Expansion Blind Rivet

An expansion blind rivet is a type of fastener used to create strong, permanent connections between sheet materials. It is used for joining sheets of plastic, plasterboard, wood-based panels and metal sheets; the connection is protected against vibration and dynamic loads.

Structurally, the rivet consists of a body (sleeve) and a mandrel – they can be made from the same material or from different materials. Selection takes into account the length and thickness of the shank: the diameter of the installation hole must not exceed the diameter of the body by more than 0.2 mm.

Method of application and types

The rivet is inserted into a pre-drilled hole in the material, then a special rivet tool pulls the mandrel, compressing the body – a strong stop forms on the back side of the joint. The remaining part of the mandrel is cut off by the tool. Rivets can be installed with access to only one side of the joint. The resulting connection is permanent, and rivets are often used as an alternative to welding.

Rivets are manufactured from the following types of materials:

• Body – aluminium, mandrel – stainless steel.
• Body – aluminium, mandrel – zinc-plated steel.
• Body – aluminium alloy, mandrel – aluminium-magnesium alloy. Copper may also be used.

Rivets vary in sleeve configuration: the flange can be standard, countersunk or large, depending on the purpose and installation location. Sleeves are made from corrosion-resistant materials, which increases the service life of the fastener and the reliability of the connection.

Application options

This type of expansion fastener is used for joining materials in mechanical engineering across various industries: in the assembly of vehicles, aircraft, special equipment, instruments and industrial equipment. It is also widely used in construction – for installing plasterboard and wood-based panel materials. Rivets are convenient to use: they do not require access to both sides of the joint, and installation can be performed by one person.

FLOK supplies expansion rivets wholesale in any batch size; the catalogue offers a wide selection of fasteners.

Rivet diameter d 4.1 5.2
Flange diameter d₂	8.0	10.0
Flange height k	1.4	1.9
Hole diameter	4.2	5.3
Body length L Thickness of materials joined (min. - max.)
14.5	1.0 - 3.0	-
19.0	-	1.6 - 6.3
19.5	1.0 - 6.3	-
21.1	1.0 - 9.5	-
22.2	-	4.7 - 9.5
24.3	3.2 - 12.7	-
25.4	-	7.9 - 12.7
28.5	-	11.1 - 15.9
31.7	-	14.2 - 19.0

Rivet diameter d 4.1 5.2
Rivet material Rivet shear (tensile) strength, N
Aluminium alloy	890 (1000)	1550 (2000)