Anti-seize spray is essential for any machinery where components are exposed to high temperatures, extreme pressure, or corrosive environments that would otherwise cause metal parts to “weld” together.

Anti-seize spray is used on injection moulding machines to prevent metal-to-metal parts from welding together (galling) or seizing due to extreme heat and high pressure. It is a critical maintenance item for facilitating easy disassembly of high-temperature components.

Key application areas include:

• Nozzle Components: Applied to the nozzle head screws, nozzle seating surfaces, and nozzle threads to prevent them from seizing due to constant thermal expansion and contraction.
• Heater Bands and Clamps: Used on the bolts and tightening mechanisms of barrel heater bands to ensure they can be removed during maintenance.
• Mold Components: Applied to guide pins, bushings, ejector pins, and cam rollers to ensure smooth movement and prevent galling.
• Tie Bars: Used on tie bar threads and nuts, particularly on older machines or where high clamping forces might cause threads to seize.
• Fasteners and Clamps: Used on bolts, nuts, and flange connections for the mould, clamping unit, and injection unit to ease maintenance disassembly.
• Moving Parts: Used on cam rollers and sliding mechanisms to reduce wear and prevent seizure.

Galling in bolts

Important Application Tips:

• Apply Sparingly: Too much anti-seize can contaminate the mould or attract debris.
• High Temperature Tolerance: Use high-temperature variants (such as copper or nickel-based, up to 1000°C for the nozzle and barrel components.
• Reduce Torque: Because anti-seize acts as a lubricant, it is often recommended to reduce tightening torque by 20-30% to avoid over-tightening fasteners.

Beyond injection moulding, the following machines and systems must use anti-seize:

1. Automotive and Transportation

Anti-seize is critical for parts that require regular maintenance but are subject to heat and road salt. [2, 3] 

• Exhaust Systems: Used on manifold studs, flange bolts, and oxygen sensors to prevent them from becoming permanently stuck due to heat cycles.
• Braking Systems: Applied to brake caliper bolts and the back of brake pads to prevent seizing and ensure smooth operation.
• Engine Components: Essential for spark plug threads, especially in aluminum cylinder heads, to prevent thread galling.
• Wheel Assemblies: Used on wheel studs (sparingly) to ensure lug nuts don’t seize, though torque must be adjusted downward. [4, 5, 6, 7] 

2. Industrial Manufacturing and Power Generation

• Power Plants & Turbines: Used on massive turbine bolts, cylinder heads, and flange connections that operate at extreme temperatures.
• Industrial Ovens & Furnaces: Applied to kiln rollers, conveyor chains, and door hinges that must remain functional in constant heat.
• Boiler Equipment: Essential for nuts, bolts, and studs that are frequently exposed to high-pressure steam and moisture. [8, 9] 

3. Food and Chemical Processing

• Food Grade Machinery:  Frequently used on chain sprockets, manifold tubes, and pump gaskets where food contact is not likely to occur.
• Pumps and Valves: Used on screw shafts and packing glands to prevent corrosion-induced seizing in chemical or water treatment environments.

4. Marine and Aerospace

• Marine Equipment: Because of salt-water exposure, anti-seize is used on almost all exposed fasteners on boat engines, dockyards, and underwater fittings to stop oxidation.
• Jet Engines: Specialized nickel-based compounds are used for bolts and sliding parts that face extreme high-altitude thermal stress.

Quick Reference for Material Selection:

• Copper-Based: Best for general high-temp automotive use (up to 1000°C) but avoid in oil refineries as it can damage catalysts.
• Nickel-Based: Best for stainless steel and ultra-high temperatures (up to 1300° C}; used when copper is prohibited.
• Aluminium/Graphite: Common for general-purpose applications and prevents galvanic corrosion between different metals.

About the Author

Sanjay Malhotra

Managing Director, Aerol Formulations P. Ltd.

With over 36 years of manufacturing excellence, Aerol Formulations P. Ltd. is one of India’s leading manufacturers of MRO aerosol products for industrial and automotive applications, delivering high-performance solutions trusted across industries.