A Comprehensive Guide to Blind Rivets

Blind rivets, commonly known as pop rivets, are specialized fasteners that find ample use in industries and assemblies where access to the backside of a workpiece is restricted or impossible to reach. Unlike traditional rivets, which require access to both sides of the material being joined, blind rivets are designed for situations where only one side of the workpiece is accessible. This unique characteristic makes them particularly valuable in applications where the rear of the material is enclosed or where other components obstruct access. Due to the ease of use they provide while maintaining reliability, blind rivets have become a staple in the aerospace industry, electronics manufacturing, and countless other sectors. This blog will explore the different types of blind rivets available on the market, discussing their specific applications and significance.

What Is Blind Rivet & Their Types?

The fundamental difference between blind rivets and more traditional options lies in their installation process. A typical blind rivet will consist of two main parts, which are the shaft that makes up its body and an internal mandrel within it. When used for an assembly, the rivet is inserted into a pre-drilled hole of work materials before a special tool is used to grab and pull the mandrel through the fastener’s body. As the mandrel is pulled, the force causes it to expand and deform the shaft, resulting in the creation of a second head that secures everything together. Once the rivet is fully installed, the mandrel snaps off, leaving behind a solid and durable joint that is tamper-proof and resistant to various forces.

Also known as pop rivets, these specialized fasteners in their most basic form are versatile and suitable for applications ranging from the attachment of metal sheets on aircraft assemblies to securing electronic components in circuit boards. General blind rivets will be made from aluminum, steel, or stainless steel materials, each offering different levels of strength and corrosion resistance that may be beneficial based on the application in question.

As a popular subtype, grooved blind rivets are distinguishable from conventional options with the grooves they feature along their shaft. These serve to provide additional grip for security and to prevent the rivet from rotating during installation, ensuring the most reliable joint. Additionally, grooves help to distribute fastener loads more evenly across assembled materials, reducing the risk of fatigue and failure over time. With these characteristics, grooved blind rivets are often relied on to keep connections strong and stable in high-vibration environments, such as in aircraft engines or industrial machinery.

Peel blind rivets, including the sealed peel blind rivet variation, are other popular options that are designed for applications where a larger bearing surface is necessary for upholding integrity. As the name suggests, these rivets "peel" back during installation, where the deformation of pulling a mandrel results in multiple legs that spread out to provide a wider grip on materials. This design is ideal for joining soft or brittle materials like plastics or composites together, which might otherwise crack or deform under the pressure of a standard rivet. Sealed peel blind rivets take this concept a step further by incorporating a sealed head, preventing contaminants like water, dust, or chemicals from entering the joint after implementation. This feature makes them particularly useful in harsh environments encountered in the aerospace industry and other settings where components must withstand extreme conditions without compromising their integrity.

Another specialized type is the ball-shaped head rivet, which is characterized by a rounded head that provides a smooth, finished appearance once installed. With a head that leans more toward aesthetics than functionality, these rivets components are commonly used in automotive assemblies and consumer electronics where appearance is a concern. In addition to their visual appeal, these rivets offer good resistance to tampering, which is ideal for electronics enclosures that use them to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive components.

The aerospace industry in particular relies heavily on blind rivets due to their basic ability to provide a means of creating joints in hard-to-access areas. In aircraft manufacturing, blind rivets are used extensively in the assembly of fuselages, wings, control surfaces, and other structures, where they provide the necessary strength to maintain reliable connections without adding excessive weight to the aircraft. The use of sealed peel blind rivets in aerospace applications is also common, as these rivets help protect assemblies against corrosion and environmental damage. Beyond aerospace applications, blind rivets are widely used in electronics parts, automotive manufacturing, construction, and other industries where ease of installation, strength, and durability are necessary qualities of fastening solutions.

Blind Rivet Applications

When selecting blind rivets for a specific application, it is essential to consider factors like material compatibility, load requirements, and environmental conditions, as an incompatible fastener will always lead to issues ranging from performance loss to risk of failure. Additionally, these rivets will be subject to various stressors over time based on their environment and operating conditions, necessitating regular inspections to ensure that any damage or issues are identified early. While rivets are meant to be permanent installations, they will eventually require replacement on a scheduled basis or as necessary.

For customers seeking high-quality blind rivets and other fasteners for project fulfillment, our website offers a comprehensive selection of in-stock products to meet the needs of any industry. With competitive pricing and a commitment to customer satisfaction, Broadline Distribution is the ideal source for all your hardware requirements. Take the time to explore our platform as you see fit, and once you locate items that are of interest to you, receiving customized purchasing options is as easy as submitting a quote request form through our website or getting in touch with our staff directly. Experience how we can address all your operational needs with care and efficiency when you take the first step of procurement on our website.