Loctite Retaining Compound Solutions

Advantages & Benefits of Retaining Compounds

• Increased Strength: Enhances the load-bearing capacity of assemblies. They offer the ability to disassemble the component, and an even distribution of load and stress over the entire joint. simplified and less costly designs, and reduced dependence on machining tolerances.
• Improved Reliability: Reduces the chance of failures due to wear or vibration. They eliminate corrosion and fretting, and improve the durability of assembly.
• Simplified Designs - Cost and Time Saved: Allows for looser manufacturing tolerances, reducing machining costs. Applied as a liquid, they fill surface irregularities and provide 100% contact between mating metal surfaces, eliminating the need for expensive replacement parts, time consuming machining or the use of mechanical methods.
• Reduced Unplanned Downtime & Enhanced Machine Reliability: By effectively preventing cylindrical failures through uniform stress distribution and unitising the assembly, Loctite retaining compounds significantly enhance overall machine reliability and operational efficiency.

Loctite Retaining Compounds vs. Conventional Methods

• Surface Contact: Conventional methods achieve only 20-40% surface contact, leaving microscopic gaps, whereas Loctite retaining compounds fill 100% of microscopic gaps between mating parts.
• Load Distribution: Traditional methods lead to stress concentration at limited contact points, while Loctite retaining compounds ensure uniform stress distribution across the entire joint.
• Failure Prevention: Conventional methods are susceptible to fretting corrosion, loosening, and premature failure under dynamic loads, but Loctite retaining compounds eliminate movement, preventing fretting corrosion and significantly enhancing reliability and durability.

Retaining compound vs threadlocker: What's the difference?

The difference between a retaining compound vs a threadlocker ultimately comes back to the application at hand and the substrate the adhesive is being used on.

Retaining compounds are typically higher strength and designed specifically for bonding cylindrical components that must resist usually torque and compressive loads.

Threadlockers, however, are designed to prevent self-loosening, leakage, and corrosion of threaded fasteners. Choosing the correct type of adhesive is crucial within aerospace, automotive, rail, and heavy machinery applications, but when high strength bonding is required, retaining compounds are generally the right choice.

Three factors need to be considered when selecting a retaining compound for a particular application.

Gap Fill Requirements

Like other anaerobic adhesives in the Loctite portfolio, retaining compounds are designed to fill small gaps and surface irregularities. Loctite retaining compounds are available in a range of viscosities, with some specialist grades capable of filling gaps up to 0.5mm:

• Gap Size – up to 0.15mm – typically lower viscosity products
• Gap Size – between 0.15mm and 0.25mm – higher viscosity liquid products
• Gap Size – between 0.25mm and 0.5mm – paste like products, possibly used with activator

Strength Requirements

Similarly to threadlockers, retaining compounds offer both high strength (for permanent bonds) and medium strength (for future disassembly). High strength retaining compounds offer a higher shear and compressive strength and resistance and can also be used in applications with high torsional loads.

Service Temperature Requirements

Most Loctite retaining compounds offer a service temperature range between -55°C and 150°C. However, certain products are able to withstand higher temperatures (between 180°C and 230°C) for applications subject to more extreme heat.

Find Your Perfect Loctite Retaining Compound

Find the right retaining compound products for your application.

For gaps up to 0.15 mm, lower viscosity retaining compounds are suitable, often used for tight-fitting interference fits like press and shrink fits. Gaps between 0.15 to 0.25 mm require retaining compounds with higher viscosities to allow better gap fill, including bonded slip fits. Assemblies with larger gaps, typically between 0.25 to 0.5 mm, may need special paste-like compounds, especially for worn parts.

Most Loctite retaining compounds are able to withstand temperatures of -55 to 150 °C. However, certain chemistries are available that withstand temperatures up to 180 to 230 °C for assemblies which see higher service temperatures. For more guidance, see our Retaining Compound Brochure.

Loctite Retaining Compounds Brochure