deformation can be achieved by the tool in minimal time. This simplifies installation. Rivets can also be used to fasten workpieces with a high melting point.

To protect against environmental exposure, the fastener is additionally coated with a layer of material, such as zinc.

Types of joints

Rivets are made for 3 methods of joining sheets:

1. Lap joint, where one sheet of metal or fabric overlaps another.
2. Butt joint with one cover plate.
3. Butt joint with 2 cover plates.

Depending on the arrangement of the rivets, joints are distinguished by the number of rows, from 1 to 3.

Types of steel rivets

The following types are manufactured as standard:

1. Standard. Mushroom-shaped, the shank has a mushroom-shaped head. Installation requires a through hole drilled through 2 or more sheets of metal. A rivet gun or hammer is used for fixing.
2. Blind steel rivets are used to fasten a pair of metal sheets. The reinforced design ensures reliable fastening of workpieces even with access to only one side. Installation is performed with a mechanical or pneumatic rivet gun.
3. Rivet nuts. A more expensive type of rivet. The fastener is a hollow threaded sleeve. The body is inserted into a pre-drilled hole in the parts to be joined, then a mandrel is screwed into it, causing the sleeve to collapse. Once fastening is complete, the mandrel is unscrewed.
4. Split rivets. Used for installing delicate materials. During riveting, the head folds, increasing the contact area and forming a lock.
5. Nut rivets. A separate type of rivet that does not require an additional hole to be drilled. Used for joining plates or sheets of fibrous materials. During fixing, a full head is not formed. As the mandrel is pulled out, it expands the body of the rivet, and the serrations grip the fibers.
6. Multi-grip rivets — a modification of blind rivets designed for materials of increased thickness.

Performance parameters

The size range matters when choosing a fastener. Diameter is manufactured as standard within 1–36 mm, length from 2 to 180 mm. The shank thickness is less important for selecting a rivet than the material: the material determines strength, for example aluminium rivets are less reliable than steel ones.

Selection

To ensure a reliable connection, it is important to correctly select the fastener’s parameters:

1. Diameter.
2. Length.
3. Material.

Aluminium rivets are used where corrosion is not acceptable, brass rivets — on electronic panels and for installing current-conducting elements. Stainless steel is used for fasteners approved for the food or chemical industry.

The strength of the fastening depends on several factors, including length. If the shank length is insufficient, fastening strength decreases; if too long, the appearance of the sheets is spoiled. For reliability, it is advisable to select rivets with a diameter matching that of the existing elements. Before selection, it is recommended to review the instructions and product parameters.

Size M B D₁ T D₂ Tensile strength kN Shear strength kN
4.8	18.2	10.1	2.1	10.5	1.9	5.1	6.4
	24.5			13.5
6.4	23.7	13.4	2.9	12.2	2.7	10.4	11.7
	33.0			16.4
10.0	36.2	20.3	4.1	22.3	4.0	17.5	26.3

Size Thickness of materials joined Collar diameter Hole diameter
4.8×18.2	1.63 - 6.86	10.1	4.9 - 5.1
4.8×24.5	1.63 - 11.10
6.4×23.7	2.03 - 9.53	13.4	6.6 - 7.0
6.4×33.0	2.03 - 15.87
10.0×36.2	2.0 - 4.0	20.3	9.9 - 10.4

Rivet size d dk K R max d1 L1 Tensile strength N Shear strength N
3.0	3.0 +0.08-0.10	6.5 -0.7	0.8 ±0.2	0.2	1.90	27	1125	915
3.2	3.2 +0.08-0.10	6.5 -0.7	0.8 ±0.2	0.2	2.00	27	1285	1060
4.0	4.0 +0.08-0.15	8.0 -1.0	1.0 ±0.3	0.3	2.50	27	1990	1550
4.8	4.8 +0.08-0.15	9.5 -1.0	1.1 ±0.3	0.3	2.90	27	2920	2300
5.0	5.0 +0.08-0.15	9.5 -1.0	1.1 ±0.3	0.3	2.90	27	3255	2575
6.0	6.0 +0.08-0.15	12.0 -1.5	1.5 ±0.4	0.4	3.40	27	5000	4000
6.4	6.4 +0.08-0.15	13 -1.5	1.8 ±0.4	0.5	3.85	27	5400	4350

