Fastening plastic nuts and bolts can be tricky due to vibration, shock and changes in temperature. Loctite's latest adhesive offering for plastic-metal and plastic-plastic threadlocking can easily solve this problem, making it ideal for the electronics industry.
A common issue in fasteners is that nuts and bolts can loosen over time, due to exposure to vibration, shock and changes in temperature ¬– and the electronics industry is no exception.
It is important that mechanical components that hold together critical parts do not fail as the consequences can lead to system malfunction and safety issues. Any environment that places a fastener under intense strain, changes in temperature or vibration will benefit from an adhesive threadlocking solution.
The adhesive works by completely filling the gaps between mating threads, this then locks and seal the threaded assemblies and dramatically increases its reliability.
Plastic nuts and bolts are commonly used in a variety of applications in the electronics industry. Plastics are light weighted and have insulating properties so do not conduct electricity. These features can be extremely beneficial in design and assembly. However, it can be tricky finding the right adhesive threadlocking solution that will work with plastic-to-plastics or metal-to-plastic fasteners.
The perfect threadlocking solution for the electronics industry
Most threadlocking adhesives, developed under the Loctite’s anaerobic technology are only used on metal-to-metal nuts and bolts. This is because the anaerobic adhesives remain liquid until isolated from oxygen in the presence of metals. In other words, they need both the removal of air and contact with metal to cure.
While the application can appear the same when considering the bond of metal-to-plastic, or plastic-to-plastic, normal anaerobic threadlockers will not work.
Loctite’s latest offering in Australia, the Loctite 425 plastic fastener threadlocker is suitable for a range of applications and industries but has particular benefits for the electronic industry. This is because it is a cyanoacrylate adhesive, or more commonly known as an instant adhesive.
“Instant adhesives cure at room temperature without any need for heat or light energy. They can rely on the surface moisture found on all parts to cure. They can yield a range of bond strengths to both plastics and metals. Making them ideal for the electronics industry where metal and plastic are often required to bond,” Andrea Campi, Product Manager, Adhesive Technologies ANZ, Henkel says.
“Where standard anaerobic threadlockers will only work on metal to metal surfaces the Loctite 425 Assure is the perfect threadlocking solution for all plastic and plastic to metal fasteners. This particular adhesive has been available in the European and US markets for a number of years and is now entering the Australian market.” Andrea explains.
Loctite 425 Assure fixtures within two minutes on plated metal and plastics fasteners and has full strength at 24 hours. Its operating temperature range is from -54°C to 85°C.
With its dark blue colour, Loctite 425 is also commonly used by many other industries for tamper proofing.