This is an interesting topic indeed.
I've always added anti-seize to bolts - especially lug bolts.
Certainly those who've done engine work know about certain engines requiring lube on the head bolts.
I found a few things I thought would interest ya'll and maybe provide some discussion.
Smartbolts: Anyone ever heard of these?
SmartBolts Overview Tech Specs FAQ Download Complete Catalog Here SmartBoltsKnow at a Glance it’s Tight SmartBolts are tension indicating fasteners that offer real-time visual indication of bolt preload. A visual indicator simplifies the installation and inspection process. When you know at a...
www.smartbolts.com
This is fact-filled-fun paper from NASA on the subject (download it).
I'm no rocket scientist, but for those of you that are, wouldn't different thread types affect this kind of thing too?
Take NPT and NPTF fittings for example and the way that the threads mate to form a seal. I have gotten properly confused lately reading about hydraulic lines and fittings JIC, pipe, etc. as I rebuild my tractor. Fascinating, but as wep] know - sometimes you have to separate fact from opinion.
Bolts (threads) to hold things together and pipe threads (to both hold together and seal out fluids) must have some common relationship with torque and tension and lubrication.
Another article takes into consideration different types of lubrication.
In any industrial plant, there can be thousands of bolted connections, primarily in the flanged connections throughout piping systems, on packed stuffing boxes on pumps and valves, and on heat exchanger covers, for example.
www.pumpsandsystems.com
Man, a guy could get lost in all of this eh?
Is there a rule of thumb or something? There's a video in this one demonstrating "real world" lubrication I thought was likely true.
Bolt lubricant plays an important role during both the assembly and disassembly of a joint. Learn proper lubrication techniques and how they affect torque
www.hextechnology.com