Elastic adhesive allows instant handling
1 min read
Silane modified polymers are thought to be where an elastic bond is required between medium to large bond surfaces.
A recently launched adhesive from Henkel can create friction-locked joints able to withstand dynamic loads. And as the stress is distributed evenly, material fatigue and failure is prevented. As a result these Terostat adhesives are widely used to bond any structures that need to withstand vibration such as washing machines, buses and trains.
Achieving the bond however, generally requires the elements to be held together in a clamping system or fixture until the adhesive has cured sufficiently for the structure to hold its own weight. Whilst this is perfectly acceptable for many applications, others require a quicker fix and this, according to Henkel, is where Terostat MS 500 hot melt sealant really comes into its own.
The adhesive is patented and is based on modified silane polymer technology which broadens the applications potential of the material, the company suggests. In a matter of seconds this thixotropic adhesive grabs the marrying substrate to create a high initial bond strength that allows immediate handling. As it dries it cross-links by moisture absorption, curing in as little as 30 minutes.
MS 500 effectively compensates for the differing thermal expansion characteristics of dissimilar materials and remains flexible over a wide temperature range, Henkel claims. From a manufacturing perspective, the adhesive has the ability to reduce production time and costs whilst improving product performance and aesthetics. It also saves on the overall weight of the structure, creates an effective seal and generally requires no substrate priming to optimise adhesion.
