describe the benifits and disadvantages of the using steel as a material for fasteners
There are different grades of steels which can suit different application considering corrosion,surrounding atmosphere,pressure,temperature and many more. Let us take the stainless steel fasteners: 1.Resists Rust: The primary advantage to using stainless steel bolts is that they resist rusting. This makes them ideal for outdoor or marine uses, since moisture will not cause them to corrode. Rust basically eats steel and makes it weaker. A rusty, weak bolt can be a serious safety risk, because it can break under a load. 2.Clean: Stainless steel bolts are very easy to clean due to having a higher content of chromium, which creates a lustrous, mirror-like surface that is very smooth. This makes stainless steel an ideal option if aesthetics are an issue. 3.Temperature: Stainless steel has a high melting point, which makes it a good option in machines that are put through immense amounts of heat. The bolts will not fuse together, and can be unfastened when the machines need repairs. Also, in very cold conditions, steel can become brittle. By mixing nickel into the stainless steel, the metal resists becoming brittle at low temperatures. See the source link for details.
Relatively cheap, strong, and non-toxic. For Carbon Steel alloys rust and corrosion are problems. For stainless alloys, cost becomes the problem [and corrosion is not eliminated]