Features of thread sealant

Thread sealant is designed to make gas supply, heating or plumbing pipe connections as tight as possible. When choosing a suitable option, you should take into account all the features of thread sealants, orient yourself among the whole variety of types, keep in mind both the old-fashioned methods of sealing, and the use of modern anaerobic gels.

Starting a major overhaul, many are thinking about the tightness of pipes in the last place, but in vain. After all, it depends on how high the probability is that everything can be ruined by an unexpected leak. This is especially true when the pipes run near expensive equipment: since the damage to the family budget will be more than perceptible.However, many find the simplest solutions, using the available tools for sealing the thread: tow, threads, plasticine. All this does not provide the necessary insulation. And here it is time to pay special attention to professional thread sealants.

Among professional materials, there are fum tapes, teflon threads and anaerobic gels. At the latter stands out in more detail. They are used more often lately because they provide the optimal level of adhesion of pipes, completely sealing the thread. Properly applied anaerobic sealant is able to withstand a pressure of 50 atmospheres, not to mention the vibration loads. In general, such a sealant is the best choice for both domestic use and for professional objects it will work just as well.

The main feature of the anaerobic gel is that it begins to harden only when the nut or the connection is twisted and the access of air to the sealant is blocked. As a result, the connection is obtained, it can be said, monolithic, and it cannot be broken by almost any mechanical efforts. Only ultrahigh temperatures help, which can be obtained only with the use of special tools (for example, a building dryer).It is safe to say that the heating pipes can also be sealed with a gel, and the durability of the joints will be at a height despite the temperature drops.

If you apply an anaerobic gel according to all the rules, it will last from 5 years and longer. If the technology has not been observed in due measure, then the guaranteed service life will be only a year. Nevertheless, even a one-year warranty is more than can be expected when using non-professional tools and materials. Many complain that anaerobic binders are too expensive (the average price varies from 1,500 to 2,000 rubles for a 50 ml tube), but practice shows that such sealants are worth the money, because repairs in case of something much more expensive. In addition, the gel is economical, and it is possible that such a tube is enough to seal all the plumbing and communication pipes in the apartment.

On the basis of anaerobic sealants are divided into those whose composition is based on the oligomer, and based on polymers of the acrylic group.Both have similar qualities: they withstand high pressure, are not subject to the negative impact of mechanical loads, and so on. The difference is important only for professional chemists, the specialists in the construction industry do not pay attention to this parameter when choosing.

Much more important is the separation of sealants according to the degree of fixation. There are options for strong fixation, medium (universal) and low.

Means with low degree of fixation are used when it is necessary to seal the pipe connection of small diameter. The clamp does not tolerate vibrations and vibrations, and the pipe itself can be easily untwisted with the help of improvised tools. This makes the use of low-fix sealant an excellent choice when you need to connect the pipes only for a while, and in the near future they will be dismantled. You can also use this type for long-term use, but on condition that during operation there will be no significant loads on the threaded connection.

Medium fixation pastes and gels are used in everyday life most often. They are suitable for sealing heating systems, gas pipelines, plumbing, and their use is absolutely harmless and does not change the quality of drinking water.That is why sealants of this type are called universal. They firmly fix the thread, but you can dismantle the joint in the future, only for this you will need to use specialized equipment. The latch can withstand the loads that produce batteries, water pipes and plumbing.

Strong fixation in living conditions is not needed. Such sealants fasten pipes forever and further dismantling is impossible. They, as a rule, are applied at industrial productions: factories, factories, at arrangement of a city sewer network. These clamps are much more expensive than household ones and require special knowledge and skills when working with them, because you will have to act quickly and accurately. The connection is obtained inseparable and in the future, if necessary, the joint will have to be cut.

Frequently used sealants of average fixation are also classified. In this case, the classification category is the degree of viscosity of the drug. The smaller and more often the thread, the thinner the sealant should be so that it can optimally fill the entire air space of the joint.The maximum diameter of the pipes, for which anaerobic gels and pastes are produced, is 4 cm. Large pipes are compacted by other means.

The most important criterion by which you can immediately conclude that the sealant is used for and what properties it possesses is color. They produce anaerobic thread sealants of several colors.

As a rule, blue anaerobic sealants are suitable exclusively for metal pipes and parts. The joint is resistant to all sorts of influences, be it water, gas, antifreeze, gasoline, and the like. The blue latch is a high-quality seal that has only recently begun to be used in domestic conditions. Previously, it was available only in industrial production, for example, in the construction of defense structures, rockets, space ships. Application is limited only by the diameter of the pipes: it should not exceed two centimeters. Dismantling can be done without special equipment through the application of medium mechanical forces.

