Why Hinge Material Selection Is Important

Core comparison of the four major hinge materials

1.Stainless steel hinges: high corrosion resistance, high-end first choiceFeatures: Contains chromium (≥10.5%) to form a passivation film, common models 304 (general purpose) and 316 (medical/marine grade).

Advantages and disadvantages:

✅ Extremely corrosion-resistant: can be used in humid, acidic and alkaline environments (such as ships and chemical equipment) for a long time.

✅ Maintenance-free: No additional coating is required, reducing after-sales problems.

❌ High cost: The price is 2-3 times that of carbon steel, and the processing is difficult (special tools are required).

❌ Medium load-bearing: The tensile strength of 304 stainless steel is ≈520MPa, which is lower than that of carbon steel.

Applicable scenarios:

①Medical equipment, food machinery (sterile environment required)

②High-end outdoor furniture, marine engineering (salt spray corrosion resistance)

2.Zinc alloy hinges: low cost, easy to process, suitable for decorative purposes.Features: Mainly Zamak-3 (Zn-Al-Cu alloy), low melting point (≈385℃), suitable for die casting.

Advantages and disadvantages:

✅ Flexible shape: complex carved hinges can be made (such as European cabinet doors).

✅ Low cost: The unit price is only 1/3 of stainless steel.

❌ Lowest strength: tensile strength is only ≈200MPa, and long-term load-bearing is easy to deform.

❌ Not resistant to high temperatures: will fail earlier than steel hinges in fire.

Applicable scenarios:

①Home cabinets, light doors and windows

②Exhibition props, decorative furniture (surface can be electroplated with gold/bronze)

4.Iron nickel-plated hinges: a balance between rust prevention and economy

Features: Q235 iron substrate + electroplated nickel layer (thickness 5-15μm), appearance close to stainless steel.

Advantages and disadvantages:

✅ Lowest cost: the price is more than 50% lower than stainless steel.

✅ Short-term rust prevention: the nickel-plated layer can withstand general humid environments.

❌ The coating is easy to wear: the substrate will quickly rust after frequent friction.

Applicable scenarios:

①Short-term outdoor equipment (such as temporary exhibition stands)

②Low-cost office furniture (low-load scenarios such as drawer hinges)

Key parameter comparison table (quick decision reference)

B2B procurement decision guide

1.Recommended by usage scenario

①Extreme environment (marine, chemical industry): choose 316 stainless steel, salt spray test ≥ 1000 hours.

②Heavy industry (cabinets, shelves): choose carbon steel + galvanized, coating ≥ 20μm.

③Short-term/low-cost projects: choose iron nickel plating, and explicitly require coating ≥ 8μm.

④Decorative needs: choose zinc alloy, the surface can be sprayed/electroplated.

2.Quality control suggestions

①Request test reports: material composition analysis (such as SGS), salt spray test data.

②Sample test:Load-bearing test (simulating actual load),Switch life test (≥50,000 times is preferred).

Conclusion and action suggestions

The choice of hinge material needs to comprehensively consider three factors: environmental corrosion, mechanical load, and budget:

1.High-end corrosion resistance → stainless steel

2.Industrial heavy load → carbon steel + coating

3.Low-cost decoration → zinc alloy

4.Short-term rust prevention → iron nickel plating

When it comes to high-quality hinges, EAXTMAX furniture hardware is the best choice. Our factory has a series of stainless steel hinge styles. 

⚡Contact:Foreign trade sales Katie

Whatsapp/Wechat:+86 13824548389

E-mail:sales01@eastmax.cn(24-hour response)