sealing Tag

ND Patch – Self Locking & Sealing

ND Patch® found its original market in the automotive industry over 40 years ago. This new locking and sealing product quickly expanded into an indispensable service in automotive manufacturing. Currently, ND Patch is a leading fastening technology used, not only in automotive manufacturing, but by a variety of industries in global markets.

A few facts about Patch Technology:

  • Patch is one of the leading technologies used to make fasteners self-locking and self-sealing.
  • Patch coats an average of 90% of the screws in most PC laptops.
  • Patch is regularly utilized on the screws used in bike breaks and gear shifters.
  • 95% of the screws in a giant bicycle are coated with patch.
  • Most mobile phones use about 20 to 25 fasteners, all of which utilize self-locking coatings like patch.

What is Patch?

Patch is an inert fastener coating that makes threaded fasteners self-locking and self sealing. Patch is not a glue. Patch can be applied to almost any threaded fastener by ND Industries®. This pre-application process means that fasteners come to the assembly line ready to use, no adhesives or other locking devices need to be added. The ND Patch, offered by ND Industries, is an advanced nylon/polymer material dryfused to a fastener at the ND® Processing Plant. ND Patch creates a positive lock upon fastener assembly, preventing loosening and leakage at the fastening point. ND Patch applications replace the need for costly lock washers, cotter pins or castellated nuts. Patch technology has, in some cases, also replaced the use of bottled thread-locking compounds. Because ND Patch is pre-applied before assembly, the use of patch coated fasteners instead of bottled products, which are applied during assembly, improves cost efficiency on long runs.

During ND’s Patch coating process the fastener to which the Patch is being applied is heated to a precise temperature. This heating allows a powdered nylon/polymer material to flow into the shape of the fastener thread. Because the ND Patch coating process entails no drilling or milling, the fastener to which ND Patch is applied does not lose any structural strength. ND Patch is typically applied 2 to 3 threads back from the fastener end for easier starting of the nut/bolt assembly. The ND Patch material fuses to the heated fastener instantly upon application. Since ND Patch is not chemically reactive, no cure time is needed. Once the fastener is cooled, ND Patch coated fasteners are ready for use. This means that ND Patch coated fasteners can be immediately put into automatic assembly preparation equipment, saving precious time in the assembly process.

ND Patch can be applied to almost any internally or externally threaded metallic fastener, whether large construction bolts or tiny screws used in portable electronic devices. Moreover, the nylon-like material used in the ND Patch coating process is highly chemical resistant, and will not dry, shrink, or lose its integrity even when exposed to commercial solvents, alcohol, gasoline, motor oil, caustic soda, jet fuel, anti-freeze, brake fluid, and more.

ND Patch is available in standard coverage, 360° Ring Patch – for extra sealing – and Hi-Temp Patch for assemblies that must withstand temperatures up to 500°F (260°C). Developed by ND Industries for assemblies that operate in extreme heat conditions, such as those used in the aerospace, automotive, appliance industries, and others, ND Hi-Temp Patch performs in temperature extremes ranging from -70ºF to +500º F, exceeding the temperature performance of any other high temperature patch application offered by other companies.

How does ND Patch work?

The ND Patch coating works effectively like a spring and a dam. When a ND Patch coated fastener is threaded onto a mating part, the patch material is compressed. Once a patch coated fastener is engaged, the compression of the patch material that occurs during installation exerts a constant spring-like pressure between the fastener and its mate. This pressure, in turn, creates a strong metal-to-metal lock between the fastener and the mating part on the side of the fastener opposite of the patch. Even if the fastener is not fully seated, the pressure of the ND Patch material forms a positive lock, keeping the fastener in place. Once fully seated, ND Patch coated fasteners are resistant to loosening even when subjected to extreme shock impact and prolonged vibration. This resistance greatly reduces the need to retighten fasteners.

The ND Patch material also works as a dam, virtually eliminating the small spaces between the fastener and its mating part and blocking leak paths along the fastener threads. When the fastener is fully seated, the seal created by ND Patch effectively prevents all fluid leakage.

