Henkel LOCTITE® threadlockers: How to select the most appropriate one

Henkel offers four kinds of LOCTITE threadlockers, in different package colours.

For the best industrial adhesives, businesses across the country rely on Henkel. The company’s LOCTITE brand offers four kinds of threadlockers for threaded fasteners. Distinguished by package colour, these products prevent loosening, leaks, and failure by locking threaded fasteners in place. But each LOCTITE threadlocker has different characteristics and applications, and using the wrong type may result in lower reliability, difficult removal, or improper curing.

Maintenance, heat, and strength

There are three factors customers should consider when choosing a threadlocker: need for maintenance and repair; use in high-heat applications; and application strength. Regarding the first factor, there are fastener assemblies in which permanence is not necessary and threadlockers may require removal for maintenance, checks, and repairs. The LOCTITE blue and purple threadlockers give users appropriate performance in these scenarios.

These two threadlockers are also recommended for tasks in which heat could cause distortion or damage to sensitive materials, like some plastics and elastomers. Users can easily remove these threadlockers with hand tools, resulting in safer, more efficient maintenance and repair work without compromising bond strength.

Extreme heat can have a significant effect on a fastener’s security and performance. Standard LOCTITE threadlockers have a wide temperature resistance from -54 to 149 degrees Celsius. But for applications involving extremely high temperatures, Henkel recommends LOCTITE 263. This threadlocker is made to withstand temperatures as high as 343 degrees Celsius, which results in less chance of loosening in the thread.

Most applications, especially heavy-duty machinery or vehicle manufacturing, expose threaded assemblies to vibration and torque. LOCTITE red threadlockers are appropriate for environments with high degrees of shock or vibration. This is the strongest grade of threadlocker available from Henkel, offering high resistance to vibration, shock, and torque while holding firmly in place as a permanent solution.

Henkel offers three main threadlocker strengths:

• LOCTITE 222. Low-strength solution in a purple design that works on all metals; most recommended for applications that may need disassembly.
• LOCTITE 243. Medium-strength threadlocker in a blue design. General-purpose solution for sealing and securing assemblies.
• LOCTITE 263. High-strength threadlocker in a red design.

For more information, contact Henkel.

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