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How to make thread locker dry faster?

Threadlockers are anaerobic adhesives specifically designed to seal and lock threaded components in a mechanical assembly. Most threadlockers take at least 10 minutes to gain handling strength and about 24 hours to harden into a thermosetting plastic and provide full strength (this process is called curing). However, the time may vary depending on the type and strength of the threadlocker. Read on to learn more about the curing time of different threadlockers and how to reduce it.

How do you dry liquid thread locker?

An important point to remember is that liquid thread lockers can dry out in the absence of air. You will then notice that any excess adhesive on the outside of the mechanical parts will remain liquid when exposed to air.

The drying or curing speed of thread fasteners depends on several factors, such as:

  • Base metals
  • Gaps or gaps between components
  • Temperature
  • Surface cleaning
  • Part size
  • Part shape
  • The humidity level.

Read on to see how the first three factors affect drying speed.

How do the above factors affect drying?

I looked at the LOCTITE thread locker data sheets to understand the impact of these factors on curing time, so I will explain it here for LOCTITE.

  • Basic Metal – Metals that have more free ions allow threadlockers to cure faster – that is, the metals that corrode faster are also those that allow threadlockers to dry faster. You'll get turnaround strength in 5 to 10 minutes and full strength in 3 to 6 hours with these active metals.

These metals are known as “active” metals and some examples of them are brass, copper and steel. While their opposite is called “inactive” metals, threadlockers take longer to dry on them. Some examples of inactive substrates are Zinc, Chromium, Stainless Steel. You will achieve handling strength in 20-30 minutes and full strength in 24 hours with these inactive metals.

  • Clearance or gap between components: This is the second post-metal factor that affects drying time. As such, there is not much space between the coupling nuts. But sometimes the gaps can be bigger and the threads can be deeper.

Let's look at the example of a steel screw nut: threadlockers dry faster when the gap is less than 0.05 mm. Handling strength arrives in 5 to 10 minutes and full strength arrives in 3 to 6 hours. For gaps between 0.05 mm and 0.25 mm, handling time can be between 10 and 30 minutes and full strength reaches within 24 hours.

  • Temperature: The third important factor that affects curing or drying time is the temperature of the nut. In regions with a tropical climate, summer temperatures are around 40 ° C, and this allows for faster drying. Then a 40 or C steel nut bolt will allow the threadlocker to reach handling strength in 5 minutes to 10 minutes and full strength in 30 minutes to 3 hours. At 22 or C this takes a little longer: 10 minutes to 30 minutes to gain handling strength and 3 to 6 hours to gain handling strength. For regions with a colder climate or in the colder season, drying time is greatly reduced: up to 5 or C threadlockers take 20 minutes to 1 hour to reach handling resistance and 24 hours to reach full resistance.

How can I make thread locker dry faster?

Here are some tips on how to make thread locker dry faster:

  1. Thoroughly clean the surface of the nut and bolt before applying threadlocker. Any particles of grease, dust or dirt reduce the effective surface area and effective free ions, thereby delaying curing.
  2. Apply only a thin layer of thread locker. Applying too much adhesive will increase curing time.
  3. Apply the clamps to the bonding surfaces and press them as firmly as possible. This pushes excess air out of the center of the thread locker, causing it to dry faster.4. Install a fan or dehumidifier in the same location as the fasteners to remove moisture. The presence of moisture in the air increases the drying time of the thread locker. Then remove as much moisture from the air as possible. Furthermore, it is better to carry out the process indoors, where there is much less humidity.
  4. Install a heater near objects if the air temperature is below 22 ° C . Be sure to maintain a distance of at least 60 centimeters between the heater and the application area, as the heater poses a fire risk. Now, adjust the heater to raise the air temperature to a minimum of 25 or C for faster curing.
  5. In the case of inactive base metals, use primers or activators. This helps to correct the bond formation reaction. You can read more about primers and activators here

In short

Although, on average, thread lockers gain handling strength in 10 minutes and full strength in 24 hours, there are several factors that affect curing or drying time. The above methods, which can deal with the impact of temperature, metal substrate and gap, will help speed up the drying process.

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