Advantages of threaded connections
Threaded connections offer several advantages, including, but not limited to, convenient disassembly, repeated use of a fastener and accurate reassembly. However, without proper lubrication, those advantages can be lost, giving rise to significant equipment challenges and reliability concerns. Proper lubricants, typically in the form of lubricating pastes, can circumvent some of the common failure mechanisms associated with threaded connections. In particular, they can help prevent inconsistent bolt tension due to inconsistent coefficient of friction, stick slip, corrosion, fretting, galling, or seizing.
Finding proper lubricants
Ultimately, not all lubricants are equal. Finding the right one will not only reduce friction, increase preload accuracy and make bolting easier to perform, but also avoid the damages associated with catastrophic failure. Proper lubricants should thus be selected based on the most dominant failure modes listed for the application, as well as of the operating conditions the material will be subjected to.
