---
title: "A2 (304) Stainless Steel Parallel Keys"
description: "A2 (304) Stainless Steel Parallel Keys (ISO 3506 group A2 (304 / 1.4301), commonly supplied A2-70): good general corrosion resistance."
url: https://engineeringhardware.com/guide/material/a2-stainless-steel-parallel-keys/
source: Engineering Hardware & Fasteners
---

# A2 (304) Stainless Steel Parallel Keys

Keys · DIN 6885 / ISO 773

Mechanical properties, corrosion behaviour and the full dimensional range for this grade.

A2 Stainless Steel Parallel Keys are supplied to ISO 3506 group A2 (304 / 1.4301), commonly supplied A2-70. Corrosion behaviour is good general corrosion resistance, the material is largely non-magnetic, and the usable service range is approx. -200 °C to +400 °C, subject to the property class and the joint. In practice this grade is the most common stainless group for indoor and general outdoor fasteners.

- **Grade:** ISO 3506 group A2 (304 / 1.4301), commonly supplied A2-70
- **Corrosion resistance:** Good general corrosion resistance
- **Magnetic response:** Largely non-magnetic
- **Service temperature:** approx. -200 °C to +400 °C, subject to the property class and the joint

Property values are typical for the grade. Certified mechanical test data is available on request for production orders.

![A2 (304) Stainless Steel Parallel Keys reference image](https://engineeringhardware.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Parallel-Keys-—-DIN-6885-／-ISO-773.webp)

A2 Stainless Steel (ISO 3506 group A2 (304 / 1.4301), commonly supplied A2-70) is the most common stainless group for indoor and general outdoor fasteners. When parallel keys are specified in this grade, the dimensions remain per DIN 6885 / ISO 773; the material determines corrosion behavior (good general corrosion resistance) and the service temperature range (approx. -200 °C to +400 °C, subject to the property class and the joint). Both are covered below with the size table.

## Why Choose A2 Stainless Steel for Parallel Keys

The most common stainless group for indoor and general outdoor fasteners. For parallel keys, 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 |

## Galvanic & Galling Considerations

For stainless parallel keys the compatibility question is galvanic rather than galling: joined to aluminum or galvanized steel in wet service, stainless drives corrosion of the less-noble metal. Isolate with a coating, sleeve or non-conductive washer where the joint sees moisture. Note also that stainless is softer than hardened carbon steel, so where the part carries a wear or shear duty, check the load against the grade before substituting.

## Comparable Grades

For Parallel Keys, the alternative stainless grade is A4 (316). Choose A2 (304) for general use and A4 (316) wherever chlorides are present; the molybdenum in A4 is the whole difference. Remember that stainless is the corrosion answer, not the strength answer — for load, look at class 8.8 or 10.9 instead.

## Using Stainless Fasteners in Aluminum

Stainless steel is more noble than aluminum, so with an electrolyte present — rain, condensation, salt spray — the aluminum becomes the anode and corrodes at the joint. Area ratio decides how bad it gets: a small stainless fastener in a large aluminum section is normally acceptable, a large stainless fastener in thin aluminum is not. Where the joint gets wet, isolate the metals with a coated or nylon washer and a sealant, or specify an aluminum or coated fastener instead.

## Sizes of Parallel Keys Available in A2 Stainless Steel

| Shaft diameter range (mm) | Key width b (mm) | Key height h (mm) | Key length range (mm) | Shaft groove depth t1 (mm) | Hub groove depth t2 (mm) | Reference standard | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 6~8 | 2 | 2 | 6~20 | 1.2 | 1.0 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 8~10 | 3 | 3 | 6~36 | 1.8 | 1.4 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 10~12 | 4 | 4 | 8~45 | 2.5 | 1.8 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 12~17 | 5 | 5 | 10~56 | 3.0 | 2.3 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 17~22 | 6 | 6 | 14~70 | 3.5 | 2.8 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 22~30 | 8 | 7 | 18~90 | 4.0 | 3.3 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 30~38 | 10 | 8 | 22~110 | 5.0 | 3.3 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 38~44 | 12 | 8 | 28~140 | 5.0 | 3.3 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 44~50 | 14 | 9 | 36~160 | 5.5 | 3.8 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 50~58 | 16 | 10 | 45~180 | 6.0 | 4.3 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 58~65 | 18 | 11 | 50~200 | 7.0 | 4.4 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 65~75 | 20 | 12 | 56~220 | 7.5 | 4.9 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 75~85 | 22 | 14 | 63~250 | 9.0 | 5.4 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 85~95 | 25 | 14 | 70~280 | 9.0 | 5.4 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 95~110 | 28 | 16 | 80~320 | 10.0 | 6.4 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 110~130 | 32 | 18 | 90~360 | 11.0 | 7.4 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 130~150 | 36 | 20 | 100~400 | 12.0 | 8.4 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 150~170 | 40 | 22 | 100~400 | 13.0 | 9.4 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 170~200 | 45 | 25 | 110~450 | 15.0 | 10.4 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 200~230 | 50 | 28 | 125~500 | 17.0 | 11.4 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 230~260 | 56 | 32 | 140~500 | 20.0 | 12.4 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 260~290 | 63 | 32 | 160~500 | 20.0 | 12.4 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 290~330 | 70 | 36 | 180~500 | 22.0 | 14.4 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 330~380 | 80 | 40 | 200~500 | 25.0 | 15.4 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 380~440 | 90 | 45 | 220~500 | 28.0 | 17.4 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 440~500 | 100 | 50 | 250~500 | 31.0 | 19.5 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |

