How Do Galling Issues Affect Manufacturing Processes?

Particularly in industries where fasteners are used, galling issues can occur. These can result in everything from fatigue breakage to fastener seizing, and everything in between. The potential consequences of these issues can be disastrous. But what is galling? Can it be guarded against? What causes galling?

Here, we are going to take a more detailed look at galling, it’s causes, the effects of it, and whether or not fasteners and other manufacturing parts can be protected against it. Finally, we’re going to recommend one of the best courses of action to guard against galling and the possible horrific results that can occur if galling is allowed to take place.

What Is Galling?

When metal surfaces come into contact with each other in a gliding manner, a form of wear referred to as galling is caused.

Holding the moving parts of production equipment together are hundreds of fasteners and bolts. Due to galling, fatigue breakage and seized fasteners are not uncommon if not protected against. The undesirable effects of either of these results can be potentially disastrous. That is why, in order to counter this threat, players in the manufacturing industry are advised to take action.

You’ve Never Heard of Galling?

Most commonly, engineers and designers are most familiar with the concept of galling in the manufacturing industry. But when an expensive machine breaks down, guaranteed, everyone will suddenly become aware. The safety and/or quality of the following is seriously threatened by galling:

Expensive production equipment
Crucial machinery
Staff

What Causes Galling?

Usually pertaining to metal, when between two moving surfaces there is excessive friction, the wear caused is referred to as galling. When two surfaces are compressed together and under sufficient load, the galling process involves a transfer of materials between them because they are literally being torn up.

Catastrophic Failure

In many applications and segments, galling is a problem. Wherever the use of stainless-steel fasteners takes place, it’s a possibility. If, before sufficient torque has been obtained, a thread galls, the risk of failure is evident in the manufacturing industry. That covers an awful lot of devices and machinery that are used in production and have moving parts. Failure of an application because of fastener breakage is an extreme case but possible when galling occurs. In applications with dynamic load exposure, the risk is the highest.

Preventing Galling

Industries must be aware of galling in order to minimize it and its negative consequences. In critical applications, only premium stainless-steel fasteners should be used. These fasteners have high tensile strength and corrosion resistance, making them an essential part of critical fastener applications in many industries.

The battle against galling can also be fought victoriously with the proper thermal spray application and materials.

The Best Way to Guard Against Galling

When it comes to the protection of parts, components, machinery, and various surfaces, A&A Coatings assists industries throughout the nation. We offer a wide selection of coating substances and application methods – one or more of which will be the perfect fit for your business. If you have problems with galling, erosion, corrosion, or significant wear and tear on a level that simply cannot be tolerated, we’ve got a thermal spray coating for you.