Acrylate and silicone have dominated the medical adhesives market for years. However, the adhesives currently available often require device engineers to choose between strength and wear duration, or comfort and pliability.

As part of a collaborative project focusing on coatings and joining systems for lightweight materials, the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Army Research Laboratory (ARL) tasked PPG to develop a high-strength, highly ductile structural adhesive to meet the requirements of the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) test method standard MIL-PRF-32662, Tier I-III specification. MIL-PRF-32662 incorporates a decade of rigorous research efforts to statistically correlate the complex ballistic response of adhesively bonded armor assemblies to universally translatable and commercially relevant quasi-static mechanical properties.

We rely on electronics for almost every aspect of our daily lives. With the advent of compact components and circuitry, it is difficult to think of many products that do not incorporate electronics in some fashion. What you might not think about is how fragile these electronics can be and how they can become easily damaged or degraded by environmental conditions.

The global market for powder coatings is projected to expand in the coming years, potentially reaching $19.9 billion by 2027.¹ While the powder coating sector is poised for rapid growth, a prerequisite remains: getting the surface right.

Plant-based,” “premium cotton,” and “natural” claims are appealing to today’s parents: millennials. Millennial parents are demanding that brands provide “free and clear” products for their personal and families’ use.

When anticipating using adhesives in structural bonding, a common need is developing the testing protocol to demonstrate bonded system effectiveness. While pressure-sensitive tapes are used in structural joining, this discussion will focus on liquid, paste, and film adhesives in structural joints.

According to the National Pest Management Association, 37% of homeowners have seen a rodent in their home in the past year. As we mark Pest & Rodent Awareness Week in October, it’s important to take a proactive approach to deter these critters before they find a way into a building.

Manufacturers and scientists are continually pushing the envelope on eco-friendly adhesives, sealants, coatings, and potting and encapsulation compounds. Demand for green and sustainable formulations is expected to keep growing due to tightening legislation, consumer awareness, and new opportunities.

By 2050, the United Nations expects the global population to reach approximately 9.5 billion people. The expectations are that millions of people will be lifted out of poverty, increasing living standards and driving demand for chemical products.

It’s been said that hindsight is 2020. To usher in the new decade, we’d like to offer a retrospective on the automotive adhesives—both liquids and pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) tapes and films—that continue to redefine the industry.