anaerobic adhesives: the rapid cure solution for industrial applications
thread lockers is type of anaerobic adhesives, which are single-component adhesives that cure quickly in the absence of oxygen, widely used in industrial applications for thread locking, sealing, and bonding. their unique chemical properties allow them to cure swiftly in oxygen-deprived environments—such as in thread gaps—while remaining liquid in the presence of air, facilitating easy application and storage. designed to address the issue of micro-gaps between metal parts, anaerobic adhesives offer an effective sealing and locking solution that prevents screw loosening and protects threads from corrosion.
features of anaerobic adhesives
- ease of use and storage: convenient for use and does not require special storage conditions, suitable for continuous production operations.
- low shrinkage upon curing: minimizes stress at the adhesive interface, enhancing structural stability.
- rapid room-temperature curing: achieves functional strength swiftly at room temperature, applicable across a broad temperature range.
- excellent physical properties: includes shear strength, penetration, vibration absorption, and sealing capabilities.
- environmentally friendly: non-flammable and non-explosive, free from solvent emissions, and harmless to the environment.
- easy removal: uncured adhesive can be easily cleaned, facilitating maintenance.
applications and usage
anaerobic adhesives are versatile, suitable for most metals under typical conditions for sealing, locking, and bonding.
precautions
- gap limitations: effective for gaps up to 0.25mm, not suitable for larger gaps or loose, porous materials.
- surface preparation: cleaning and roughening the surfaces to be bonded can significantly enhance bonding efficiency.
- environmental conditions: should be used in a dry environment with relative humidity below 60% to aid curing.
- curing time: typically, it takes about 3 hours at room temperature to achieve functional strength, with maximum strength reached after 24 hours. heating can accelerate the curing process.
- material considerations: curing may be slower on specific metals like stainless steel and aluminum; an accelerator or special treatment may be required.
- avoid alkaline media: anaerobic adhesives may degrade or lose effectiveness in alkaline conditions, so use in such environments should be avoided.
- sealing capability: capable of withstanding pressures up to 40mpa when used as a sealant, demonstrating reliability in high-pressure applications.
disassembly guidelines
- heating for disassembly: if disassembly is required, the bonded parts can be heated to 150-200°c to soften or deactivate the adhesive bond.
- using torque for disassembly: in situations where heating isn’t feasible, applying greater torque may be attempted to break the bond.
- chemical solvent removal: if high-temperature conditions are not permissible, organic solvents like dichloromethane may be considered for dissolving the anaerobic adhesive.
storage recommendations
- avoid metal containers: anaerobic adhesives should not be stored in metal containers as they may react with the metal or accelerate curing.
- do not fully fill containers: even non-metal containers should not be completely filled to allow for expansion due to temperature changes.
anaerobic adhesives have a broad range of applications, from routine tool maintenance to high-end industrial assembly. proper selection and application of anaerobic adhesives can enhance the durability and sealing of components, often eliminating the need for traditional mechanical locking in modern mechanical design and maintenance.