Loctite
Encyclopedia
Loctite is a brand of adhesives, sealants and surface treatments
Surface finishing
Surface finishing is a broad range of industrial processes that alter the surface of a manufactured item to achieve a certain property. Finishing processes may be employed to: improve appearance, adhesion or wettability, solderability, corrosion resistance, tarnish resistance, chemical resistance,...
that include acrylic, anaerobic, cyanoacrylate
Cyanoacrylate
Cyanoacrylate is the generic name for cyanoacrylate based fast-acting adhesives such as methyl 2-cyanoacrylate, ethyl-2-cyanoacrylate , and n-butyl cyanoacrylate...
, epoxy
Epoxy
Epoxy, also known as polyepoxide, is a thermosetting polymer formed from reaction of an epoxide "resin" with polyamine "hardener". Epoxy has a wide range of applications, including fiber-reinforced plastic materials and general purpose adhesives....
, hot melt, silicone
Silicone
Silicones are inert, synthetic compounds with a variety of forms and uses. Typically heat-resistant and rubber-like, they are used in sealants, adhesives, lubricants, medical applications , cookware, and insulation....
, urethane and UV/light curing technologies. Loctite products are used in a variety of industrial and hobbyist applications.
History
In 1953, American professor Vernon Krieble developed anaerobic threadlocking adhesivesThread-locking fluid
Thread-locking fluid is a thin, single-component adhesive, applied to the threads of fasteners such as screws and bolts to prevent loosening, leakage, and corrosion. Typically, thread-locking fluids are methacrylate-based, and cure anaerobically...
in his basement laboratory at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
. Krieble’s company, American Sealants, founded the Loctite brand, which was promoted as ushering in a new era of mechanical reliability by eliminating the vibrational loosening of mechanical fasteners, a frequent cause of machine failure. In 1956, the name Loctite was chosen by Krieble’s daughter-in-law. The Loctite sealant made its official public debut at a press conference at the University Club of New York on July 26 of that year.
In 1963, American Sealants changed its name to the Loctite Corporation. The next year, Loctite introduced cyanoacrylate adhesives
Cyanoacrylate
Cyanoacrylate is the generic name for cyanoacrylate based fast-acting adhesives such as methyl 2-cyanoacrylate, ethyl-2-cyanoacrylate , and n-butyl cyanoacrylate...
(a repackaged Eastman product, invented at Eastman Kodak
Eastman Kodak
Eastman Kodak Company is a multinational imaging and photographic equipment, materials and services company headquarted in Rochester, New York, United States. It was founded by George Eastman in 1892....
in 1942), also known as “Super Glue”. It was the first of many new products, including silicones
Silicone
Silicones are inert, synthetic compounds with a variety of forms and uses. Typically heat-resistant and rubber-like, they are used in sealants, adhesives, lubricants, medical applications , cookware, and insulation....
, epoxies, acrylics and the development of new Loctite anaerobics. The 1980s brought about the addition of a line of micro anaerobic adhesives.
In 1997, Loctite was acquired as a flagship brand by Henkel
Henkel
Henkel AG & Co. KGaA is an multinational company headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany.The company operates in three business areas: Home Care , Personal Care ,...
, a German Fortune 500 company. Since then, Loctite has remained a primary Henkel brand and a supplier of household adhesives, epoxies
Epoxy
Epoxy, also known as polyepoxide, is a thermosetting polymer formed from reaction of an epoxide "resin" with polyamine "hardener". Epoxy has a wide range of applications, including fiber-reinforced plastic materials and general purpose adhesives....
, spray adhesives, construction adhesives and home repair, sealants and fillers. In recent years, the company has increased its focus on green and sustainable technologies.
Products
Products made with Loctite branding include:- Bonding adhesives, such as cyanoacrylates, epoxies and hot melts
- Protective coatings for industrial equipment
- Flooring and concrete repair sealants and topcoats
- Gasketing and sealing products
- Industrial anti-seize and lubricating products
- Machining compounds that supplement cutting, smoothing and finishing processes
- Potting and encapsulating products to reinforce housed assemblies
- Repairing, rebuilding and restoring solutions
- Retaining compounds for non-threaded cylindrical assemblies
- Surface preparation products such as cleaners and degreasers
- Threadlockers and thread sealants in anaerobic liquid and semi-solid formulations
- Medical application solutions (adhesives, dispensing equipment, curing systems)
- Adhesive equipment (controllers, reservoirs, applicators, valves, dispensing systems, pumps, monitoring systems).