Approach for a sustainable process chain in manufacturing of fasteners for mechanical joining

With regard to environmental protection, the sustainability of production processes is decisive. Mechanical joining technologies like self-piercing riveting are of special importance with regard to realising lightweight constructions in the automotive industry. However, the production of self-piercing rivets is costly, time-consuming and energy-intensive, as the rivets conventionally must be heat treated and coated in order to ensure an adequate strength, ductility and corrosion resistance. Within this paper, it is shown by the example of a newly established rivet manufacturing process how the sustainability of fastener production can be increased. The general approach in this context is the use of alternative, high strain hardening stainless steels as rivet material, which allows the omission of the post treatment of the rivets after forming. The shortening of the process chain enables a more sustainable rivet production. Thus, not only the energy consumption is reduced, but also costs, which is why the novel manufacturing process is also of interest from an economic point of view.