BackHow to select the right thread sealant
The brand LOCTITE is the first to come up with the anaerobic technology and has years of experience working with various industries which is why it is widely recommended.
PremiumMore than a billion gallons of industrial fluids are wasted through leakage every year. Beyond the value of lost fluids and gases, leaks also affect toxicity, emissions, safety, contamination, and personnel along with the additional expense of locating, diagnosing, and repairing leaks in pipe systems.
The major cause of this leakage can be traced back to the gap between the male and female threads of the pipe joints. Despite the set standards for uniform fittings, the pipe threads are often imprecise and have no specified torque for installation leading to thread damage. PTFE tapes have been a go to solution for leakages for a long time, however they shred during tightening and create leak paths, affecting seal reliability. An anaerobic technology based thread sealant is a superior solution.
● What is an anaerobic thread sealant and how does it provide 100% metal to metal contact?
Thread sealants based on anaerobic technology develop their strength by curing in the absence of air and the presence of metal ions. Due to their liquid state, they fill all the gaps between the pipe threads before curing to form a tough thermoset plastic, providing a leak-free seal.
There are multiple brands that offer thread sealants in the market. The brand LOCTITE is the first to come up with the anaerobic technology and has years of experience working with various industries which is why it is widely recommended.
● How to select the right thread sealant for your application?
You can select the right thread sealant by answering the following questions about the pipe joint to be sealed:
● Is the pipe made up of metal or plastic?
Metal threads can be effectively sealed with anaerobic liquid thread sealants. Depending on whether the metal is copper, brass, steel or aluminium, the viscosity of the paste to be selected will also vary. In case you need to seal plastic threads, go with thread sealing cords which seal instantly.
● Are the threads of the pipe joint coarse or fine?
Pipe joints with coarse threads have fewer threads per axial distance therefore high viscosity thread sealants are more suitable for them while fine threads have more threads per axial distance therefore low viscosity thread sealants are recommended so that the liquid can quickly fill in all the gaps.
● What is the size of the pipe thread that is to be sealed?
For pipe threads of upto ¾ inch diameters, prefer low viscosity thread sealants. If the pipe threads are of 2 to 3 inches diameter, thread sealing pastes will perform better. In case of larger pipe joint diameters of upto 4 inches, go with thread sealing cords.
● What is the service temperature resistance needed?
Thread sealants based on anaerobic technology typically resist temperatures between -55oC to +150oC, which is ideal for most hydraulic and pneumatic lines. There are some thread sealants that can also resist higher temperatures depending on specific requirements.
Here are some popular products offered under the LOCTITE portfolio:
● LOCTITE 542 is a low viscosity thread sealant perfect for copper/brass hydraulic & pneumatic fittings
● LOCTITE 567 is a high viscosity thread sealant ideal for coarse threaded joints and also works well on stainless steel & aluminium
● LOCTITE 55 is a thread sealing cord which is perfect for sealing pipe threads and overhead applications
It can seem challenging to replace PTFE tape with a liquid thread sealant the first time as it takes some time getting used to the product names and the selection criteria. We hope that the above method helps you select the right thread sealant for your requirement. In case you have any questions, you can also connect with the brand representatives to clarify. Like, LOCTITE offers complementary technical consultation and you can request it here. Once selected, test the product on a few pipe joints after at least 15 to 30 mins of application and post successful trial, you can implement the product usage throughout.
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