Raw materials and chemicals are the building blocks of every adhesive and sealant formulation. Our annual “Raw Materials and Chemicals Overview” examines some common chemicals and raw materials used in adhesives, sealants and coatings.

The U.S. adhesives market reached $15.8 billion in 2016; sealants grew to $2.4 billion. Volume growth in each appears to be less than 2% from our interviews of industry participants. Figure 1 shows a breakdown of the U.S. market by end use in terms of value.

Top executives will gather at the Adhesive and Sealant Council’s 2017 Executive Leadership Conference, scheduled to take place October 16-18 at the Westin LaPaloma Resort and Spa in Tucson, Ariz. The event promises to be an opportunity to network and learn from thought leaders in the industry. Topics to be discussed include key chemical industry developments as these relate to the adhesives and sealants industry, acquisition integration, innovation trends, and more.

Laminating adhesives (LAs) comprise a relevant and growing segment among energy-curable product markets. Initially regarded as being too expensive and not technically advanced enough for laminating applications, these adhesives have become major players in the converting and packaging industries, particularly in specialty applications.

Elastic bonding adhesives are found around the world in many industries, including construction, packaging, footwear, electronics, medical and transportation. They are essential for applications requiring strong joints without perforating substrates, a certain amount of flexibility to accommodate movement such as material expansion, protection from corrosion or the elements, and durability.

We’ve been trying to get the metal button of a rear-view mirror to bond to a new windshield. We’re in the summer heat of Las Vegas where it is routinely over 110°F―and even hotter inside a closed car. We’ve tried all the typical glues but, while the button will cure and hold, it falls off when the mirror is attached.