Industrial Metal Adhesives – All about Metal Adhesives

Industrial metal adhesives include hot metal adhesives, epoxy adhesives, polyurethane adhesives, sealants, thermoset adhesives, UV curing adhesives, silicon adhesives, acrylic adhesives, and other chemical adhesives. Basically, these are the components that make up the various types of adhesives that are used in industries to bond metal together. The names not only reflect the chemical makeup of the various adhesives, but also their adhesion properties. Depending on the type of bond that is bought after and what types of metals are being bonded, a specific type of adhesive will be used.

Acrylic adhesives are known for their excellent environmental resistance, which means they can stand up to a pounding in extreme weather conditions, such as rain, sleet, or frost. Also, compared to other resin-adhesives, acrylic adhesives have a fast setting time for jobs that need to be finished quickly. Cyanoacrylates, more commonly known as super glue, is a type of acrylic adhesive that cures instantly on contact through a process that involves surface moisture. If bonding metals together that will be placed in high temperatures, the types of adhesives that would work best for the job are Phenolic, melamine, and urea formaldehyde resins. These are thermosetting bonds that are strong and will hold up for long periods of time when exposed to intense heat. This is a popular adhesive for bonding industrial parts, since they are often exposed to these high heat levels.

Polyurethane adhesives offer a strong bond, but it's one that includes a great deal of flexibility. These types of industrial metal adhesives also perform well on durability tests and have a high level of impact resistance. Rubber and silicone adhesives are also offered as sealants. The rubber examples of these offer the most flexibility when needed. The silicone-based adhesives and sealants, on the other hand, are more rigid and offer a high degree of durability, in addition to resistance to high temperatures.

The previously mentioned adhesives are all defined on their chemical makeup. There are others, however, that are defined by their adhesion properties. These include hot metal adhesives, pressure sensitive and contact adhesives, thermoset adhesives, and UV curing adhesives. Hot metal adhesives can be softened by exposing them to heat and hardened again by cooling off. This allows for repositioning of metal parts in case a mistake is made, or if finite measurements need to be in place. Thermoset adhesives are set into place and cured using heat or a mixture of head and pressure. Finally, UV curing adhesives use ultraviolet or other types of radiation to cure, offering a permanent bond that does not need heat to set.

There are plenty of industrial metal adhesives to choose from. You simply need to decide what the job is and what special requirements the bonds need to have. Whether they need flexibility, extreme tolerance to heat, or if they need to stand up to harsh weather, there is an adhesive out there that works well with just about any condition.