Red sealants are needed to seal worn, scratched threads.Also, red sealants are used to seal joints of ferrous metal pipes. Red clamps grab faster than others, but this does not affect their strength properties. They are resistant to high pressure and temperature extremes. The diameter of the pipes that can be sealed with this anaerobic gel is no more than 3 cm. Dismantling will necessarily require heating of the junction. When repairing remove excess sealant from the thread is optional, you can apply a new layer directly on top of them.

Green sealant belongs to low-strength varieties. It is suitable for temporary connection of pipes from both plastic and metal. When dismantling it, no effort is required: it will be enough to unwind the connection, as usual. Producers say that the difference between the blue and green versions is small, but it is not. Blue is resistant to all kinds of influences, vibrations, which cannot be said about green. You can use a green retainer when sealing pipes up to 3.81 cm (1.5 inches) in diameter. The important point is that the thread should not be damaged.

Anaerobic sealants were invented in the fifties of the last century in the United States and were initially used only in industrial areas. Later they came to the USSR, and with the decline of the industrial complex, sealant manufacturers tried to popularize their products and find a new use for them. So anaerobic gels and pastes migrated into construction.

Initially it was forbidden to use them when sealing water pipes, because it was believed that their contact with water poisons it, and water can not be drunk in the future. However, further studies have shown that the compounds used in anaerobic fixatives are completely safe.

Currently threaded sealants are used in several areas.

• Water supply. With the help of an anaerobic gel, they seal the water pipes in apartments and houses. For insulation of pipes located on the street, they are not suitable because of the impossibility of sealing large diameters. Clamps are also suitable for insulating sewer pipe joints, as they are able to withstand high water pressure. It is better to use blue sealants.
• Plumbing. Water is supplied to the plumbing using pipes, the connection of which must also be made airtight. To this end, a sealant is used that is resistant to high temperature fluctuations. This is especially important, for example, when connecting a washing machine. Care must be taken to ensure that the retainer is suitable for sealing plastic pipes.

• Heating. As in the previous case, the sealant must withstand temperature fluctuations, as well as to be resistant to heating antifreeze and other chemical compounds. If Soviet cast-iron radiators are being insulated, then only red varieties of anaerobic gels should be used, since others are not designed to work with ferrous metals.
• Gas pipeline Here, the tightness of pipes is particularly important, since a gas leak will damage property through an explosion. You can lose and life. Do not use green sealant, only blue. It is also not advisable to use red as it will be impossible to dismantle if necessary. It is best to entrust the sealing of gas pipes to professionals in order to avoid possible mistakes.

After reviewing the theoretical information on anaerobic thread sealants, you can make a list of their positive and negative features. Since there are many more advantages than disadvantages, it should start from the first.

There are several advantages.

• High heat capacity of the joints. The sealant will not collapse even under the influence of strong temperature fluctuations. As a rule, the permissible level varies between -200 degrees and +300 degrees. All this allows the use of liquid anaerobic gels when connecting radiators or water pipes with hot water.
• Durability and strength. The joint will not disintegrate, will not crack under the influence of mechanical loads or vibrations, so you can be calm about the fact that the pipe can flow due to the fact that water was piped through the pipes a little more intensively.

• Saving. In the long run, it turns out to save money on the repair and renewal of sealant on the pipe joints. In addition, the composition itself is also economical when working. It will need literally a drop to handle the whole thread.
• Chemical resistance This feature is one of those that influenced the popularization of anaerobic sealants.Unlike scrap materials and some professional ones, gels and pastes with anaerobic properties easily tolerate exposure to chemical compounds and substances, such as gasoline, antifreeze, and the like.
• Lack of water solubility. After passing through the polymerization process, the sealant is not washed out with water, does not dissolve in it, so it can be safely used to seal water pipes without fear that the sealant will completely dissolve over time and the tube will leak.

• Versatility. It is understood that the lock can be used when working with different materials, including in cases where one part is made of one material, and the other - from another. So, the most frequent example is the connection of a plastic pipe with a metal one.
• Ability to withstand high pressure. Resistance to resist pressure should be put in a separate line, because it most often interests buyers. Joints treated with anaerobic sealant are able to withstand a pressure of 40-50 atmospheres.

In addition to these advantages, there are a number of disadvantages to the tool.

