Is Adhesive the Best Bolt Locking Method?
Adhesives or Nord-Lock washers? Finding the ultimate bolt securing system is no easy task. Here is a guide to making the right choice.
| Nord-Lock Wedge-Locking | Adhesives | |
| Locking capability | Reliable | Varies |
| Range | M3-M130 (standard range) | Unlimited (not size dependent) |
| Temperature | Same temperature characteristics as regular bolts/nuts. | Sensitive to high temperatures. |
| Assembly | No preparation required. | Requires degreasing. |
| Curing time | No curing time. | Up to 12 hours (increased downtime of equipment). |
| Control over clamp load | Linear relationship between torque/load thus possible to predict the clamp load. Does not increase the risk of torsion. | Adds friction in the thread, making it difficult to predict the clamp load. Also increases the risk of torsion. |
| Disassembly | No special requirements. | Requires heating. |
| Reusability | Reusable. Does not affect reusability of bolts/nuts. | Not possible to reuse. Bolts/nuts needs to be cleaned before reuse, which is time consuming. |
| Environment | Recyclable. Meets ELV and RoHS directives. | Not recyclable, contains contaminous chemicals. May cause allergic reactions. |
| Lubrication | Possible to lubricate. | Not possible. |
| Visual inspection | Visual inspection possible. | Visual inspection possible. |
| Life cycle cost (LCC) | Low. Relative high price per unit. Long life cycle. Improves stability and minimizes maintenance cost. | High. Relative low price per unit. Short life cycle. Increases maintenance costs and assembly time. |
Junker vibration test comparison of adhesive vs wedge-locking washer
Which bolt locking product should I use?
Get your free eBook on the topic of bolt loosening and see how different bolt locking products perform.
What you will find in the eBook:
- Pros and cons of the different bolt locking methods
- Evaluation of different products
- A print-friendly Guidance for Selection, to help you decide which product to use in your applications
