Question about anti seize paste

[jusgus]

When I first got my 1980 R65 I bought some anti-seize paste and made a habit of using it sparingly while reassembling various parts.  It has occured to me that the paste (NAPPA BRAND) contains copper.  My question is, could there be a  problem with galvanic action between the copper paste, aluminium parts and steel bolts?  I know some anti seize products are made with graghite or teflon but I got the copper kind because it came in a very nice small tube.

[Bob_Roller]

It will cause no problems, as far as a galvanic cell .

[MrRiden]

Galvanic reaction is a subject near and dear to me. I'll spare you my experiences with it in my 30 year profession and just say this. Aluminum and Copper are extremely likely to be affected by galvanic corrosion when joined and in the presence of an electrolyte. The electrolyte could be simply water. In the bay area of California you could almost consider the air to be an electrolyte. That is why you'll find electrical connectors made especially for aluminum usually accompanied by some sort of warning against using them in a copper application. That said, The copper content in the NAPA anti-seize along with the other metals and grease in the paste present little or no problem for applications like the exhaust nut and you need not worry about galvanic reaction. Unless you commute along the beach below the tide mark. I've used Never Seeze regular on bikes for years and would agree with Bob, no worries. If you do want to try something else there is a Nickel / Graphite blend but I've not seen it commonly in the auto parts store.
rich
some random stuff I found
http://www.neverseezproducts.com/?gclid=CPq4jpGC3JMCFQ77iAodFRQUZQ
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galvanic_corrosion
http://www.coppercanada.ca/publications/pub42e/42e.htm
http://www.finishing.com/78/97.shtml

[Justin B.]

If the copper stuff makes you nervous the Permatex brand crap is silvery so I assume it's either aluminum, nickle, or maybe a combination?  One thing I DO know is that once on the fingers it's hell to get off!  The only thing that makes me a bit nervous about the Permatex stuff is that when something is disassembled (exhaust nuts) it is totally dry and the stuff just sort of flakes/falls off, but maybe that's normal.  For several years I have been using the suspended graphite stuff, sold by Aircraft Spruce, on the spark plugs and I guess it works as I haven't had any plugs come out with any spark-plug hole threads yet... (knock, knock...)

[jusgus]

Thanks for the input.  I expect I will use up what I have in the neat little small tube and then switch to graphite and find a new neat little small container to put it in.