Last edited 06 Feb 2023

Epoxy adhesives

Epoxy adhesives can be confused with bonding products like glue, but they are more complex than most adhesives. These are often called structural adhesives - high-performance adhesives for applications that require powerful bonding, such as in construction, aircraft, automobiles, aerospace technology, or heavy process piping systems.

They are frequently required to join unlike materials together, such as composite pipe shoes and metal piping, or structures that suffer heavy vibration, high pressure, or corrosive environments.

There are numerous types of epoxy adhesives, but they can be split into two one-component and two-component:

  • One-Component Adhesives. These often come as a single paste. Though they come as only a single physical substance, they still require external elements to start the curing process. That means they require moisture, heat treatment, or special lighting for bonding.
  • Two-Component Adhesives: These require blending of two elements. When applied properly, the outcome is a powerful bond. Though, since two-part adhesives need mixing, there’s the possibility of human error. To use a two-component adhesive, mixing the right ratio without getting it on the skin, use a static applicator. This loads onto a standard epoxy cartridge and brings a two-part epoxy in a flawless mixing ratio, saving the mess and guesswork associated with physically mixing two-component epoxies.

Due to the increasing demand for these adhesives, the total value of the epoxy adhesives will reach $13,484 million by 2030.

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