Everlube Products Parts Guide: Aviation Fasteners & Hardware Essentials

Aviation fasteners and hardware are regularly subject to extreme conditions that place continuous stress on materials and installation interfaces, eventually leading to a loss of joint integrity and reliability as the effects of wear ensue. As these components play a direct role in maintaining airworthiness and safety across assemblies, it is essential that they are properly safeguarded to promote longevity.

Within this context, surface treatments serve as an advantageous solution for protecting aviation fasteners with their ability to manage friction, prevent corrosion, and ensure predictable performance across repeated installation and maintenance cycles. Here on Hardware and Fasteners, we offer access to a premier Everlube parts catalog, which is replete with a range of in-demand solutions that trace back to a recognized industry name. If you are interested in learning more about the importance of surface treatments and considerations that can guide procurement for Everlube offerings, be sure to read on.

Why Are Surface Treatments Important for Aviation Systems?

As we mentioned before, the fasteners used in flight operations and other aviation applications commonly experience repeated mechanical loading and stress over extended service periods, a result of environmental exposure, intense temperature fluctuations, and other various factors. Without appropriate surface protection, even high-grade base materials can degrade over time, leading to increased rates of friction, seizing, or corrosion. Surface treatments are thus applied to aviation fasteners to address such risks in a controlled manner, supporting:

Consistent torque application during assembly.

Reduced galling and wear during repeated installations.

Protection against environmental degradation by preventing the accumulation of contaminants.

Together, these functions contribute to predictable maintenance intervals and reduced disruption during inspection and servicing.

Notable Everlube Products for Aviation Fasteners

When it comes to aerospace and aviation operations, Everlube’s selection of solid film lubricants (SFL) are often sought after for their ability to provide essential protection against galling, seizing, fretting, and other undesirable effects. On average, the company’s range of coatings are recognized for their ability to maintain a low coefficient of friction under extreme loads and temperatures that typically cause traditional greases to migrate or evaporate.

Popular Everlube Products

Everlube 620/620C: As an industry standard for high-load fasteners, this thermally cured, MoS2-based coating is qualified to AS5272 and MIL-L-8937 standards. As such, it offers a form of "set-and-forget" lubrication layer that benefits engine bolts and landing gear pins alike.
Perma-Slik G: This air-drying MoS2 lubricant is ideal for field repairs and touch-ups, offering the same level of friction reduction as cured coatings while forgoing the need for specialized ovens to cure. As a result, they are a staple for hangar maintenance needs.
Everlube 9001/9002: These water-based, environmentally friendly alternatives meet Boeing BMS 3-8 specifications, offering excellent chemical resistance to Skydrol and jet fuels. With these features, such products are commonly applied to high-cycle, commercial aviation fasteners.
Lube-Lok 5306: Engineered for high-pressure hydraulic fittings, this coating ensures that threads remain intact and leak-free, even when exposed to intense vibration from hydraulic power units.

How to Verify Coating Compatibility and Determine Project Needs

Selecting the correct Everlube coating for any aircraft fastener is not a "one size fits all" process, requiring professionals to carry out a systematic evaluation of common criteria. In aviation settings, the interaction between a fastener's base metal and its coating is paramount in preventing galvanic corrosion, with various pretreatments and substances offering unique capabilities. When it comes to narrowing down the best solution for any need, be sure to consider:

Substrate Analysis: Identify the base material of any fastener, as this has a great impact on compatible coatings. For example, aluminum generally requires grit-blasting or conversion coatings for proper adhesion, while titanium necessitates specific alkaline cleaning to ensure the SFL bonds permanently.
Operating Environment: Assess the thermal range that all fasteners will be exposed to. While most MoS2 coatings can handle upwards of 400°F (204°C), high-temperature engine sections may require fasteners coated with graphite-based Everlube 811 for stability up to 1200°F.
Chemical Exposure: Verify coating resistance to aggressive fluids, especially when exposure is expected during use. It is typically best to choose a product rated for constant immersion or splash contact with applicable fluids, whether they be Skydrol, JP-8 fuel, de-icing agents, or other substances.
Torque-Tension Requirements: The coating of choice should be able to provide a predictable “K-factor,” guaranteeing a specified torque that facilitates optimal axial tension in the fastener assembly.

How Often Do Fasteners and Hardware Require Recoating?

Generally speaking, solid film lubricants are marketed as "lubricated for life" solutions, though their actual longevity will strictly be defined by the wear cycles they endure and the intervals of maintenance carried out for aircraft. For permanent fasteners, coatings will often be designed to last until the component is removed during a Heavy Maintenance Visit (C-Check or D-Check). However, dynamic hardware like pins, splines, and actuators often have recoating intervals that are dictated by visual inspections and wear-life benchmarks. For example, if the matte gray/black finish of a MoS2 coating shows significant burnishing or exposes the base metal, the integrity of the system can be considered compromised and will necessitate closer inspection.

Important Factors to Consider

Wear Cycle Limits: Coatings like Everlube 620C are tested in accordance with ASTM 2625 specifications to determine a specific "wear life," which is presented in terms of minutes/cycles under high load; once this threshold is crossed, stripping and recoating are mandatory.
Overhaul Intervals: Most aviation fasteners are stripped and reapplied during major engine or airframe overhauls, which are often carried out every 5 to 10 years to ensure underlying metals have not suffered from stress-corrosion cracking.
Inspection Protocols: It is beneficial to utilize the Tape Test (ASTM D2510) during inspections, as if coatings peel away or do not simply leave a slight powdery residue, the bond can be considered to have failed.
Shelf Life Management: Note that unapplied Everlube products typically have a one-year shelf life, where using expired materials can lead to premature coating failure in flight.

Supporting Confident Procurement Through Reliable Sourcing

Here on Hardware and Fasteners, we support aviation procurement teams by providing immediate access to in-demand Everlube-coated fasteners and coating solutions that are supported by clear documentation and traceability. We encourage you to explore our expansive Everlube parts catalog to narrow down items of need, the Request for Quote (RFQ) forms featured on the website making it simple to secure pricing options. Our industry experts are also readily available by phone or email to provide hands-on support, so never hesitate to get in touch!