Dimensions are independent of the material: every size above is available in A2 Stainless Steel.

Custom manufacturing · Made to drawing

## Need this machine key in a grade that is not listed?

A2 Stainless Steel is one of the grades the catalog describes. Width, height, length, taper and material are specifiable, and the keyway drawing matters as much as the key itself. Made by milling or broaching & serration.

Minimum order from 2,000 pieces; samples within 7 days of drawing approval.

[Custom machine key manufacturing](https://engineeringhardware.com/custom/keys/)[Send a drawing](https://engineeringhardware.com/custom/keys/#rfq)

## Technical Drawing

Dimensioned line drawing of 6~8 Parallel Keys to DIN 6885 / ISO 773. Side view and top view, drawn to the dimensions in the table below and redrawn for any size selected.

- **Key width b (mm):** 2
- **Key height h (mm):** 2
- **Key length range (mm):** 6~20
- **Shaft groove depth t1 (mm):** 1.2
- **Hub groove depth t2 (mm):** 1.0
- **Notes:** Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square

## Dimensions & Specifications (DIN 6885 / ISO 773)

| Shaft diameter range (mm) | Key width b (mm) | Key height h (mm) | Key length range (mm) | Shaft groove depth t1 (mm) | Hub groove depth t2 (mm) | Reference standard | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 6~8 | 2 | 2 | 6~20 | 1.2 | 1.0 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 8~10 | 3 | 3 | 6~36 | 1.8 | 1.4 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 10~12 | 4 | 4 | 8~45 | 2.5 | 1.8 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 12~17 | 5 | 5 | 10~56 | 3.0 | 2.3 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 17~22 | 6 | 6 | 14~70 | 3.5 | 2.8 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 22~30 | 8 | 7 | 18~90 | 4.0 | 3.3 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 30~38 | 10 | 8 | 22~110 | 5.0 | 3.3 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 38~44 | 12 | 8 | 28~140 | 5.0 | 3.3 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 44~50 | 14 | 9 | 36~160 | 5.5 | 3.8 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 50~58 | 16 | 10 | 45~180 | 6.0 | 4.3 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 58~65 | 18 | 11 | 50~200 | 7.0 | 4.4 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 65~75 | 20 | 12 | 56~220 | 7.5 | 4.9 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 75~85 | 22 | 14 | 63~250 | 9.0 | 5.4 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 85~95 | 25 | 14 | 70~280 | 9.0 | 5.4 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 95~110 | 28 | 16 | 80~320 | 10.0 | 6.4 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 110~130 | 32 | 18 | 90~360 | 11.0 | 7.4 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 130~150 | 36 | 20 | 100~400 | 12.0 | 8.4 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 150~170 | 40 | 22 | 100~400 | 13.0 | 9.4 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 170~200 | 45 | 25 | 110~450 | 15.0 | 10.4 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 200~230 | 50 | 28 | 125~500 | 17.0 | 11.4 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 230~260 | 56 | 32 | 140~500 | 20.0 | 12.4 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 260~290 | 63 | 32 | 160~500 | 20.0 | 12.4 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 290~330 | 70 | 36 | 180~500 | 22.0 | 14.4 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 330~380 | 80 | 40 | 200~500 | 25.0 | 15.4 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 380~440 | 90 | 45 | 220~500 | 28.0 | 17.4 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |
| 440~500 | 100 | 50 | 250~500 | 31.0 | 19.5 | DIN 6885 type A / ISO 773 | Type A round ends; B square ends; C one round one square |

## Materials & Grades

Select a material class to see the grades we supply it in. Each designation is listed with its ISO/EN, AISI/SAE, JIS and GB equivalents.

