Copper Grease: Introduction

Copper grease is a high-temperature, anti-seize compound. Anti-seize compounds contain a combination of high load-carrying, temperature-resistant lubricating solids dispersed in a water-resistant grease base designed to operate in extreme environmental conditions.

Created to protect threaded fasteners and mechanisms from thermal or corrosion-induced seizure, they are commonly known as copper anti-seize.

Copper greases, like Copaslip, are formulated on a semi-synthetic base fluid reinforced with antioxidants, corrosion inhibitors and, of course, ultra-pure copper, hence the name. It also contains non-metallic solid lubricants thickened with bentone clay providing extreme water resistance.

Anti-seize compounds would, to be effective, typically have a solids content of around 35%.

As with most manufactured solutions, copper grease is designed to meet a specific set of operational requirements. As such, there are advantages and disadvantages to using this product in your production.

In this article, we will break down the pros and cons of using copper grease and help you decide if it’s the product for you.

How to use copper grease

Copper grease is an anti-seize compound formulated to prevent the seizure of components in predominantly static applications.

It is designed to be tolerant of high temperatures, withstanding extreme heat up to +1100°C and extreme environmental conditions.

Due to the outstanding high-temperature protection and washout resistance, copper anti-seize is used to treat any threaded fastener (nuts/bolts/studs) and static machine components.

For best results components to be treated/protected should be clean and dry surfaces, solvent degreasing is advised.

Apply copper grease sparingly to the male thread with a lint-free cloth or brush. Apply sufficient product to fill the thread form and assemble to the desired torque setting.

However, copper grease is not to be confused with lubricating grease which is used for ‘dynamic’ machine parts and mechanisms which are generally tight tolerance assemblies which are not subjected to the same level of operational/environmental heat.

It is important to know the operational requirements and difference(s) between anti-seize and lubricating grease before attempting use.

The pros of using a copper grease

There are many features of a copper grease compound that make them effective in a wide variety of applications, these include:

High-temperature resistance:
As has been mentioned above, copper grease compounds have has incredible temperature capability being effective up to +1100°. This makes it the perfect choice for high-temperature manufacturing industries and in assembly/dismantling scenarios.

Corrosion protection:
As well as protecting against heat and seizing, copper grease also offers excellent corrosion protection. This protects components and metals from corrosive substances and environmental conditions that may corrode them over time.

Washout resistance:
Copper anti-seize provides extreme resistance to washout making it the ideal product for use in outdoor, wet and marine environments.

Anti-Seize property:
The key feature of copper greases is its anti-seize properties. This ensures that fasteners, machine parts and components operate properly and do not seize while in use. This cuts down on costly machine downtime/maintenance and enables machines to work more effectively for longer.

The cons of using a copper grease

Copper anti-seize compounds are a highly effective product. However, specific in their applications, if used in the correct, intended applications there should be no negative consequences.

However, if used incorrectly:

Though copper greases are an effective product, they are specific in their applicability and there can be some negatives to using them, these include:

Limited effectiveness on fast-moving parts/dynamic applications:
Anti-seize compounds become less effective when subject to fast motion. This renders them ineffective for moving parts or fast-moving machinery. This is where a lubricating grease would likely be the correct choice.

Weaker lubrication:
Copper grease does have lubricating properties, but compared to other greases and lubricants it is minimal. If lubrication is one of the key features of your application, you may need to consider a different mode of lubrication.

Interference with electrical components:
Due to its copper content, copper greases can sometimes interfere with the effective operation of electrical components. This includes sensors operating at high temperatures when the grease base has evaporated leaving only the products lubricating solids.

This is because copper is a conductive substance. When used in normal ambient temperature applications this is not a problem due to the product’s grease base acting as an insulator.  

Alternatives to copper grease

If you find that copper grease is not the right compound for your manufacturing or maintenance needs, several alternative anti-seize options may meet your operational requirements.

These include:

Ferroslip – Ferroslip is a nickel-free, mineral oil-based compound designed to withstand extreme conditions up to 1400°C. Ideal for use on high-strength/temperature fasteners.

Alumslip – Alumslip is specifically designed for use in copper-free applications or where copper needs to be avoided in dissimilar metal applications where there is a risk of galvanic corrosion.

Ceramslip – Ceramslip is a premium performance, anti-seize compound. It can withstand temperatures up to +1500°C and is formulated on a fully synthetic base fluid fortified with a unique combination of micronized, non-metallic anti-seize solids.

Graphslip – Graphslip is a metal-free anti-seize compound suitable for use where the presence of metals cannot be tolerated or where dissimilar metals galvanic corrosion is a possibility.

Foodslip – Foodslip is an NSF H1 registered food grade anti-size compound making it the best option for industries where incidental food contact may occur.

Conclusion

As laid out above, there are a number of considerations to keep in mind before choosing copper grease anti-seize as the right lubricating grease solution for you.

Each lubricant solution is specific and can be designed for certain industries and applications. As always, speaking to an expert is the best way to ensure that you are using the right products for you.

For more information on copper grease and our entire range of industry-leading productions, visit our product pages here.