Smith Fastener Coatings


XYLAN 1000 SERIES FLUOROPOLYMER COATINGS BY WHITFORD CORPORATION APPLICATION BY SMITH FASTENER CO., INC.

IN-HOUSE COATING FACILITIES Since 1980 Smith Fastener Co. has maintained an in-house coating shop to provide application of XYLAN to a variety of fastener products. Offered in several industrial colors, our products have served customers within the United States and several countries overseas. We address all facets of the coating application with one goal - to provide the highest quality coated product and maintain control of the entire process in-house. While there are several good coaters, there are very few with fastener expertise. We combine these tow qualities for an unusally strong presence in the market place. We pay close attention to the critical details of application that include thread fit inspections and substrate finishes prior to the actual coating.	PROVEN PERFORMANCE Pictured below is an ASTM A193 B7 Alloy stud bolt with accompanying nuts. One of the greatest areas of acceptance to the fluoropolymer coatings for fasteners has been in bolts used for pipe, flange, and valve connections. Ideally suited for chemical, petrochemical, and oil refinery installations, these coatings are now being specified for new construction and updated maintenance programs. In our market research we found the potential for high-performance coatings on other fasteners and small component parts to be unlimited. The performances of these coatings are being recognized by the automotive and appliance manufacturers, power plant installations, off shore drilling companies, and manufacturers of small parts all looking for the two key ingredients of a quality coating - CORROSION RESISTANCE and LUBRICITY.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
MAKE-UP TORQUE A number of factors complicate even the most sophisticated tooling systems in evaluating make-up torque values to achieve desired tension results. Field and shop conditions that expose threaded surfaces to dirt, grease, oil, and heavy dust all contribute to increasing friction in the initial tightening of the connection. In overcoming friction an increased amount of torque is required which can mean the optimum degree of tension may not be attained. The Xylan coating system can help eliminate this problem by reducing the make-up torque to achieve desired clamp loads because of the dry film lubricity characteristics of the coating. The low static and dynamic coeffients of friction in the fluoropolymer coatings allow a much greater uniformity in getting to the desired torque tension results. Also very noticeable is the elimination of galling and seizing problems associated with friction. The make-up torque recorded here was measured by first tightening a nut against a contained rubber bushing until snug. The nut was then rotated for two turns and the make-up force required was measured. Least torque was recorded for the bolts with the Xylan coating.	BREAK-OUT TORQUE We have previously addressed the advantages of the Xylan coating system for corrosion resistance and make-up torque values. But the inevitable end to any mechanical connection is disassembly. No one could possibly calculate the hours spent by maintenance personnel in taking "Frozen" nuts off bolts, Time consuming, costly, and potentially dangerous torch-cutting methods are obsolete when Xylan coated nuts and bolts are used. Maintenance departments in marine environments, chemical and petrochemical plants with highly corrosive atmospheres, automotive maintenance fighting weather - road salts - chemical-laden fluids, all can realize large savings from this coating. The same two factors - CORROSION RESISTANCE and LUBRICITY work to your advantage in disassembly. Torque for breakout was measured by tightening the nut to a known force (100 foot pounds). After 720 hours in the four environments, the force needed to break each connection was then measured. The Xylan coated nuts outperformed all others.
CORROSION RESISTANCE The data presented below is intended to be used only as a guide. Your choice of Xylan coating should be subjected to your test procedures prior to its use in any chemical environment. All tests were conducted at room temperature except as noted and assume a pin hole free coating film.	XYLAN 1000 SERIES COATINGS Xylan 1000 series coated fasteners are ideal for use in chemical plants, petrochemical plants, off shore structures and platforms refineries, power plants, and any industrial installation where extreme adverse environmental conditions exist. While not a replacement for stainless steel fasteners, these new coatings provide an excellent alternative to achieve the corrosion resistance without sacrificing strength. Alloy steel and high carbon heat treated fasteners can be coated and used where tensile strength and proof load requirements must be maintained. Fluoropolymers with the lowest coefficient of friction known are combined in a matrix with the newest high-temperature organic polymers. United, these polymers form "Plastic Alloys" having the following characteristics: Low Friction - as low as 0.02 Wear Resistance - even under extreme pressures Corrosion Resistance - in most chemical environments Weather Resistance - against saltwater, high humidity, sunlight, road chemicals Wide Temperature Operating Range - from - 420°F to +550°F Wide Color Range - coding possibilities Pliability - coatings bend freely without breaking Machinability - multiple coats to thickness specifications are possible Excellent Adhesion - to most metals, plastics, ceramics and wood Flexible Curing Schedules - ambient to 550°F
All technical data and graph information is from Whitford Corp.