Part 2 - The arguement for using threadlocker vs Antisieze in almost all areas

The last post talked about what each chemical does. I also included the material safety data sheet with each chemical/compound. Please read those as they are important for your long term health.


The theory behind using antiseize and/or threadlocker:

Antiseize
There are people who claim the only way to install titanium fasteners or specialty fasteners is to use antiseize. The arrangement is that antiseize prevents galling of the threading surfaces and prevents galvanic corrosion between titanium and aluminum. The galling occurs when two untreated metals surfaces are slid together under high pressure and force. Antiseize also "buffers" the two reactive metals by providing a sacrificial metal in the grease to use.

Threadlocker (aka Loctite)
To some it may come as a surprise. But in our applications (bicycles) threadlocker can be substituted in almost all cases (except for lubricating the cassette lockring or Shimano centreloc lock ring).

Why?

• because we don't care about high temperature applications
• because we don't care about high torque applications (think bolts that are the size of your arm).

Threadlocker when still in liquid or gel state is able to prevent galling of two metal surfaces under pressure and force for our sized fasteners. It will adequately lubricate two sliding surfaces to prevent cold welding. Much like how adding oil to threads does the same.

Threadlocker will also prevent galvanic corrosion between two metal surfaces just fine. When threadlocker fully cures. The cured loctite gel/liquid becomes an acrylic layer that isolates the two metal surfaces preventing galvanic corrosion.

In my professional experience as an aerospace engineer, when given the choice between threadlocker (aka loctite) is a better compound to threat threaded fasteners than antiseize for high performance applications.The benefit of using threadlocker is that is also acts as a secondary locking feature which is a back up against the fastener loosing tension (aka losing torque). Pretty much everything on our bicycle is a safety critical interface. Wherein if a stem bolt loosens there is a good chance your handlebar will coming flying off and you go flying off and crash. The brake rotor bolts holding your brake rotor. The bolts holding the caliper to the frame or fork... etc... the list goes on. So why not increase the safety and reliability of your bicycle by using threadocker?


Stay tuned for Part 3 - How to apply the various chemicals used for assembly a bike