Stainless Steel38 Carbon Steel66 Alloy Steel41 Bearing Steel5 Spring Steel25 Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys21 Brass17 Bronze11 Copper8 Titanium and Titanium Alloys18 Nickel and Nickel Alloys22 Iron-Nickel and High-Temperature Alloys10 Tool Steel and Specialty Hardened Steel9 Structural and Construction Steel9

### Stainless Steel

#### Austenitic Stainless Steel

- A1 AISI 303 · SAE 303 · SUS303 · EN 1.4305 · X8CrNiS18-9
- A2 AISI 304 · SAE 304 · SUS304 · EN 1.4301 · X5CrNi18-10 · 06Cr19Ni10
- 304L AISI 304L · SUS304L · EN 1.4307 · X2CrNi18-9 · 022Cr19Ni10
- 302 AISI 302 · SUS302 · EN 1.4310
- 305 AISI 305 · SUS305 · EN 1.4303
- A4 AISI 316 · SAE 316 · SUS316 · EN 1.4401 · X5CrNiMo17-12-2 · 06Cr17Ni12Mo2
- 316L AISI 316L · SUS316L · EN 1.4404 · X2CrNiMo17-12-2 · 022Cr17Ni12Mo2
- 321 AISI 321 · SUS321 · EN 1.4541 · X6CrNiTi18-10
- 310 / 310S AISI 310 · AISI 310S · SUS310S · EN 1.4845
- 302HQ AISI 302HQ
- A3
- A5
- 347 AISI 347 · SUS347 · EN 1.4550 · X6CrNiNb18-10
- 309 / 309S AISI 309 · AISI 309S · SUS309S

#### Martensitic Stainless Steel

- AISI 410 SUS410 · EN 1.4006 · X12Cr13 · 12Cr13
- AISI 420 SUS420J1 · SUS420J2 · EN 1.4021 · EN 1.4028 · 20Cr13 · 30Cr13
- AISI 431 SUS431 · EN 1.4057 · X17CrNi16-2
- C1
- C3
- C4
- AISI 440A
- AISI 440B
- AISI 440C SUS440C · EN 1.4125

#### Ferritic Stainless Steel

- AISI 430 SUS430 · EN 1.4016 · X6Cr17 · 10Cr17
- F1
- AISI 434
- AISI 444

#### Precipitation-Hardening Stainless Steel

- 17-4 PH AISI 630 · UNS S17400 · SUS630 · EN 1.4542 · X5CrNiCuNb16-4
- 15-5 PH UNS S15500
- 17-7 PH UNS S17700

#### Duplex and Super Duplex Stainless Steel

- Duplex 2205 UNS S31803 · UNS S32205 · EN 1.4462
- Super Duplex 2507 UNS S32750 · EN 1.4410
- D2
- D4
- D6
- D8
- Lean Duplex 2101 UNS S32101
- Super Duplex S32760 UNS S32760 · EN 1.4501

### Carbon Steel

#### Low-Carbon Steel

- SAE 1006
- SAE 1008
- SAE 1010
- SAE 1018
- SAE 1020
- Q195
- Q235
- SAE 1012
- SAE 1015
- Q215
- ML08
- ML08Al
- ML10
- ML15
- ML20
- SWRCH6A
- SWRCH8A
- SWRCH10A
- SWRCH12A
- SWRCH15A
- SWRCH18A

#### Medium-Carbon Steel

- SAE 1035
- SAE 1045
- S45C
- C45
- SAE 1030
- SAE 1040
- SAE 1050
- 30
- 35
- 40
- 45
- 50
- S35C
- S40C
- S50C
- C35
- C40

#### High-Carbon Steel

- SAE 1060
- SAE 1070
- 65Mn
- SAE 1065
- SAE 1075
- SAE 1080
- SAE 1085
- SAE 1090
- SAE 1095
- 60
- 65
- 70
- 75
- 80
- 85

