The guide is tailored to the needs of industries such as automotive, aerospace, electronics, construction, medical and consumer.
It provides an overview of five structural adhesive chemistries: methyl methacrylate, epoxy, polyurethane, UV curing, and cyanoacrylate. It covers 28 materials and their properties, curing considerations and compatibility considerations.
The selector guide includes materials from several brands, including Scigrip, Intertronics, Opti-tec, Dymax and Born2Bond. It covers:
- chemistry and substrate suitability
- cure time and bond strength
- the packaging each material is available in, be it twin-packs, cartridges, and/or bulk
- resistance to water/humidity, chemicals, and heat, to indicate what environments it might be suitable for
Kevin Brownsill, head of technical: learning and development, said: “When choosing a structural adhesive, various factors will influence the decision; developing a specification will involve weighing up priorities and deciding on allowable compromises. Selecting a material involves balancing the benefits with the trade-offs and coming to an informed decision. There are many factors to consider — adhesives applications are notoriously complex — but this guide is a helpful starting point.”
