![]() VOC content – For industrial applications, VOC (volatile organic compounds) in the media must be considered in sealants that contain solvents, as VOCs can emit irritants. ![]() Longevity – The length of time for which a sealant provides an effective seal will depend on the application, vibration, media, temperature and pressure.Ĭhemical compatibility – In order to ensure appropriate grip and eliminate the possibility of failure, there must be chemical compatibility between the pipe material, the media that flows through it and the sealant used. Thread sealants feature five important properties:Īdhesion – In order to achieve efficient sealing, the sealant must adhere to the material to which it is being applied.Ĭonsistency/viscosity – A sealant must have the right consistency or viscosity for it to correctly level itself on the thread. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each. Either a PTFE (*Polytetrafluoroethylene) liquid thread sealant or a PTFE sealing tape can be used but it depends on the purpose and the kind of seal you’re working on. If it’s not, the result will be leaks and reduced flow. When you need a seal to be watertight or gastight, it’s critical that the space between the male and female threaded connections is completely filled. But before you choose a product, it’s important to consider a range of factors and today, we’re going to go into what they are and the differences between thread sealant and sealing tape. Manufactured in Italy to global standards, it boasts high performance and minimised cure time. This is because it’s so much easier to do it first time round, rather than draining everything down again in order to apply it.īetter to get it right the first time, rather than create a headache for yourself further down the line.Bromic recommends Loxeal 58-11 Thread Sealant for multiple applications. Most plumbers will recommend using the PTFE tape and jointing compound on any new heating installation. The combination of the PTFE and the compound really helps to enable that the joints will not leak. You don’t need to put too much on and you can wipe off any excess before putting on the nut. If you are installing a new central heating component (like a radiator or a radiator valve) then it’s advisable to use PTFE tape AND some silicone-based jointing compound, to make the joint completely watertight.Īfter putting on the PTFE tape, you can apply a liberal amount of jointing compound around the thread and smooth it round with your finger. When putting the nut on over clockwise-wound tape, you’ll see if fits over easily and the tape does not start to come off, in contrast to when it was wound anti-clockwise. This is thick enough to prevent leaks, but not too thick that you can’t get the nut on. When applying the tape clockwise, it’s recommended that you wrap it around the thread three or four times. This obviously renders the PTFE tape completely useless and highlights exactly why you should wrap it around the thread in a clockwise motion. If you are right-handed, you will probably find it quite awkward to do, but more importantly, when you try and screw the nut on, you’ll find that the PTFE will start to come off. 99.9% of the time, nuts tighten up clockwise, so this is the way you should also apply the PTFE tape.įor the sake of proving the point, you could wind the tape anti-clockwise onto the thread. The correct way to apply the tape is to follow the direction of the thread, as if you were tightening up the nut. PTFE Tape also goes by the name of Plumber's Tape, Teflon Tape and Thread Seal Tape. ![]() It's mainly used to wrap around pipe threads and helps to prevent leaks from joints, for example on radiator valves or taps. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) Tape is a type of tape popular amongst plumbers. ![]() Call now Chat now Contact Us Browse by section:
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