The A-Z Guide on Industrial Bonding Adhesives
The A-Z Guide on Industrial Bonding Adhesives
The use of mechanical fastening methods has never been an efficient way to hold materials together. In industrial environments, adhesives perform a wide range of functions. Since these bonding agents have a wide range of useful mechanical properties, they can be applied in various conditions when making different products. Industrial adhesives are bonding agents that are used in place of mechanical fasteners to hold two different materials together. Using adhesives helps reduce the final weight of the material and also enhances its aesthetic appeal.
About industrial adhesives
Industrial adhesives are made up of both organic and inorganic compounds that are used for joining various components. Different types of adhesives are used in industrial environments. Each type has its specific function and can be used to satisfy certain specifications in the technical data sheet. Examples are:
- Industrial sealants
- UV curing adhesives
- Thermoset
- Silicone
- Polyurethane
- Hot melt
- Epoxy
- Acrylic
Industrial adhesives are applied industrially to perform different functions. However, a majority of these bonding agents are used to fasten materials together. Industrial adhesives are used typically as glue to bond materials. They are more rugged and robust when used as industrial sealants. As industrial sealants, industrial bonding adhesives are used for the following purposes:
- Used for filling the gaps that exist between seams/surfaces
- Used for containing fluids
- Used for preventing leaks
- used to prevent unwanted material from infiltrating an area.
Types of industrial bonding adhesives
There are numerous types of industrial bonding adhesives. They can be classified in several ways. However, the most typical way of categorizing industrial bonding adhesives includes:
- Adhesive properties (hot melt glues)
- Chemical composition (acrylic adhesives)
Classification of industrial bonding adhesives by chemical composition
The chemical composition of an adhesive is a good way to classify it. When it comes to adhesive classification by type. There are several types such as:
Acrylic adhesives: Acrylic adhesives have remarkable setting times in comparison to other glues. They are also great when it comes to resisting environmental factors. Super glues or cyanoacrylates are great examples of acrylic adhesives. As one-component adhesives, they set very fast when applied on mated surfaces.
Epoxy adhesives: These are chemical bonding agents that are used in industrial environments to join two or more materials. An epoxy adhesive is a co-polymer that is formed by joining two different chemicals: a hardener and a resin.
Formaldehyde, melamine, and phenolic resins: These are strong adhesives with great thermosetting properties. They usually form high-strength bonds and can easily resist high temperatures. Since they are thermoset bonding agents, they are used to join materials on application of heat and pressure or heat alone. This is needed for the bonding adhesives to form strong and secure bonds.
Polyurethane adhesives: These are special industrial bonding adhesives that provide remarkable durability, impact resistance, and flexibility. They are applied best for woodworking and carpentry finishing projects.
Silicone adhesives: Silicone sealants and adhesives are known for their intense flexibility. They are also known to be highly resistant to temperature. These special types of adhesives are used in both marine and plumbing applications.
Rubber adhesives: Rubber adhesives are also classified alongside sealants due to their highly flexible and strong bonds. These special industrial adhesives are usually based on nitrile, polyisobutylene, butyl, and butadiene-styrene compounds.
Classification of industrial bonding adhesives by adhesion properties
Apart from chemical composition, industrial bonding adhesives can also be classified based on their adhesion properties. There is a wide range of adhesives that fall into this category. These include:
UV curing adhesives: UV curing adhesives are in the same category as radiation-curable adhesives that initiate curing in the presence of UV light. Curing can also be done by using other sources of light. This way, the adhesive can provide a more permanent bond without any form of heating.
Thermoset adhesives: These are polymeric resins that are cross-linked in structure. They can be cured in the presence of either heat and pressure or just heat alone. They are applied in assemblies where a high load is present because they have excellent resistance to creep.
Contact and PSA adhesives: Contact and pressure-sensitive adhesives can easily be used to join surfaces on the slight application of pressure. Contact adhesives work mostly around applications that feature very large surfaces to be bonded. It can also be used with materials that are difficult to clamp.
Hot melt adhesives: This is a special type of adhesive that can be worked repeatedly on the application of heat. This means that hot melt glues are reworked by melting or softening with heat. It can then be set or hardened by cooling. One special property of hot melt glues is that they allow materials to be removed, reworked, and realigned during assembly.
Selecting industrial bonding adhesives based on specifications
There are as many industrial bonding adhesives as there are recipes for cooking rice. Most engineering users of industrial adhesives have special specifications for selecting the glues that they use for product assembly. When it comes to selecting the right industrial adhesive for your operation, several phases are involved. This includes:
First step: Understand the particular assembly process: There are several common assembly methods used in manufacturing. You can easily use your adhesives with any one of these processes to ensure optimal results.
Second step: Select the right substrate materials: Understand the substrates used in the bonding process. It is important to check the surface conditions of the substrate material. This will go a long way in helping you to determine what type of adhesive to use.
Third step: Identify the processes needed for the manufacture: It is important to understand how the product will be assembled. This means that you need to make a careful selection of the adhesive based on the processes involved in the manufacturing process.
Fourth Step: Know what the product is to be used for Knowing what the product will be used for is very important in choosing the right type of adhesive. This means that you will be able to anticipate possible environmental impacts on the adhesive joint.
Fifth Step: Understand the cost impacts: When choosing the right industrial bonding adhesive for your project, the cost of the glue can be a factor. Since you will be requesting a bulk of this adhesive, you will need to understand how the cost will impact your total production budget.
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