As an industrial executive, you must be aware of the dangers of galling to avoid costly machinery failures. Galling is a phenomenon caused by metal surfaces coming into contact under high load and friction. This creates a localized area of strong adhesion between the two surfaces. The strength of this adhesion is such that the force needed to overcome it is often greater than the original load. In the worst cases, this can cause the fastener to break or seize. This is extremely damaging to the quality of your production equipment and must not be left to chance.
Galling is a common problem faced by many industrial engineers and manufacturing managers, especially in areas such as metal fabrication, processing, and engineering design. However, galling can occur in any industry or application that involves metal.
Metals are very susceptible to galling when they make contact with each other under high load, friction, and conditions that promote plastic behavior. Metals with low ductility and rough surfaces tend to exhibit this phenomenon more than other materials. The appearance of the galling area is typically smoother and more gradual if lubrication is used between the mating parts.
The most common causes of metal galling are:
Stainless steel bolts, washers and nuts can experience this issue when they have threads that are dirty, damaged or rough. This increases the amount of friction that is generated between the threads and leads to galling. To reduce this friction and prevent galling, it is important to always use clean fasteners that are free from dirt or debris. Slowing down the speed of installation can also reduce the amount of heat and friction created during assembly, minimizing the likelihood of galling. The addition of the correct anti-seize solution based on the environment where the fasteners are to be installed can also greatly minimize the risk of galling. what is galling