• Correlation with temperatures.The temperature for solidification should be between 15 and 25 degrees. In too cold a room, the polymerization time of the sealant will greatly increase, and its properties may change.
• Diameter restriction. It is impossible to find an anaerobic gel that can be applied to pipes with a diameter of more than 4 cm so that it does not lose the lion's share of its technical characteristics.

• Dependence on surface cleanliness. Before applying the fixer, the surface must be properly prepared: clean, degrease and dry. Otherwise, completely seal the joint will not work.
• The difficulty of dismantling. Only temporary green sealants can be removed manually. For the blue ones, you need special equipment, such as a building dryer. Reds can not be dismantled at all: the pipe will have to be cut.

It is worth mentioning in advance that anaerobic gels and pastes are available in ready-to-use form. Additionally, it is not necessary to prepare solutions and formulations. The container in which they are sold, is designed for the fact that the drug will be applied directly from it, although you can use all sorts of brushes,if it is more convenient.

The order of work.

• The surface is thoroughly cleaned. Removed any signs of rust, corrosion. If there are traces of old sealant in the place of application, then it is not necessary to remove it completely: small particles will not affect the quality of the seal. If the pipe is new, then it is enough to go through the thread with a metal brush to improve the adhesive properties.
• The degreased surface is cleaned. For this fit all sorts of compositions, for example, white spirit. Degreasing should be done carefully, without missing a single gap. It is important that the anaerobic gel is well grabbed. A special activator should be applied to the plastic thread.

• Next, prepare the composition itself. The tube shakes well. Only then can the packaging be opened.
• Sealant is applied to the place of the joint with a thick layer along the entire thread. Some masters advise applying the composition only for a few turns, since this does not affect the tightness of the joint, however, if you are processing a pipe that will be under high pressure in the future, it is better not to risk it.For optimal sealing, the sealant is applied not only from the outside of the joint, but also from the inside: this is how an optimum effect can be achieved.
• After applying the gel, you must tighten the connection. You do not need to exert excessive efforts, it is enough to tighten manually. If the sealant has come out, it is collected with a napkin. The composition does not freeze in air, so the sealant can be reused by applying to another compound.

• Next, the joint is checked for tightness. To do this, after 15-25 minutes, you need to create a small pressure of 10-15 atmospheres, letting in water or gas. If everything is in order, then it is necessary to wait for complete hardening.
• Full polymerization occurs within 24 hours. After this time, the test is repeated, but the pressure should already be 40 atmospheres. If everything works properly, then you can use pipes. If not, dismantling and re-sealing is performed.

• If it is necessary to dismantle the joint, then the order of work will be as follows:
  1. the flow of hot air from the construction dryer is directed to the place of the joint;
  2. waiting for the moment when the latch turns into a crumb;
  3. connection is disassembled using a key;
  4. residues of anaerobic gel or paste are removed with a cloth.

It is possible to argue about which manufacturer is better for a long time, so the simplest thing is to turn to reviews. The most positive marks are given to several brands.

• Loctite Universal glue from the Chinese manufacturer, but many users have noted that constant care is required for the cap.
• Salup. Products from Italy are of high quality and ease of operation. There is a warranty seal that stands out as a virtue, since it is possible to check how tightly the packaging is closed.
• Abro. One of the few sealants that can be used at negative temperatures - up to -20 degrees.

• Mannol. This option has one of the longest shelf life, but it is impossible to work with him in a closed room due to the strong smell.
• Wurth. This lock German production attributed to the highest quality. Despite the high cost, it is popular.
• Tangit Uni Lock. Manufacturer from Belarus. Specialized gels are produced for both plastic and metal.
• Siseal. Anaerobic gels of this brand are often used. Sold in containers of 100 g.

Professional masters share several recommendations, how to make the sealing of threaded connections the most simple and durable.

• Do not be afraid that the uncured sealant will come from the inside of the pipe. It will not freeze and in the process of operating the water supply system it will simply be washed off with water. Anaerobic gels are completely harmless, but it is still best to leave the faucet open for a while so that excess sealant can be completely removed.
• When screwing connections treated with thread sealant, it is not necessary to tighten the threads with keys. The maximum effort of the hands will be quite enough, but you really need to wrap in full force.

• If the pipe is fragile, then you do not need to try to unwind the treated joint sealants. Heat must be used immediately. It will be enough to 170 degrees.
• If possible, it is best to abandon the use of sealants for temporary installation. Disassembling connections will require a lot of time and effort that does not pay off completely. It is best for temporary use to resort to the use of thread-sealants or flax.

On the features of the threaded sealant, see the following video.