Stainless steel nuts and bolts used in antenna and tower work can become fused together, making them impossible to disassemble. They need to be cut or broken off.
There are steps you can take to prevent this from happening.
Materials such as stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, and other alloys have an oxide layer on the outside surface. When a nut is screwed onto a bolt, there is friction which causes heat. Heat causes the material in the bolt to deform. Also, the oxide layer eventually gets pushed out of the way and the electrons in the metal literally fuse together causing the bolt and nut to get stuck permanently. It isn’t that the parts melt, it’s that they get close enough together and are at a high enough energy state that they form bonds and become one part.
This process is known as galling or cold welding. The only way to fix this is to either cut the bolt off or break it and start over with a new nut and bolt.
The best way to prevent this is to apply a lubricant such as Jet-Lube SS30, Permatex Anti-Seize or Never-Seez to the threads.
Adding a small amount of lubricant creates a barrier which reduces friction and will reduce or eliminate galling.
By using the proper lubricant and not over torquing, you can avoid the frustration of having to cut or break a bolt.
pub.2024