Tips For Choosing A Pipe Thread Sealant
Posted on: 10 June 2016
If you work as a plumber, you are going to need to be making sure that you seal your pipe threads in order to make sure that your clients do not suffer any leakage. This is especially important if you are working in a factory environment, failing thread seals are especially important because many pipes are carrying extremely hot liquid that, should they leak on someone, could seriously injure people. Here are some tips for choosing a pipe thread sealant in order to make sure that you are getting the accuracy that you need as well as the speed of application that you might also require.
1. Tape
The first option is the cheapest and the easiest to apply. It is tape, usually made out of Teflon or some other relatively slippery surface. This tape is more of a pipe threading clog, rather than a pipe threading sealant. It is most appropriate for residential areas that are not under a high amount of stress and do not necessarily need the highest level of seal strength. Tape is also excellent if you are trying to seal pipe threads for two pipes that need to be anchored together but are tight and need a little bit of extra slipperiness to actually connect. The tape will help provide that lubrication and will then clog the threads so that there is an appropriate amount of sealing strength.
2. Pipe Dope
Another option is to purchase pipe dope, or a type of sealant that contains a solvent. This sealant is relatively pliable and can be worked into and around the pipe threads easily for the first few hours that it is applied. However, after those first few hours, the solvent will have dissolved and the sealant will not be as pliable. This type of seal is stronger than tape. This type of sealant is best for medium pressure systems where heated liquids could be pumped through because it is strong enough to handle them.
3. Anaerobic Resin Compounds
Finally, compounds that are made out of resin are extremely helpful because they provide one of the strongest seals. They are also the most expensive. This type of sealant remains pliable until you deprive it of oxygen. Once you deprive it of oxygen, it hardens. This is the only sealant that has been mentioned that is able to withstand pipes that are frequently vibrating. It is also appropriate for pipes that have liquids moving through them at high pressures and temperatures.
For more information, talk to a company that specializes in plastic seals, such as Seal Pneumatics.
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