Any fastener can perform well in the right application; the tricky part is selecting the right one for your intended use. For example, what materials do you need to bond? What is the size of the gap you need to fill? What temperatures and other environmental conditions will the bond face? How important is flexibility, fixture, and cure time to your application? From the beginning of the product design stage through implementation, keeping track of and continuing to pay attention to the smallest of details is of utmost importance. Otherwise, failure is inevitable.
Mark Thurber, who has worked with fastener coatings since the 1980s and now heads the specialty coatings manufacturer Tectorius, knows this situation all too well. Thus, he believes that fastener enhancements should be at the top of the list when discussing fastener selection for a part or assembly.