Water engineers know the importance of equipment reliability and predictability. It is their responsibility to keep plants running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. However, it’s a tough task in an industry where the environment is harsh and machinery is subject to heavy vibration, shock and corrosion. Nuts and bolts shake loose, hydraulic and pneumatic systems leak and bearings fail.
To help engineers cut downtime, improve equipment performance and save costs, Henkel offers a wide range of Loctite®, Nordbak® and Hysol® products for repair and maintenance. They are designed to rectify problems caused by wear, abrasion, chemical attack, erosion, corrosion, impingement and mechanical damage. Typical applications range from concrete repair to extending the operating life of devices like pumps, gearboxes and centrifuges.
Flow control mechanisms and influent structures are particularly prone to wear and corrosion making them less effective and susceptible to leaks and further damage. Components such as butterfly valves or grit chamber paddles and spindles are typical examples.
They can be rebuilt or re-profiled by the application of Nordbak® epoxy wearing compounds or Hysol® polymer composites and/or Loctite® brushable ceramics. Henkel points out that the key advantage is their capability to create a sacrificial and renewable working surface, protecting the structural integrity of the original substrate.
Loctite® threadlockers are widely used in the water utilities industry for preventing vibrational loosening, leakage and corrosion between threaded and parts. They are available in a range of viscosities and also strengths, from semi-permanent formulations to those that are removable with standard hand tools.
Typical applications are bar screen and clarifier components which will loosen under high duty cycles requiring periodic shut downs for surface repairs and retightening of the threaded assemblies.
Costly hydraulic and pneumatic leaks are eliminated using Loctite® sealants. They fill the space between threaded parts providing an instant, low pressure seal. When fully cured they seal to the burst strength of most pipe systems.Anaerobic, silicone and sealing cord are available to suit the substrate.
Complementing the threadlockers and sealants are Loctite® retaining compounds that secure bearings, bushings and cylindrical parts into housings or onto shafts. They achieve maximum load transmission capability and uniform stress distribution and eliminate fretting corrosion.
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.
