Material specification page for panel clips and u-clips in A2 Stainless Steel. Covers the grade designation (ISO 3506 group A2 (304 / 1.4301), commonly supplied A2-70), corrosion and magnetic behavior, comparable grades and their trade-offs, and the sizes available to Trade series (edge-retaining panel clips).
Why Choose A2 Stainless Steel for Panel Clips and U-Clips
The most common stainless group for indoor and general outdoor fasteners. For panel clips and u-clips, this matters when good general corrosion resistance is the primary requirement.
Mechanical & Physical Properties
| Grade designation | ISO 3506 group A2 (304 / 1.4301), commonly supplied A2-70 |
|---|---|
| Magnetic response | Largely non-magnetic |
| Service temperature | approx. -200 °C to +400 °C, subject to the property class and the joint |
| Corrosion characteristic | Good general corrosion resistance |
Corrosion Behavior in Service
A2 (304) gives excellent atmospheric and most-water corrosion resistance and is the most common stainless for Panel Clips and U-Clips in indoor and general outdoor service. In chloride-bearing environments (marine air, road salt, swimming pools) consider stepping up to A4 (316).
Comparable Grades
For Panel Clips and U-Clips, the alternative stainless grade is A4 (316). The practical dividing line is chlorides: A2 (304) is fine until salt is involved, and A4 (316) exists for the cases where it is — coastal, marine and road-salt service. Neither reaches the strength of a plated class 8.8 or 10.9 fastener.
Using Stainless Fasteners in Aluminum
The galvanic couple here runs the wrong way: aluminum is the less noble metal, so it corrodes and the fastener does not. What governs the rate is the ratio of areas — a large anode and a small cathode is a tolerable combination, the reverse concentrates the attack into thin material around the hole. An isolating washer plus sealant breaks the circuit; where that is impractical, match the fastener to the substrate.
Sizes of Panel Clips and U-Clips Available in A2 Stainless Steel
| Panel thickness / series | Length (in or mm) | Width (in or mm) | Height (mm) | Metal thickness (mm) | Material |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.05~0.10 in | 11/32 in | 1/2 in | black-phosphate steel / silver steel | ||
| 0.17~0.205 in | 7/16 in | 1/2 in | black-phosphate steel / silver steel | ||
| 0.245~0.255 in | 3/8 in | 1/2 in | black-phosphate steel / silver steel | ||
| 1.8 mm | 11.5 | 15.8 | 9.3 | 0.5 | silver steel |
| 1.8~2.5 mm | 14.3 | 12.7 | 11.7 | 0.5 | silver steel |
