Sealing it tight
The benefits of using liquid gaskets
Introduction
Preventing the leakage of fluids is a critical requirement
in the transport of a fluid (liquid or gas), in industrial
processes and in the operation of machinery where
liquids are used.
The fluids vary in substance, sometimes merely steam
or water, but often they are toxic or hazardous fluids
and pose a great financial and environmental risks if not
handled correctly.
Valves, pumps and flanges are critical components in
chemical industrial plants and in Australia, fugitive
emissions from these plants alone are projected to
reach 37 megatonnes by 2020.1 The overall amount can
be potentially mitigated, if leakage from these parts are
prevented.
The most common way to prevent the leakage of fluids
is by using gaskets. When choosing a type of gasket, it is
important to consider performance and reliability, with
the right choice resulting in low leak and failure rates
as well as a longer product life. Currently, there are two
options – the common compression type gasket and the
recent and more advanced anaerobic types.
Limitation of compression gaskets
Compression gasket is the most typical form of gasket.
However, they have several limitations and often fail or
leak.
Compression gaskets deform to fill the irregular
voids between the two surfaces being sealed. This
phenomenon is known as gasket creep.
Gasket creep leads to compression set. As the gasket
is under compressive loads for long periods of time,
it loses its ability to recover to its original thickness
and permanently sets in its compressed shape. The
gasket then fails to provide the pressure to return to its
original thickness and no longer seals effectively, as leak
pathways are created.
A further issue with gasket creep is that when
maintenance staff find a leak they often re-torque
the bolt to achieve a seal. In this type of failure, the
bolt tension has not only exceeded the appropriate
compression loads of the gasket but also exceeded
flexural strength of the flanges.
The anaerobic alternative The LOCTITE 518

With these issues in mind, an alternative to traditional Henkel Adhesive Technology, the global leader in the
compression gaskets is available. The concept behind adhesive markets, has developed an industry leading
anaerobic flange sealants is that there is no gasket, product in anaerobic flange sealant: LOCTITE 518.
therefore eliminating the failings of the gasket design.
LOCTITE 518 has recently undergone significant
Anaerobic flange sealants are designed to create form- redevelopment and has been successfully upgraded to
in-place (FIP) gaskets between rigid metal flanges that solve common challenges associated with anaerobic
are bolted together – metal surface to metal surface, as gasket products, these include oil tolerance, cleaner
if the gasket did not exist, filling only the microscopic contamination tolerance, gap cure, cure on inactive
Neutracare Neutracare
Degreased Emulpon
3300 300
P3 6765
P3 P3

Company
Henkel Henkel Henkel
Name

Neutral Neutral Neutral

Metal Metal Metal
Cleaner
N/A Cleaner/ Cleaner/ Cleaner/
Function
Corrosion Corrosion Corrosion
inhibitor inhibitor inhibitor

Lap shear strength (Nmm-2) measured on

non-gritblasted mild steel lap shears

Loctite 518
5.5 4.3 5.9 7.2
Upgrade

Loctite 518
3.3 0.0 0.7 2.1
Original

surfaces and flexibility.

voids which exist between the mating surfaces.
The fundamental feature with an anaerobic gasket is
that it remains liquid when exposed to air, but cures
to a thermoset plastic, when confined between mating
flanges. This key feature ensures that the most common
reasons for leaks in compression gaskets do not occur.
By its very nature, an anaerobic gasket is not under
any compression, so it does not have any effects of
gasket creep. In addition, as it is liquid, it will fill
any voids or surface irregularities once it cures,
ensuring that there are no leakage paths, from
surface irregularities.
The recent product upgrade now offers better and more
consistent cure through the light oil and contaminations
experienced under real-world production and
maintenance conditions, improved gap cure, more
robust and higher strength on passive metal surfaces
and higher flexibility.
With success stories across all sectors, LOCTITE 518 has
now been developed for general purpose and is ideal
for use on casted iron, steel and aluminium and alloy
flanges. With increased flexibility, improved adhesion,
enhanced sealing, improved gap cure and higher
strength, LOCTITE 518 resolves the many leak problems
found with compression gaskets.
For more information on LOCTITE 518, visit
www.loctite.com.au/sealantupgrade

Anaerobic flange sealants are hence best suited for rigid

metal-to-metal assemblies where the sealing gap is
small. As an example, surface flatness should not exceed
0.1mm over a length of 400mm and the maximum gap
at surface imperfections must be within the maximum
gap cure of the product. The typical maximum gap cure
of anaerobic flange sealants ranges from 0.1 to 0.25mm.2
References:
1. Australia’s Emissions Projections 2016 http://www.environment.gov.au/
system/files/resources/9437fe27-64f4-4d16-b3f1-4e03c2f7b0d7/files/aust-
emissions-projections-2016.pdf
2. Loctite Worldwide Design Handbook, 2nd Edition p99 – p104.