Material specification page for spring button 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 (spring button clips).
Why Choose A2 Stainless Steel for Spring Button Clips
The most common stainless group for indoor and general outdoor fasteners. For spring button 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 Spring Button 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 Spring Button Clips, 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
Expect the aluminum to corrode, not the fastener — stainless sits higher in the galvanic series, so the aluminum is the one that gives up material. A small fastener in a thick section spreads the loss over a large area and is usually fine; a large fastener in thin sheet concentrates it and is not. Keep water out of the joint, or isolate the two metals with a nylon or coated washer and a sealant.
Sizes of Spring Button Clips Available in A2 Stainless Steel
| Application | Tube size example | Button diameter (in) | Button height (in) | Width (in) | Leg length (in) | Material / hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| round tube | inside diameter 3/8~5/8 | 1/8 | 3/16 | 3/16 | 1-1/4 | 1050 spring steel, minimum Rockwell C44 |
| square tube | inside width 5/16~5/8 | 1/8 | 3/16 | 3/16 | 1-1/4 | 1050 spring steel, minimum Rockwell C44 |
| 14~18 mm tubing | A 5.7 / B 8.9 / C 6.3 / D 33 mm | spring steel or stainless steel |