Even though a superior lock and seal are created by the ND Patch coating on a fastener, the presence of the ND Patch material does not affect fastener adjustability. Unlike many bottled thread locking and sealing adhesives, a fastener coated with ND Patch retains service removability. Furthermore, the ND Patch material does not lose its locking power if the fastener is removed. And, since ND Patch is highly resistant to deformation, patch coated fasteners may be repeatedly reused without compromising their locking ability or damaging their threads.

ND Patch is used in the automotive, construction, medical, electronics, and aerospace industries as well as in military applications and many others.

For more information contact ND Industries at 248-288-0000 or visit www.ndindustries.com.

ND Industries – Fastening and Sealing Solutions

ND Industries® – Leader in Fastener Locking, Sealing, Bonding, and Thread Masking Solutions

Founded in 1955 as the Nylok®-Detroit Corporation, ND Industries® is a single-source supplier for pre-applied and user applied fastener locking, sealing, bonding, and thread masking products and technology. ND Industries offers high quality, affordable alternatives to Nylok®, Loctite®, Long-Lok®, 3-M® and other big name products. ND currently owns 48 product and process patents in the U.S. and overseas with an additional 42 pending. ND Industries is ISO 9001:2000 certified and provides a broad range of Automotive and Military Approved processes.

ND Electronics (Kunhsan) Co., Ltd. and ND Industries Taiwan, under the direction of J. Timothy Marzano, President of ND International Operations, have been providing the Asian Basin with unique and innovative products since 2004. ND’s proactive business strategy includes providing products such as ND Patch, Vibra-Tite VC-3 Original®, ND Micro-encapsulated adhesives, Epoxy Lock®, Sealants and PTFE along with the many other ND products and services offered to North American, European, and Asian customers doing business in Asia.

ND’s Asian operations are not licensees – as many competitors’ foreign operations are – but a part of the ND international family. ND Asian operations and Asian customers of ND Industries share in the benefits of the U.S. success in manufacturing and ND’s extensive connections with U.S. distributors who wish to extend their business into Asia.

ND Industries Taiwan and ND Electronics (Kunshan) Co., Ltd. have a collective team of over 200 Asian employees facilities covering over 60,000 square feet in plant floor area. Eddie Davis, General Manager of ND Electronics, speaks highly of his experience in China and states proudly, “We have the most high tech and sophisticated equipment in the industry today and our employees are some of the best at what they do.”

Since its start up, ND Electronics has specialized in processing nylon patch for small screws (M1.4 to M3.5) for the electronic market which dominates the Shanghai and Suzhou basins. As the automotive industry continues to build momentum in China many more opportunities await ND’s Kunshan based facility.

Ricky Hsang, General Manager of ND Industries Taiwan, believes there is great opportunity for Taiwanese/Chinese manufacturers in the electronic, automotive, and bicycle/scooter markets to improve there assembly operations by using ND products.

ND Asia currently offers 6 diverse fastening applications:

ND Patch® – ● Reliable ● Service Removable ● Reusable

ND Patch, widely used in the automotive and aerospace industries, is applied to a threaded fastener surface, and so requires no drilling or milling. The ND Patch processes make threaded fasteners of all sizes and configurations self-locking and self-sealing. ND Patch can be used on both interior and exterior threads and leave fasteners fully adjustable. ND Patch is completely dry, fused to the fastener, and requires no curing time after installation. ND Patch is Automotive and Military Approved.

Vibra-Tite VC-3 Original® – ● Not an Adhesive and Not an Anaerobic ● Service Removable ● Works on Virtually Any Material or Finish ● Locks and Seals

Vibra-Tite VC-3 Original has headed the list of unique, high quality products offered by ND Industries® for over 40 years. The most effective inert, chemical threadlocker available, VC-3 prevents fastener loosening from vibration or shock on even the smallest threaded fasteners used on eye glasses and is the only product approved for use on the US Army’s main battle tank.

Epoxy-Lock® – ● The Most Powerful Pre-applied Locking Fastener Epoxy

An ND original product, Epoxy-Lock is the most powerful pre-applied locking fastener thread epoxy available on the market. Epoxy-Lock can be pre-applied to either exterior or interior threaded fasteners. Though the adhesive surface is dry to the touch, when mated to its corresponding part the force of the connection crushes the surface skin of the epoxy coating, mixing the separate components and initiating a chemical reaction that bonds in minutes. Curing continues after installation for 72 hours.