#### Cold-Heading Steel

- SWRCH22A
- 10B21
- SWRCH22K
- SWRCH25K
- SWRCH30K
- SWRCH35K
- SWRCH40K
- ML20Mn
- ML25
- ML30
- ML35
- ML40
- 15B25

### Alloy Steel

#### Chromium Steel

- 40Cr
- 45Cr
- AISI 5140
- SAE 5140
- AISI 5120
- SAE 5120
- SCr420
- SCr440

#### Chromium-Molybdenum Steel

- 35CrMo
- 42CrMo
- AISI 4140
- SCM435
- SCM440
- 42CrMo4
- 30CrMo
- AISI 4130
- SAE 4130
- SAE 4140
- AISI 4142
- AISI 4145
- SCM415
- SCM420
- SCM445
- EN 1.7220
- EN 1.7225
- 25CrMo4
- 34CrMo4

#### Nickel-Chromium-Molybdenum Steel

- AISI 4340
- SAE 4340
- 40CrNiMo
- SNCM439
- EN 1.6511
- 36CrNiMo4

#### Boron Alloy Steel

- 10B22
- 10B21
- 15B21
- 15B25
- 20MnTiB
- 20Mn2B
- 35VB
- 40MnB

### Bearing Steel

#### Bearing Steel

- GCr15
- AISI 52100 SAE 52100 · UNS G52986
- SUJ2
- 100Cr6 EN 1.3505
- GCr15SiMn

### Spring Steel

#### Carbon Spring Steel

- SAE 1065
- SAE 1070
- SAE 1075
- SAE 1080
- SAE 1095
- 65
- 70
- 75
- 80
- 65Mn

#### Silicon-Manganese Spring Steel

- 60Si2Mn
- 60Si2MnA
- SUP6
- SUP7

#### Chromium-Vanadium Spring Steel

- 50CrVA
- SAE 6150
- AISI 6150
- SUP10

#### Stainless Spring Steel

- AISI 301
- SUS301
- EN 1.4310
- AISI 302
- AISI 304
- AISI 316
- 17-7 PH

### Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys

#### Commercially Pure Aluminum

- 1050
- 1060
- 1070
- 1100

#### 2xxx Series Aluminum

- 2024
- 2011
- 2014
- 2017

#### 5xxx Series Aluminum

- 5052
- 5083
- 5754

#### 6xxx Series Aluminum

- 6061
- 6061-T6
- 6063
- 6082
- 6082-T6

#### 7xxx Series Aluminum

- 7075
- 7075-T6
- 7005
- 7050
- 7075-T73

### Brass

#### Free-Cutting Brass

- C36000
- H62
- HPb59-1
- C3601
- C3602
- C3604
- CuZn36Pb3
- CuZn39Pb3
- EN CW614N
- EN CW617N
- H65

#### Lead-Free Brass

- C69300
- C27450
- CW510L
- CW511L

#### Naval Brass

- C46400
- CuZn39Sn1

### Bronze

#### Silicon Bronze

- C65500
- C65100
- C65600

#### Phosphor Bronze

- C51000
- C52100
- CuSn6
- CuSn8

#### Aluminum Bronze

- C95400
- C95500
- C63000
- CuAl10Ni5Fe4

### Copper

#### Copper

- C11000
- T2
- C10100
- C10200
- C12200
- T1
- TU1
- TU2

### Titanium and Titanium Alloys

#### Commercially Pure Titanium

- Grade 2
- Grade 1
- Grade 3
- Grade 4
- TA1
- TA2
- TA3

#### Alpha-Beta Titanium Alloys

- Grade 5
- Ti-6Al-4V
- TC4
- UNS R56400

#### Low-Interstitial Grade

- Grade 23
- Ti-6Al-4V ELI
- UNS R56407

#### Other Titanium Fastener Alloys

- Ti-6Al-6V-2Sn
- Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo
- Beta-C titanium
- Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al

### Nickel and Nickel Alloys

#### Commercially Pure Nickel

- Nickel 200
- UNS N02200
- Nickel 201
- UNS N02201

#### Inconel Alloys

- Inconel 625 UNS N06625
- Inconel 718 UNS N07718
- Inconel 600 UNS N06600
- Inconel 601 UNS N06601
- Inconel 686 UNS N06686
- Inconel X-750 UNS N07750

#### Monel Alloys

- Monel 400 UNS N04400
- Monel K-500 UNS N05500

#### Hastelloy Alloys

- Hastelloy C-276 UNS N10276
- Hastelloy C-22 UNS N06022
- Hastelloy B-2 UNS N10665
- Hastelloy B-3 UNS N10675
- Hastelloy X UNS N06002

#### Other Nickel Alloys

- Alloy 20 UNS N08020
- Alloy 625
- Alloy 718
- Alloy 825 UNS N08825
- Alloy 925 UNS N09925

