What Are Industrial Adhesives?
Industrial Adhesives term is typically used to categorize a wide range of adhesives covering multiple product chemistries for bonding applications in Industrial sectors as opposed to construction, consumer, and DIY adhesive applications. Industrial adhesives use ‘adhesion’ (bonding to the surface) and ‘cohesion’ (internal strength) forces to bond to industrial components and materials typically in manufacturing and assembly applications.
The adhesive selection will depend on a number of factors including the strength required, materials being bonded, application & processing requirements, and end-use of the component being bonded.
The use of industrial adhesives has exploded in the last 20-30 years, as manufacturers increasingly incorporate bonding into their design, to replace traditional mechanical fastening methods such as screwing, riveting, and welding. Industrial adhesives allow manufacturers the ability to reduce manufacturing costs and increase product durability and performance.
Types of Industrial Adhesives
The below list covers some of the types of industrial adhesives frequently seen.
Sabre specializes in several of the categories mentioned below:
MS Polymer adhesives are based on silyl-terminated polyether polymer technology, providing innovative, environmentally friendly moisture-curing adhesives and sealants. MS Polymers deliver unique advantages over polyurethanes and silicones through wide primerless adhesion, UV resistance, paintability, and durability, and are used in transportation, industrial assembly, and construction applications.
Polyurethane adhesives are available in 1-part and 2-part systems, and range from flexible elastic adhesives to high-strength structural adhesives. They are seen in liquid format (for large surface laminations) and also in paste format (applied through cartridges etc.).
Typically 2-part systems, epoxy adhesives compose a resin and hardener, which when mixed together form very high-strength bonds, in a wide range of applications (aerospace, vehicle assembly, etc). They are known for their high structural strength, fast cure, and chemical resistance.
Methyl Methacrylate Adhesives (MMA) are two-component structural adhesives. They are also available in one-component UV curing systems – where the adhesive is activated by UV light initiating the crosslinking.
Anaerobic adhesives are one-part adhesives that cure in the absence of oxygen, more frequently known commercially as thread-locking adhesives.
More commonly known as ‘Instant Adhesives’ they are very fast-setting acrylic adhesives, that cure ‘instantly’ when two bonding surfaces are mated together.
Water-based adhesives are composed of water, polymers, and a selection of additives. The curing process involves the evaporation of the water. Water-based adhesives are used in bonding porous and non-porous applications ranging from food packaging to wood lamination.
Contact adhesive (also known as ‘contact cement or solvent-based adhesive) is a type of adhesive that is rubber based. Solvent-based contact adhesives use a liquid carrier (solvent) to apply the adhesive to the substrates being bonded. The solvent carrier evaporates, leaving the adhesive on the substrate.
Hotmelt adhesives are thermoplastic meaning they are solid at room temperature and once heated become liquid. The heating process is as the adhesive is applied, and then the adhesive cools down and solidifies on the substrate, creating a bond.
Sabre stands as a premier provider, offering the best industrial adhesives in Australia, ensuring availability across various types to suit diverse adhesive needs.
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