Applied as a liquid, retaining compounds fill surface irregularities and provide 100% contact between mating metal surfaces, eliminating the need for expensive replacement parts, time consuming machining, or the use of mechanical methods. In addition, retaining compounds offer high strength with simplified and less costly designs, and reduced dependence on machining tolerances. They eliminate corrosion and fretting, and improve the durability of assembly. They offer the ability to disassemble the component, and an even distribution of load and stress over the entire joint.
Retaining compounds, unlike threadlockers, are typically higher strength and designed specifically for bonding cylindrical components that must resist usually torque and compressive loads.