Rivet size Thickness of materials joined Collar diameter Hole diameter
3.0 x 6	1.5 - 3.5	6.5	3.1 - 3.2
3.0 x 8	3.5 - 5.5
3.0 x 10	5.5 - 7.0
3.0 x 12	7.0 - 9.0
3.0 x 14	9.0 - 11.0
3.0 x 16	11.0 - 13.0
3.0 x 18	13.0 - 15.0
3.0 x 20	15.0 - 17.0
3.2 x 6	1.5 - 3.5	6.5	3.3 - 3.4
3.2 x 8	3.5 - 5.0
3.2 x 10	5.0 - 7.0
3.2 x 12	7.0 - 9.0
3.2 x 14	9.0 - 11.0
3.2 x 16	11.0 - 13.0
3.2 x 18	13.0 - 15.0
3.2 x 20	15.0 - 17.0
3.2 x 25	20.0 - 22.0
4.0 x 6	1.5 - 3.0	8.0	4.1 - 4.2
4.0 x 8	3.0 - 5.0
4.0 x 10	5.0 - 6.5
4.0 x 12	6.5 - 8.5
4.0 x 14	8.5 - 10.5
4.0 x 16	10.5 - 12.5
4.0 x 18	12.5 - 14.5
4.0 x 20	14.5 - 16.5
4.0 x 22	16.5 - 18.0
4.0 x 25	18.0 - 21.5
4.0 x 26	18.5 - 22.5
4.0 x 28	21.5 - 24.0
4.0 x 30	21.5 - 26.0
4.8 x 6	1.0 - 3.0	9.5	4.9 - 5.0
4.8 x 8	3.0 - 4.5
4.8 x 10	4.5 - 6.0
4.8 x 12	6.0 - 8.0
4.8 x 14	8.0 - 10.0
4.8 x 16	10.0 - 12.0
4.8 x 18	12.0 - 14.0
4.8 x 20	14.0 - 16.0
4.8 x 22	16.0 - 18.0
4.8 x 23	16.5 - 19.0
4.8 x 24	17.0 - 20.0
4.8 x 25	18.0 - 21.0
4.8 x 28	21.0 - 23.5
4.8 x 30	23.0 - 25.0
4.8 x 32	25.0 - 27.0
4.8 x 35	25.0 - 30.0
4.8 x 40	30.0 - 35.0
4.8 x 50	40.0 - 45.0
5.0 x 6	0.5 - 2.5	9.5	5.1 - 5.2
5.0 x 8	2.5 - 4.5
5.0 x 10	4.5 - 6.0
5.0 x 12	6.0 - 8.0
5.0 x 14	8.0 - 10.0
5.0 x 16	10.0 - 12.0
5.0 x 18	12.0 - 14.0
5.0 x 21	14.0 - 17.0
5.0 x 25	17.0 - 20.0
5.0 x 27	20.0 - 23.0
5.0 x 30	23.0 - 25.0
6.0 x 8	2.0 - 4.0	12.0	6.1 - 6.2
6.0 x 10	4.0 - 6.0
6.0 x 12	6.0 - 8.0
6.0 x 14	7.0 - 9.0
6.0 x 16	9.0 - 11.0
6.0 x 18	11.0 - 13.0
6.0 x 22	13.0 - 17.0
6.0 x 26	17.0 - 20.0
6.0 x 30	20.0 - 24.0
6.4 x 8	2.0 - 4.0	13.0	6.5 - 6.6
6.4 x 10	2.0 - 5.0
6.4 x 12	4.0 - 6.0
6.4 x 14	6.0 - 8.0
6.4 x 16	8.0 - 11.0
6.4 x 18	9.0 - 13.0
6.4 x 20	11.0 - 15.0
6.4 x 22	13.0 - 16.0
6.4 x 25	15.0 - 19.0
6.4 x 26	16.0 - 20.0
6.4 x 28	17.0 - 22.0
6.4 x 30	18.0 - 24.0
6.4 x 32	22.0 - 26.0
6.4 x 35	24.0 - 30.0
6.4 x 40	30.0 - 35.0
6.4 x 45	35.0 - 40.0

Size M B D₁ T Tensile strength kN Shear strength kN
4.8	20.0	8.3	2.2	10.5	5.1	6.4
	26.3			13.5
6.4	26.4	10.1	2.4	12.2	10.4	11.7

Size Thickness of materials joined Collar diameter Hole diameter
4.8×20.0	3.17 - 8.41	8.5	4.9 - 5.1
4.8×26.3	3.17 - 12.22
6.4×27.2	3.17 - 12.07	10.1	6.6 - 7.0