Bonding polystyrene foam to steel and wood is an application that was traditionally done with contact cements or other solvent-based adhesives. Due to health and flammability concerns, however, the modern trend is to use 100% reactive systems.
When manufacturers are looking to use adhesives in an assembly operation, three steps must enter into the decision process: suitability, compatibility, and capability.
According to a recent report from Grand View Research, the global chemical distribution market was estimated to be $247.1 billion last year and is projected to see robust growth (5.4% CAGR) to 2028. The distribution of specialty chemicals, such as those used in CASE (coatings, adhesives, sealants, and elastomers) and other sectors, is expected to be the fastest-growing segment of the market, reaching $139 billion in that timeframe.
We manufacture PTFE and other fluoroplastic parts. We have been requested to make parts that can be bonded to metals. Is there a good adhesive, some sort of additive to the PTFE, or a surface treatment that we can use?
Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a high-performance plastic used in a variety of industries, particularly for its heat and chemical resistance and “non-stick” properties. However, PTFE has a low surface energy that does not allow adhesives to wet its surface and subsequently bond.
Called thermoset polyesters, these materials are glass fiber-reinforced unsaturated polyesters. They are also often referred to as “sheet molding compounds” (SMCs), “fiber-reinforced plastics” (FRPs), or simply “fiberglass.”
Dr. Dave tackles two questions this month, one related to package stability for moisture-sensitive urethane adhesives, and the other regarding epoxy adhesives.
Question: My colleague and I are working on a unique challenge of trying to find a solution for manufacturing urethane-based adhesives that are quite sensitive to moisture exposure.
Brands have long relied on their products’ packaging to draw the consumers’ eye and entice them to consider a purchase. But packaging has evolved beyond eye-catching graphics to encompass so much more, particularly as consumers continue to explore “green” products and services with the goal of helping to address climate change.
The continued transition away from brick-and-mortar to ecommerce brings demand for packaging innovations that enable faster delivery and better content protection from shock or temperature variations.
The shift from brick-and-mortar to digital shopping had been under way for some time when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Since 2017, ecommerce revenues have risen from an estimated $1.4 trillion to $2.4 trillion, or about 2.7% of global output.
Can you recommend suitable materials for packaging a sealant that is sensitive to atmospheric moisture? Additionally, we can do accelerated humidity testing of filled packages, but how do we correlate these with shelf life?
You can obviously package your moisture-sensitive sealant in glass or metal cans or tubes, which will totally prevent moisture ingress. Aluminum tubes are widely used for this type of product, as long as you have good crimps.