### Iron-Nickel and High-Temperature Alloys

#### A286

- A-286
- UNS S66286
- EN 1.4980

#### Invar

- Invar 36
- Alloy 36
- UNS K93600
- FeNi36

#### Alloy 42

- Alloy 42
- UNS K94100
- FeNi42

### Tool Steel and Specialty Hardened Steel

#### Tool Steel and Specialty Hardened Steel

- AISI D2
- AISI H13
- SKD11
- Cr12MoV
- AISI O1
- AISI A2
- AISI S7
- SKD61
- 9CrSi

### Structural and Construction Steel

#### Structural and Construction Steel

- ASTM A36
- Q235B
- Q355B
- S355JR
- Q235C
- Q355C
- S235JR
- S275JR
- S355J2

## Applications & Industries

Parallel Keys are bought for a small number of well-defined jobs. These are the ones we ship them for. Stocked from 6~8 to 440~500 (key section).

### Industries that specify Parallel Keys

- **Motors & gearboxes:** Transmitting torque from shaft to hub.
- **Pumps & fans:** Driving rotating assemblies without slip.
- **Power transmission:** Locking pulleys, sprockets and couplings to a shaft.

### Typical applications

- replacing a sheared key on a drive in service
- transmitting torque between a shaft and a hub

### Service conditions to specify against

- **Marine and coastal:** Available in A4 (316) stainless for chloride exposure — coastal structures, pool halls, water treatment and deck hardware, where A2 will eventually pit.

[Full application guide: where Parallel Keys are used, how to specify them, and the cases they are wrong for](https://engineeringhardware.com/applications/parallel-keys/)

Inside the plant

## Manufactured in our own plant

This part is cold-formed, threaded, heat-treated and finished in-house. The stages below are where its class and finish are actually decided.

1. ![Wire rod feeding into a cold heading machine](https://engineeringhardware.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/09-wire-rod-feed-cold-heading-machine.webp) 01 **Cold heading** Wire rod is drawn to size and cold-formed into blanks. Forming rather than cutting keeps the grain flow continuous around the head, which is where a bolt is most likely to fail. Head dimensions and under-head radius checked at set-up and per shift.
2. ![Thread rolling machine producing bolt threads](https://engineeringhardware.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/03-thread-rolling-machine-bolt-production.webp) 02 **Thread rolling** Threads are rolled between hardened dies rather than cut. Rolled threads are stronger in fatigue than cut threads and hold pitch and flank angle far more consistently across a batch. Go / no-go ring gauges to ISO 965 tolerance class 6g.
3. ![Baskets of bolts staged for heat treatment](https://engineeringhardware.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/05-heat-treatment-baskets-black-bolts.webp) 03 **Heat treatment** Quench-and-temper brings carbon and alloy steel to the property class ordered — 8.8, 10.9 or 12.9 — with the furnace charge tracked so a finished lot can be traced back to it. Core hardness and tensile tested per lot to ISO 898-1.
4. ![Zinc plated bolts in a treatment basket](https://engineeringhardware.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/23-zinc-plated-bolts-treatment-basket.webp) 04 **Surface treatment** Zinc, zinc-nickel, hot-dip galvanizing, black oxide, phosphate and Dacromet, selected against the service environment rather than against the price list. Coating thickness and neutral salt spray hours to ISO 9227.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Can A2 Stainless Steel replace plated alloy steel structurally?

Only at the standard strength classes — A2-70 / A4-80 are roughly equivalent to class 7 steel; A4-100 reaches class 8.8. For class 10.9 or 12.9 strength, plated alloy steel is required.

### Are A2 Stainless Steel Parallel Keys magnetic?

A2 Stainless Steel Parallel Keys are largely non-magnetic.

### What corrosion resistance do A2 Stainless Steel Parallel Keys offer?

A2 Stainless Steel Parallel Keys provide good general corrosion resistance with a service range of approx. -200 °C to +400 °C, subject to the property class and the joint.

### Should I choose A2 Stainless Steel or A4 (316) for Parallel Keys?

For Parallel Keys, A2 Stainless Steel suits general indoor and outdoor use; A4 (316) is preferred for marine, coastal and chemical environments. Choose by corrosion exposure first.

### How do I request a quotation?

Use the technical drawing on this page to pick the exact configuration, then submit it with the quote form. We respond within one business day.

## Related Pages

[View the full Parallel Keys page](https://engineeringhardware.com/fastener/parallel-keys/)

### More Parallel Keys Guides