Pipe sealants are effective adhesive compounds designed to fill the gaps in threaded pipe connections, thus, preventing fluid leakage. They are predominantly used in a range of plumbing applications to create water-tight seals. Moreover, they also lubricate the threads for efficient assembly making and bridge the connecting components. Besides sealing applications, they are also applied in the interior of the connection fittings and threaded pipe’s ends for attachment purposes to prevent gas or water leakage. In addition, they are available in different types and forms, like liquid and gel pastes, including gasket sealers, Loctite 577, epoxy on metal, etc., for ease of application.
What Are the Popular Sealant Types?
There are different sealant varieties available on the market. However, some of the most common sealants include:
- Leak sealers
- Pipe sealants
- Pipe sealant cord
- Gaskets sealants
- Thread sealants, and
- Adhesive patch kits.
Why Use Pipe Sealants?
Whether you are experiencing any water or gas leakage within your pipes, you should consider using pipe sealants due to their versatile and unique specifications. They provide excellent solutions with multiple benefits, such as:
- They are easy to apply with no mixing needed.
- Stop and prevent blockage and leakage.
- Resist shredding, loosening, cracking, or creeping over time.
- Offer corrosion protection.
- Compatible with varied pipe sizes.
- Fill spaces within a variety of threaded metal parts.
- Cured sealants with the ability to seal the pipe’s burst pressure.
- Feature resistance properties to various chemicals.
Choosing the Right Pipe Sealants:
Due to the availability of huge quantities and types of thread sealers, it is sometimes confusing to choose the right products. It is essential to consider certain parameters before using your desired sealant over thread type. For example, Loctite 567 thread sealant, a general-purpose sealant, is ideal for sealing taper threads. Other parameters include:
- Sealant type
- Pipe material
- Temperature of the pipe
- Vibration
- Pipe’s fluid pressure.
How To Apply Pipe Sealants?
The procedure is quite simple. It is recommended to follow the following steps to apply a sealant to your applications effectively.
- First, assemble all your desired sealing parts with your product and wear protective gloves.
- To avoid clogging other materials, clean the interior and exterior of the thread surfaces. You can use sprays to degrease the surfaces and let them dry.
- Apply sealant all over the male and female threads if you work with bigger threads.
- For even sealant distribution and firm tightening, screw the pieces together to fill the gaps using appropriate tools or pipe wrenches.
- Gently insert a piece of thread (male) into another (female).
- Clean the additional pipe sealant using a cloth to wipe them off before they dry.
- Finally, keep the threads from contacting dust particles to avoid clogging. Do not forget to wash your hands after finishing your task.
What Are the Typical Applications of Pipe Sealants?
Pipe Sealants offer various applications in a range of industries, including:
- Gas compression systems
- Petroleum refining
- Plumbing
- Automotive Repair
- Industrial assembly & maintenance
- Distribution industry
- DIY projects.
