What is the difference between nuts and washers?

Nuts and washers both pursue similar goals in fastening technology, yet they differ fundamentally in their function and use.

Nuts play a central role in fastening assemblies:

• They are female threaded fasteners that fit onto the male thread of a bolt and are intended to secure it.
• By tightening the bolt, they create a preload force that holds the two connected parts firmly together.
• There are various types of nuts, e.g. wing nuts, hex nuts, etc., and they are mainly used to strengthen and stabilize structures and structural components.

Washers, on the other hand, have the following properties and functions:

• They serve as an intermediate layer between the bolt nut and the surface of the material that needs to be anchored.
• Their purpose is to distribute the pressure generated by the bolt evenly and thus protect the material from damage.
• They also come in various shapes and sizes to meet the requirements of different installation scenarios.