Aerospace

To help manufacturers find the right material for their application, adhesives specialist Intertronics has launched a structural adhesive selector guide. The guide includes a full overview of five structural adhesive chemistries, methyl methacrylate (MMA), epoxy, polyurethane, UV curing, and cyanoacrylate. It covers 28 materials, outlining their properties, curing considerations, compatibility considerations, and more.

The guide is designed to help manufacturers discover the optimal adhesive for establishing robust structural bonds with metals, plastics, and composite materials. It is tailored to the distinct needs of industries such as automotive, aerospace, electronics, construction, medical, and consumer.

The selector guide includes materials from several brands, including SCIGRIP, Intertronics, Opti-tec, Dymax, and Born2Bond. Alongside information on chemistry and substrate suitability, it adds specific information on various aspects, such as cure time, chemistry, bond strength, and also explains the packaging each material is available in, be it twin-packs, cartridges, and/or bulk. Information is included on each material’s resistance to water/humidity, chemicals, and heat, to indicate what environments it might be suitable for.

“When choosing a structural adhesive, various factors will influence the decision; developing a specification will involve weighing up priorities and deciding on allowable compromises,” says Kevin Brownsill, head of technical: learning and development at Intertronics. “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.”