A thread protector is used to protect the threads of a pipe during

transportation Transport (in British English) or transportation (in American English) is the intentional Motion, movement of humans, animals, and cargo, goods from one location to another. Mode of transport, Modes of transport include aviation, air, land tr ...

and storage. Thread protectors are generally manufactured from

plastic Plastics are a wide range of synthetic polymers, synthetic or Semisynthesis, semisynthetic materials composed primarily of Polymer, polymers. Their defining characteristic, Plasticity (physics), plasticity, allows them to be Injection moulding ...

steel Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon that demonstrates improved mechanical properties compared to the pure form of iron. Due to steel's high Young's modulus, elastic modulus, Yield (engineering), yield strength, Fracture, fracture strength a ...

and can be applied to the pipe manually or automatically (by machine). Thread protectors are used frequently in the oil and gas industry to protect pipes during transportation to the oil and gas fields.

Metal A metal () is a material that, when polished or fractured, shows a lustrous appearance, and conducts electrical resistivity and conductivity, electricity and thermal conductivity, heat relatively well. These properties are all associated wit ...

thread protectors can be cleaned and re-used, while plastic thread protectors are often collected and either re-used or recycled. Thread protectors are widely used on firearms to protect threaded barrels. Some firearms are manufactured with thread and protectors in the factory, but most thread protectors are part of the aftermarket process of fitting a sound moderator (silencer), muzzle brake or flash hider. They protect the threads from mechanical damage and ensure the center lines line up when the muzzle device is replaced.

References

*William C. Lyons, Ph.D., P.E., Gary J Plisga, BS. ''Standard Handbook of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering'' Gulf Professional Publishing, Mar 15, 2011 pg. 4-435 Piping {{Engineering-stub