These threadlockers are found in “permanent” as well as “removable” formulas. The permanent heavy-duty threadlockers are rated to withstand in shear to as much as 21 Mpa. A few threadlockers are removable by applying heat. Most brands make use of color-coded labelling for indicating each thread-locking fluid’s strength as well as their permanent or removable status. The typical color-codes commonly found in the market today include purple (for low strength type), blue (for medium strength and medium strength surface insensitive types), red (for high strength and also high temperature types) and finally green (for penetrating type).
Because most of the thread locking adhesives generally rely on the metals’ substrate electrochemical activity to from bonds, thorough cleaning of the substrates is often a requirement. To prevent the loosening of bolted joints, the following 1) lock washers, 2) locknuts, 3) jam nuts and 4) safety wire may often be used in conjunction with the thread-locking fluid. Polymerization is caused by the electrochemical activity, which represents one of the two triggers that cause it and therefore great care should be taken in order to avoid contamination of entire container of the threadlockers with another threadlocker that had previously had contact with metal as well as when using metals that are less electrochemically active as in the case of aluminum and priming.
These thread-locking fluids are generally methacrylate-based and so they cure anaerobically. This thread-locking fluid is also a thixotropic fluid, and it may exhibit some time-dependent decrease in its viscosity when put under shear stress. This therefore, often allows it to flow very well overtime and yet still afford to resist shearing of short-duration as in the case of vibration and shock. As has been the case for many years now, thread-locking fluid is normally sold in small containers whose amounts range from 5 millilitres to 250 millilitres. This fluid is also sold in sticks as well as in tape form which is similar to the well-known Teflon tape. The market for threadlocker is quickly expanding.