Anaerobic sealants introduce new performance benefits 03 October 2017

To be more efficient, industry needs products that allow engineers to work smarter and that is precisely what drives the development of Henkel’s LOCTITE® anaerobic adhesives. Although thread and flange sealing are long-established technologies, the company continues to introduce new benefits with successive generations of products.

LOCTITE® 577 is a medium strength, general-purpose thread sealant for parallel/parallel and taper/parallel threads and fittings. It is designed to lock and seal all metal pipes and fittings as well as other threaded assemblies, providing an instant, low pressure seal that will not creep, shrink or shred. Once fully cured LOCTITE 577 will provide a high pressure seal, resisting the burst pressure of the pipe in most instances.

The latest generation of this product gives it higher strength on contaminated surfaces. This means it will provide an effective seal even if time or circumstances do not allow pre-treatment of the substrate to remove all grease and grime.

The thermal performance of LOCTITE 577 has also been improved. This thread sealant is now suitable for operating temperatures of up to 180°C and it can also be used on passive metals without the need for an activator. Both developments allow this product to be used for a greater number of applications, reducing the need for different variants.

Suitability for use on contaminated surfaces and on both active and inactive metals, are also the attributes of the newly formulated LOCTITE 518 gasket sealant. This medium strength adhesive is ideal for cast iron, steel and aluminium flanged mating surfaces. It fills gaps up to 0.25mm and forms a flexible, chemical-resistant seal that will not tear or decay.

The overall performance of the LOCTITE 518 has also been enhanced to provide greater flexibility, adhesion and gap cure. Again, these benefits give this product wider scope of application, reducing inventory costs even further beyond the obvious savings made on the stock holding of cut gaskets.

Claire Aldridge Deputy Editor t: +44 (0) 1727 743 889

Having spent a decade in the fastener industry experiencing every facet – from steel mills, fastener manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, as well as machinery builders and plating + coating companies, Claire has developed an in-depth knowledge of all things fasteners.

Alongside visiting numerous companies, exhibitions and conferences around the world, Claire has also interviewed high profile figures – focusing on key topics impacting the sector and making sure readers stay up to date with the latest developments within the industry.