M5 (5.3mm) A2 Grade Form A Flat Stainless Steel Washer

Stainless Steel Washer

Top quality form A flat stainless steel washer supplied straight from Warrington, UK. These washers are for metric bolts and screws.

When choosing a washer for your project, make sure it has all the necessary qualities to ensure longevity and reliability. Stainless Steel Washers M5 (5.3mm) A2 Grade Form A Flat Washer meet all your requirements. With its unbeatable hygiene properties, this washer by Speciality Metals is suitable for any application where cleanliness is essential. The material is also highly durable, versatile and requires very little maintenance, making it the perfect choice for any project. Furthermore, our stainless steel washer is corrosion-resistant and offers excellent security, ensuring that your project remains safe and secure for a long time to come. Keep your project running smoothly with our M5 (5.3mm) A2 Grade Form A Flat Stainless Steel Washer.

Form A stainless steel flat washers are most used around the world.

Key product details:

• Standard – DIN 125A
• Fasteners Type – Form A Flat Washer
• Thread Diameter – M5
• Internal Diameter – 5.3mm
• Outer Diameter – 8mm
• Thickness – 0.5mm
• Metal – Stainless steel grade 304 (A2)

Speciality Metals are the best suppliers for you because:

• FREE UK delivery on all orders
• Order dispatch within 24 hours of order
• Located in Warrington, UK which is the UK home of mesh and metals
• Our experienced staff are experts in the mesh market and care personally about your customer experience

Speciality Metals is a trusted UK based distributor of fasteners, sheet metal, flat bar and round tube. We specialise in rapid delivery to any location around the country. Our team of experienced, friendly staff are at hand at all times to process your order.

FAQs About This Product

Can Stainless Steel Washers be Heat-Treated?

Stainless steel 304 can be heat-treated, but the purposes and outcomes are quite different compared to heat-treating carbon steels. Heat treatment for stainless steel often aims at stress relieving or annealing rather than altering mechanical properties like hardness or tensile strength, which are generally fixed for a given grade of stainless steel.

1. Stress Relieving: In stainless steel 304, stress relieving is often done to reduce residual stresses in the material after operations like cold working, forming, or welding. The stress relieving temperature for 304 stainless steel is typically around 400-800°F (205-425°C).

2. Annealing: Full annealing of 304 stainless steel is typically done at around 1850-2050°F (1010-1120°C) followed by rapid cooling. This process is done to recrystallize the material and is beneficial when the steel has been hardened from cold working.

3. Solution Annealing: This is often done at around 1040°C and is followed by rapid cooling to ensure that the chromium and nickel go into solid solution, thereby maximizing corrosion resistance.

4. Sensitization: It’s worth noting that prolonged exposure to temperatures between 800°F and 1450°F (425°C to 790°C) can cause sensitization, a condition where chromium carbides form at the grain boundaries, reducing the corrosion resistance of the steel.

Are Stainless Steel Form A Washers Fire-Resistant?

Stainless steel Form A washers, particularly those made from 304 grade, exhibit good fire-resistance properties due to their high melting point and ability to retain strength at elevated temperatures. The melting point of stainless steel 304 is around 2,550°F (1,400°C), making it suitable for applications where high-temperature resistance is required. However, it’s important to note that while the material itself is fire-resistant, it may not necessarily prevent the spread of fire in a structural application, depending on how it is used. Additionally, the material’s performance at high temperatures can depend on various factors including load conditions and duration of exposure to heat. In fire-sensitive applications, it’s always advisable to consult relevant fire codes and possibly conduct fire-resistance tests to ensure that the washers meet the necessary safety standards. For critical applications, specialised high-temperature stainless steel grades or other materials might be more appropriate.

Advantages of Using Form A Flat Washers?

1. Corrosion Resistance: One of the most significant benefits of using stainless steel 304 is its excellent resistance to rust and corrosion, particularly in mildly corrosive environments.

2. Durability: Stainless steel 304 is a durable material that can withstand wear and tear, providing a long-lasting solution for many types of projects.

3. Temperature Resistance: Stainless steel 304 maintains its structural integrity under a wide range of temperatures, making it suitable for both hot and cold environments.

4. Strength: While not as strong as some other grades of stainless steel, 304 still offers an excellent balance of strength and ductility, making it versatile enough for most applications.

5. Ease of Cleaning: The smooth surface of stainless steel 304 is easy to clean and sanitise, making it ideal for applications where hygiene is a concern, such as in the food and beverage industry.

6. Aesthetic Appeal: Stainless steel has a clean, modern look that is aesthetically pleasing and often requires no additional finish.

7. Non-Magnetic: In its annealed state, stainless steel 304 is generally non-magnetic, which can be an essential factor for certain applications like in electrical systems.

8. Chemical Resistance: While not entirely inert, stainless steel 304 does offer resistance to a range of chemicals, making it useful in various industrial applications.

9. Cost-Effectiveness: While more expensive than carbon steel, stainless steel 304 can be more cost-effective in the long run due to its durability and low maintenance needs.

10. Versatility: The washers can be used in a broad range of applications, from general construction and industrial machinery to specialised uses like marine and medical equipment.

11. Compatibility: Stainless steel 304 is compatible with a wide range of materials, reducing concerns about galvanic corrosion when in contact with other metals.

12. Recyclability: Stainless steel is 100% recyclable, making it an eco-friendly choice for sustainable building or manufacturing practices.

Disadvantages of Using Form A Washer?

1. Cost: One of the most obvious downsides is the cost, particularly for stainless steel varieties. Stainless steel washers are more expensive than their carbon steel or plated counterparts.

2. Weight: Stainless steel washers can be heavier than aluminum or plastic washers, potentially an issue in applications where weight is a critical factor.

3. Limited Hardness: Stainless steel 304 is not as hard as some other materials like hardened steel or titanium, which can be a limitation in high-load, high-wear applications.

4. Corrosion Limitations: While stainless steel 304 is corrosion-resistant, it is not entirely corrosion-proof, especially in environments with high concentrations of chlorine or in marine settings with salt water. For such conditions, higher grades like 316 may be more suitable.

5. Sensitisation Risk: In certain heat ranges, stainless steel 304 can become sensitised, which reduces its corrosion resistance. Special care, like post-weld annealing, is needed to avoid this.

6. Galvanic Corrosion: When paired with other metals, stainless steel can cause galvanic corrosion if not properly isolated, especially in humid or wet environments.

7. Not Ideal for High-Temperature Oxidising Environments: While they can withstand high temperatures, stainless steel 304 washers are not ideal for high-temperature, oxidising conditions. Other grades or materials might be more appropriate for such scenarios.

8. Size Constraints: Form A washers have specific dimensions, including a larger outer diameter compared to other forms like Form B, C or D. This can be a limitation in applications where space is restricted.

9. Magnetic Properties: While stainless steel 304 is generally non-magnetic in its annealed state, cold working can sometimes slightly magnetise it, which may be a problem for certain electrical or sensitive applications.

10. Special Tools for Installation: In some cases, depending on the application, you may need specialised tools for proper installation, especially for high-torque or high-pressure conditions.

11. Limited Acid/Alkali Resistance: While they do offer some level of chemical resistance, they are not suitable for all types of acidic or alkaline environments.

Check out our blogs discussing Stainless Steel Form A Washers. It will prove a useful read to help you to make an informed decision on which material would work best for you. 

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Our goal for our blogs, videos and help guides is to answer as many questions as possible to help to explain the possibilities of mesh to our customers.  Contact us today if you have any questions at all. We are always really keen to help in any way that we can.

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