When Carriage Bolts are required in Grade 12.9 Steel, the alternative grades and the trade-offs between them matter as much as the dimensions. This page covers both, plus mechanical and corrosion data.
Why Choose Grade 12.9 Steel for Carriage Bolts
The highest common strength class, for high-load machine assembly. For carriage bolts, this matters when requires plating or black-oxide protection is the primary requirement.
Mechanical & Physical Properties
| Grade designation | class 12.9 |
|---|---|
| Magnetic response | Magnetic |
| Service temperature | up to approx. +300 °C |
| Corrosion characteristic | Requires plating or black-oxide protection |
Corrosion Behavior in Service
Carbon and alloy steel carriage bolts require a coating for corrosion protection. Zinc plating (with or without passivation) is the most common; hot-dip galvanizing is used for outdoor structural service; black-oxide is mainly a tarnish-prevention finish for tool-room use.
Comparable Grades
For Carriage Bolts, class 8.8 is the comparable strength step. Move up when the joint preload approaches the proof load of the current class; move down when the joint is over-specified. For corrosion-critical service, switch to stainless A2 or A4.
Sizes of Carriage Bolts Available in Grade 12.9 Steel
| Size | Pitch (mm) | Head diameter dk (mm) | Head height k (mm) | Square neck width (mm) | Square neck depth (mm) | Common length range (mm) | Reference standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M5 | 0.8 | 13.0 | 3.0 | 5.0 | 2.5 | 16~80 | DIN 603 / ISO 8677 |
| M6 | 1.0 | 16.0 | 3.5 | 6.0 | 3.0 | 16~120 | DIN 603 / ISO 8677 |
| M8 | 1.25 | 20.0 | 4.5 | 8.0 | 4.0 | 20~160 | DIN 603 / ISO 8677 |
| M10 | 1.5 | 25.0 | 5.5 | 10.0 | 5.0 | 25~200 | DIN 603 / ISO 8677 |
| M12 | 1.75 | 30.0 | 7.0 | 12.0 | 6.0 | 30~240 | DIN 603 / ISO 8677 |
| M14 | 2.0 | 35.0 | 8.0 | 14.0 | 7.0 | 40~260 | DIN 603 / ISO 8677 |
| M16 | 2.0 | 40.0 | 9.0 | 16.0 | 8.0 | 40~300 | DIN 603 / ISO 8677 |
| M20 | 2.5 | 50.0 | 11.0 | 20.0 | 10.0 | 50~300 | DIN 603 / ISO 8677 |