Because Epoxy-Lock remains inactive until the coated fastener is utilized, it has a long shelf-life if stored in a cool dry space. Once full cure is achieved, the lock created is powerful, permanent and impervious to exposure to oil, gasoline, salt-spray, acids, solvents, water and air. Epoxy-Lock is Automotive Approved.

ND Microspheres® – ● Requires No Special Handling or Heat Curing

ND Microspheres are microencapsulated room temperature curing adhesives that can be applied to exterior or interior threaded fasteners of all sizes and configurations to create a powerful lock between a fastener and its mate. An ND Microspheres coated fastener remains inert until mated into its corresponding part, so no special handling is required. Even rough handling will not activate ND Microspheres.

ND Microspheres have low prevailing on torque, so coated pieces assemble easily with common hand tools. ND Microspheres contain both of the components of the adhesive needed for activation, so it only needs to be applied to either one of any two mating, threaded parts. ND Microspheres are Automotive Approved and have an indefinite shelf life when stored in a cool dry place.

ST-3®- ● A Widely-Used Automotive-Approved Product ● Easily Adjusted, Removed and Reused ● Non-hazardous and Non-flammable

ST-3 is a resilient thread sealant for straight or tapered threaded fasteners. ST-3 immediately forms a custom-fitting, elastic gasket right in the threads, preventing the passage of most fluids and chemicals. ST-3’s elasticity also provides a strong resistance to vibration, helping to keep fastener threads locked in their seated position and joints tight. ST-3 is unaffected by chemicals, including: natural gas, butane, propane, motor fluids and chemical solvents. ST-3 also protects fastening parts against corrosion from brine, chlorine, acids and alkalis. It is used on a broad range of sealing and locking applications including: filler plugs, gauges and sensors, pipe fittings and plugs, hydraulic fittings, bearing adjuster nuts, cable connectors, screws for plastic assembly.

Compare ST-3 with 3M® Scotch-Grip® Brand #4291, as well as Loctite® Vibra-Seal® 516, 517, 503, and 503HV. ST-3 is also available in bulk for use on band applicator machinery, flow coat or tumbling systems.

LM-1293® ●PTFE Type Coating ●Eliminates the Need to Cap Male and Plug Female Threads

LM-1293 is a PTFE Type fastener coating that prevents undesirable substances such as electrodeposited automotive undercoatings, and weld spatter from adhering to fastener threads.

LM-1293 application is an automotive approved process in which fasteners are accurately coated with one of a variety of thread masking and lubricating materials. The use of a PTFE Type material and a proprietary binder system in the LM-1293 coating process makes it the ideal coating for many applications. LM-1293 can be applied to male or female, ferrous or non-ferrous threaded fasteners of virtually any finish.

Unlike competitive processes which often subject parts to extremely high temperatures that can damage or discolor the fastener, ND’s unique patented process employs minimal heat. And unlike processes that require parts be completely free of oil or other rust preventative coatings, only parts with excess oil or surface contaminants may require pre-cleaning for ND’s LM-1293 processing.

LM-1293 is commonly used on welded nuts, studs, and pierce nuts and in large appliances, construction applications, and heating & cooling compressors.

Why are more customers turning to ND?

ND is a vertically integrated company offering 1-stop, complete quality source operations. Not only does ND coat fasteners, they also supply bottled product, operate an in-house design engineering group, formulate custom chemical compounds, and are supported by their own in-house IT and advertising and marketing departments.

ND Industries focuses on customers’ individualized needs. If you have a hard to solve fastening related problem, or want a better solution than what you’re currently using, ND can help you create an original and highly effective solution to help solve it.

Price and quality are universal to ND’s business strategy. ND’s advanced in-house capabilities can provide multiple functions for its customers and at the same time keep overhead expenses low. And because ND’s overhead is low their prices are typically lower than their competitors, while their product quality is as high or higher. And ND prides itself on fast delivery. ND customers get what they need when they need it.