When a Screw Fails: Fracture, Stripping, or Loosening?

A failed screw is not just a failed screw. The root cause matters.

Fracture often comes from material choice, heat treatment, hydrogen embrittlement, or stress concentration. A core that is too hard can crack; surface defects can start a fracture.

Thread stripping is usually about thread accuracy, hardness matching, or flank angle deviation. Poor engagement means the threads cannot carry the load.

Loosening is mainly preload loss. Unstable friction, insufficient locking design, or vibration can make a tightened joint back off.

As a screw factory, we do not sell “close enough” screws. Every batch is checked for hardness, torque, metallography, and go/no-go gauge. When needed, we verify salt spray and de-hydrogenation.

Send us your failed sample and application conditions. We will trace the cause from raw material to heat treatment and lock down the process.

Small screw, clear failure cause. Welcome to visit our factory for technical discussion.