Boosting the scope of shrink fits with engineering adhesives

Higher load transmission can be obtained from existing designs and geometries and there’s the potential for equal performance with relaxed tolerances and the reduction in size and weight of the assembly.

Traditional interference fits generate strength solely from metal-to-metal contact of surface peaks, an area that represents a relatively small percentage of the overall joint surface. Small micro-movements at the joint interface can produce particles which abrade and reduce the contact surface even more. This leads to fretting corrosion, accelerated wear and ultimately, failure.

In a bonded assembly, anaerobic retaining adhesives fill the surface irregularities and clearance gaps between the metal parts, then cure to create a very dense and high strength bond that increases joint strength and achieves maximum load transmission.  The cured resin increases the area of surface contact to 100% so the distribution of stress and joint reliability are improved and part life increased.  

It’s easy to see why designers are increasingly favouring retaining adhesives to replace, or complement, conventional assembly methods. When employed without structural bonding, pins or key/keyway assemblies, for example, have uneven distribution of mass and imbalance that can lead to vibration at high speeds. Splines and serrations cause high stresses due to the ‘notch effect’ that occurs around the key that will, during the service life of the assembly, require costly remedial machining.

Welding or soldering are limited to compatible metals and the parts can be distorted by the high temperatures required. Heating of the material can lead to residual stresses and structural degradation and additionally make disassembly for subsequent maintenance difficult or even impossible.

The bigger picture

Used on their own or in combination with traditional assembly methods, retaining adhesives can enhance product design way beyond the commonly appreciated benefits. Firstly, let’s consider the time and cost involved in engineering an interference fit assembly with specific load capacities. 

Interference fits rely on friction alone to transmit torque and to achieve maximum joint strength and optimal performance, these joints must be precise. The interference fit is machined to be imperceptibly bigger than the mating hole of the outer part. The larger component is then forced into the smaller part, both deform slightly to fit together and the two parts ‘unitise’ and operate as one.

But even when the appropriate allowances for interference fitted parts are painstakingly calculated to achieve maximum friction, failure can occur. And in order to calculate and achieve such exacting levels of dimensional precision both the cost and the time required for component production increase.

Retaining compounds enable engineers to design robust, interference fitted joints at reduced cost in less time than traditional interference fits by reducing the required dimensional precision.  Since the combination of the interference fit and the retaining compound is much stronger than the interference fit alone, you do not need to go to extremes to calculate dimensional tolerances.

Recent advances in retaining compounds have made these adhesives even more robust.  They no longer require cleaners, primers or activators to enhance cure speed or strengthen bonds.  And once assembled, they resist higher temperatures than earlier formulations.