The original bolts on the Vasa warship.This project should preserve the vessel’s structural integrity well into the future.
The company will help replace 5,000 iron bolts, originally installed in the 1960s, with unique bolts in highly advanced stainless steels from Sandvik, normally used within the demanding oil/gas-industry. The original bolts were reacting with the atmosphere and consequently causing chemical erosion, which was damaging the historic woodwork. The project follows two years’ cooperation with Sandvik Materials Technology’s R&D-specialists to devise a replacement strategy and identify and evaluate suitable materials for the application.
“Working with Sandvik ensures state-of-the-art technological expertise within the area of materials technology,” says Dr Marika Hedin, Vasa Museum director. “Since the warship Vasa is a Swedish national treasure, we can only use the very best materials available in our quest to preserve her, which we aim to do for 1,000 more years.”