One frustration of fastener technology that often hinders manufacturers is the galling of fasteners. Among the solutions to stop this problem or to prevent it entirely is the use of lubricant.
Often referred to as ‘thread galling,’ this problem occurs when two fastener components become locked together. This usually ensues when using stainless steel, aluminum or titanium fasteners. When fasteners are being tightened, the amount a pressure builds between the sliding thread surface and the contacting surface. When this happens, the protective oxides are broken down and worn off which causes the two surfaces to lock together. Galling can also lead to extreme cases called seizing when the threads actually freeze together.
To avoid this it is important to understand fastener technology and lubricate all fasteners before they are put to use in the application.
Lubrication is not the only solution, but it is an extremely popular choice to combat galling due to its proven success. It is recommended that lubricants used for this purpose contain significant quantities of graphite, mica, molybdenum disulfide, or talc. Keep in mind that there are two different types of lubricants. There are those lubricants applied at the point of assembly and those applied prior to an entire batch of fasteners, similar to how plating is applied. When deciding what lubricant to use, it is extremely important to consider the end use for the fastener. For example, fasteners used in applications within the food industry have stricter rules on what can and cannot be used.
Bossard ecosyn®-lubric is a tribological dry coating that is applied to batches of fasteners. Not only does this product serve as a lubricant, but it also offers additional corrosion protection principles as well. The ecosyn®-lubric is made up of fluoropolymers as well as submicroscopic solid lubricant particles. A smooth film is created to balance any unevenness using the special anti-friction coating. This feature helps by optimizing friction under extreme working conditions and heavy loads. Coating fasteners with a dry coating by batch will also help reduce overall costs.
To learn more about different types of lubricants, galling of fasteners or the ecosyn®-lubric product, contact Bossard at ProvenProductivity@bossard.com.
Lubricant for Stainless Steel Fasteners by Bossard
