Newly developed Standard 543 from IFI, the Industrial Fasteners Institute (Cleveland), provides a test method for determining the torque-tension relationship on internally and externally threaded fasteners to measure frictional characteristics.
Until recently, cadmium, zinc, and phosphate were the standard corrosion-inhibiting industrial coatings for fasteners. New coating families have become available, and it has been difficult to establish torque-tension values for these coatings. The new standard issued by IFI will provide a means of obtaining the necessary data for fasteners with these coatings.
Standard IFI 543 specifies the test materials (including screws, nuts and washers), test equipment, (torque and load measuring devices, data collection device, and drive tool), test procedure, and data analysis necessary to conform to the standard. Copies of the standard, priced at $10 apiece, can be obtained from IFI.
