Retaining Compounds

As a type of anaerobic adhesive, retaining compounds are essential for the precision assembly of press- and slip-fitted parts, as well as any component that is used within systems subject to high vibration in challenging environmental conditions. Capable of filling spaces between individual components, they cure to form a strong bond and allow for the transmission of high loads without the need for air. This means sealed components and machine designs can still achieve high strength and temperature resistance across a variety of substrates.

Used across a broad range of mechanical components, as well as for bearings, shafts, and cylinder liners, retaining compounds are most commonly found within the automotive and heavy machinery industries. However, they can also be used in any industry where metal-to-metal adhesion is required for moving parts. Additionally, retaining compounds help manufacturers to avoid unnecessary machining of a broad range of mechanical components during MRO.

There are a number of reasons electrically high strength retaining compounds might be chosen over other methods of bonding and adhesion, and the advantages are clear. In fact, any type of component that will be under stress, that has a small adhesion area, and that is found within moving machinery, can benefit from retaining compounds. Moreover, any component that is at risk of fretting leading to corrosion can benefit from these materials to reduce wear and potential failure during operation.

For more information on individual products or the retaining compound range, contact one of our advisors today to discuss you needs and specific application.

Types of Retaining Compounds:

As with most glues, solders, and adhesives, there are a range of different types of retaining compound currently available. These fulfill different functions in various industries. Henkel supplies manufacturers with retaining compounds designed for specific applications, offering features such as:

• High strength
• High temperature resistance
• Fast cure speeds
• Superior gap filling
• Low viscosity
• Fluorescent formula
  

In general, retaining compound types may be broken down into the following application areas designed to target specific use cases:

Retaining Compound vs. Threadlockers

In most cases, manufacturers asking whether they should choose retaining compound vs. thread lockers must identify their specific application and substrate. Retaining compounds are higher strength and designed specifically for bonding components. This stands in opposition to threadlockers that are usually designed to prevent leakage, loosening, and corrosion of threaded fasteners. Choosing the correct type of adhesive is crucial within automotive and heavy machinery applications and, when high strength bonding is required, retaining compounds are generally the right choice.

High Strength Retaining Compounds

High strength retaining compounds are found in a variety of formulas depending on your specific application. This type of retaining compound is crucial to designs under high amounts of stress or components that must operate in challenging environmental conditions. High strength retaining compounds are also capable of bonding components that have limited adhesion areas or challenging assembly processes, with a particular focus on sealed components where access may be difficult.

High Temperature Retaining Compounds

High temperature retaining compounds are also found in a variety of formulas, each with a different set of characteristics. However, they are defined by superior resistance to heat in designs operating where high ambient temperatures and thermal operation of components is expected. High temperature retaining compounds are particularly suited to the automotive and MRO industries, with a selection of LOCTITE^® products designed specifically for these areas.

Advantages of LOCTITE^® Retaining Products:

LOCTITE^® Retaining Products Offer:

• Higher strength with simplified and less costly designs
• Reduced dependence on machining tolerances
  
• Corrosion and fretting prevention
• Even load and stress distribution over the joint
  

When Used in Combination with Interference Fits, LOCTITE^® Retaining Compounds Allow

• Higher load transmission and better performance with existing designs and geometry
  
• Equal performance with relaxed tolerances
  
• Reductions in the size and weight of an assembly
  

Problems with Conventional Assembly Methods That LOCTITE^® Retaining Products Can Help Overcome:

• Pins, key/keyway assemblies have uneven distribution of mass, an imbalance that can lead to vibration at high speeds
• Splines and serrations cause high stresses due to the “notch effect” that occurs in the area of a key. And have high machining costs
  
• Clamp rings, press fits, shrink fits, and taper fits rely on friction alone to transmit torque, therefore they are limited by material, surfaces, and design. Close tolerances are needed to obtain specific load capacities, leading to high production costs

For more information on individual products or the retaining compound range, contact one of our advisors today to discuss you needs and specific application.

Industrial Applications for Retaining Compounds

Retaining compounds have a broad range of industrial applications, finding uses wherever sealed components require high strength bonding solutions. LOCTITE^® retaining compounds offer manufacturers high strength, high temperature, fast curing, and superior gap filling options, with our products displaying either some or all of these characteristics. Commonly used as bearing retaining compounds, the LOCTITE^® range is also suitable for several different industry applications.

Preventing Fretting Corrosion

Fretting corrosion occurs under high loads and in the presence of repeated relative surface motion such as in, for example, components subject to long term vibration. Fretting corrosion prevention is highly important to reduce oxidation of exposed metallic surfaces and mechanical wear that may cause metallic debris. Bearing retaining compounds from LOCTITE^® can help to reduce this type of corrosion and ensure components run smoothly over long periods.

General Manufacturing

The challenges of general manufacturing are wide ranging, meaning multiple retaining compound solutions may be required in any one facility. Ideally suited for machinery and components with bearings, sleeves, and pins as well as close fit, slip fit, press fit, and shrink fit applications, the Henkel catalogue of retaining compounds deliver a broad spectrum of characteristics to meet those challenges. In fact, wherever flexible and reliable adhesion in machined parts is required, our range of retaining compounds has you covered.

MRO Applications

For the maintenance, repair, and operation of machinery in any setting, retaining compounds deliver comprehensive solutions across a wide range of applications, such as in aerospace. Keeping vital machines in working order and ensuring repairs can be made quickly and easily is key to the efficient operation of your plant, factory, or facility, and using Henkel’s range of LOCTITE^® retaining compounds will ensure you have a targeted solution on hand at all times.

Automotive

High-quality retaining compounds are used frequently within the automotive industry, helping to provide high temperature, gap filling solutions for a wide range of components. In particular, shaft or keyway repair within automotive applications can help cut the costs of replacing the entire component. Henkel has formulated its LOCTITE^® retaining compounds to work seamlessly across automotive applications in a broad range of settings.

LOCTITE^® Retaining Compound Packaging is Recyclable

Henkel is pleased to partner with TerraCycle^®, an innovative recycling company that offers recycling solutions for the typically non-recyclable.

Through this partnership we have created the Adhesive Recycling Program for our customers, allowing you to recycle LOCTITE^® adhesive packaging and reduce the amount of waste that is sent to a landfill or incinerator.

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Further Resources

For more information on Henkel’s retaining compounds download the respective PDFs here. Alternatively, contact us today for more TDS and SDS sheets or to learn more about our specific LOCTITE^® products.

Cost and Performance Benefits of Retaining Compounds

Cost Benefits:

• Reduce or eliminate expensive machining operations
• Eliminate some surface finishing requirements
• Prolong equipment life through better fatigue and corrosion resistance
• Fill gaps so machining tolerances can be widened
• Help lower overall assembly and maintenance costs
• Simplify assemblies by reducing use of circlips, keys, dowels or threads
• Can eliminate the need for mechanical fixings
• Minimise machine downtime ensuring an earlier return to service

Performance Benefits:

• Increase assembly reliability
• Produce more accurate, rigid assemblies
• Eliminate backlash in keys and splines
• Prevent small diameter shaft distortion
• Increase strength of heavy press fits
• Eliminate fretting corrosion
• Seal against environmental corrosion
• Eliminate high assembly stresses
• Reduce variations in load transmission
• Allow dissimilar materials to be assembled more easily