When it comes to finding the right adhesive for the job, you need to know what to look for. Industrial adhesives come in many different varieties, and each one is suited for a specific application. Located in Canton, Massachusetts, Electronic Fasteners has the largest, most comprehensive adhesive inventory in the area, but what adhesive is right for your project? The different types of adhesives for industrial use include:
- Epoxy adhesives
- Acrylic adhesives
- Polyurethane adhesives
- Cyanoacrylate adhesives
Adhesives for industrial use are strong, much stronger than common household adhesives. They can carry significant stresses and are perfect for structural applications. These adhesives are available as pastes, liquids, films, and supported films. They come in two-part forms that are mixed into a product that cures within the desired time window. Regarding engineering applications, including semi-structural ones where failure is less critical and non-structural ones where considerations other than failure are more important, contact adhesives may be preferred. Industrial adhesives feature a solution or emulsion containing an elastomeric adhesive that is coated on both pieces to adhere. The solvent in the compound is allowed to evaporate and the two pieces are brought into contact to complete the process.
Industrial adhesives must be able to withstand a wide range of temperatures. They need to stick in both hot and cold weather, as well as resist moisture, humidity, and other environmental conditions. One-part forms are also available in which the resin and hardener (cross-linking agent) are already mixed together. These one-part forms must be kept at a sufficiently low temperature so that the reaction does not occur prematurely; this is accomplished sometimes by utilizing latent cross-linking agents that are not active at low temperatures. The type of Adhesive you use will also dictate how long you can use the product.
One-part thermosetting industrial adhesives often have limited shelf life, and must be stored at low temperatures, but offer very high-performance capabilities. If you’re researching adhesives for industrial purposes, you may come across the term “pot life,” which refers to the time after a two-part industrial adhesive is mixed during which it is workable and will still make a satisfactory bond. Materials with too short of a pot life will harden too fast and don’t give workers sufficient time to assemble the product. An excessively long pot life may delay the cure time and slow the assembly process.
When deciding on the adhesive for your industrial project it’s important to consider all of these factors to ensure you are getting the best product possible. For help finding the perfect industrial adhesive for your next project contact the experts at Electronic Fasteners or view our products here.
