The most common bonding materials for metal surfaces are industrial adhesives. They are chemical substances that can join two exteriors permanently. It usually involves two separate bodies that cannot easily stick onto each other through usual processes. The bonding is so strong that mechanical shock forces flow across the whole interface as a single system.
Adhesives consist of different chemical elements based on the type of use. They can be rubber or synthetics to polymerized and biomimetic adhesives.
Different types of industrial adhesives:
- Conductive: Used in industrial areas where there are chances for electrostatic discharges and radio interference.
- Pressure: Most common adhesives present. They require pressure to join two surfaces together.
- Epoxy: They cure very quickly and bond solid and concrete surfaces. They are useful mainly in plywood manufacture.
- Urethane: The most versatile of all adhesives, they provide the highest performance.
- Contact spraying: Used for surfaces that require waterproofing, they can be both permanent wells as temporary. Being transparent, they resist stains and are flexible. Hence they are used for porous and irregular surfaces.
- Acrylic: They take a longer time to dry and fix surfaces. They exist as solvent and emulsion types.
- Anaerobic: It is useful in areas that do not require air or sunlight. They bond with many surface types from glass and metal to wood and masonry.
- Resins: They are synthetic polymers that can change properties based on temperature extremes.
Advantages of adhesives:
- Bonding surfaces: Adhesives can bond over a wide variety of surfaces. They can include glass, wood, metal, paper, ceramics, polymers, and masonry.
- Load distribution: Adhesives bind so that the two surfaces transfer forces as a single interface. Hence, there will always be an even distribution of mechanical forces throughout the surface.
- Resistance: Most adhesives are resistant to chemical corrosion and other contaminants. Hence they are perfect for industrial use. They are also resilient towards physical and mechanical shocks or vibrations and resistant to extreme temperature changes.
- Strength: Adhesives offer greater cohesion compared to other joining mechanisms. Hence they can be easily implemented between heavy surfaces for permanent contact.
- Total weight: The total weight of adhesives on surfaces is significantly less than the entire body itself. Hence, the application of sealants causes only a negligible increase in weight.
- Easy to implement: Allowing to surfaces to bond through adhesives can be a straightforward process. No particular skill or material is necessary for the application. Hence, it is easy to implement on various surfaces.
How are industrial adhesives classified?
Adhesives for industrial use are classified based on the following factors:
- Load capacity: It is the maximum load an adhesive joint can withstand without failure. Based on load, adhesives are of different classifications such as structural, semi, and non-structural.
- Composition: It refers to the type of material of which the adhesive is composed. It can be organic, metal, resin, inorganic, natural, polymer, or synthetic.
- Type of material: According to the kind of material, adhesives are of different sorts including thermosetting, thermoplastic, additives, elastomeric, and hybrid ones.
- Reactivity: How the adhesive bond dries and sets is called reactivity. The glue can solidify based on a chemical reaction, cooling or loss of the solvent (drying).
Application of industrial adhesives: