Clips and Fasteners are most commonly categorized as flat or sheet material that is formed into simple or complicated shapes. Most often, Clips and Fasteners are manufactured using both low and high carbon steels, depending on the application. In some applications, high carbon spring steels are utilized where a spring force is required that cannot be obtained with normal spring forces. When high carbon spring steels are used for manufacturing, it is a standard requirement that the product is heat treated and quenched to a hardness level that allows the product to flex without deforming. Heat treating and oil quenching are commonly used for the hardening process, but an Austemper heat treating process is typically the best practice for eliminating heat treat deformation