Connecting Stainless Steel Pipe

[sandgropper]

Is it alright to use Mild Steel bolts for connecting SS pipe or should I use SS bolts? What are pros/cons?
thanks.

 

[SooCS]

No recommended and I have seen the nuts and bolts rusted even before the equipment had been ship out.

Use similar material for the nuts and bolts. If not use insulation sleeves.

 

[kenvlach]

Definitely use SS fasteners. Avoid galvanic corrosion.

Use bolts of the same alloy as the piping, and nuts of a dissimilar SS class (e.g., martensitic on austenitic bolts) to reduce galling of threads.
Carpenter Technology

http://www.cartech.com/

has a small chapter on Galling in their SS book. It lists 'Gall-Tough' SS alloys (austenitic SS with a bit of nitrogen), information on the self-galling of SS alloys and the galling between different combinations of SS alloys.

Of course, you could use plated nuts or lubrication to reduce galling.