At its base level, a structural adhesive is an adhesive that can be used to produce a load-bearing joint. Structural adhesives are most often applied mainly to those within the engineering field where the joints will normally have a lap shear strength that is greater than 1MPa and more commonly, higher than 10MPa. Some of the adhesives that can fall within this class are the following:

• Epoxies
• Polyurethanes
• Anaerobics
• Toughened acrylics
• Cyanoacrylates
• Vinyl acetates
• Phenolics

There are many great advantages of using structural adhesives over other fastening methods. The biggest one being that structural adhesives will provide what is known as processing convenience and overall assembly cost savings. Some of the other key advantages that they hold are:

• They require very minimal surface preparation
• Very cost-effective due to the reduced cost in materials, cost for labor, processing time and the number of parts involved
• Quite easy to use
• They require absolutely no drilling of through-holes, tapping operations, and other costs that can be built into mechanically fastened joints
• They can be very aesthetically pleasing
  • There is no need for refinishing to remove weld scars
  • Nothing visible in terms of fasteners
  • Increasing fatigue resistance
  • Reduces galvanic corrosion
• They are available in a variety of dispensing and packaging options
  • Bulk (gallons, drums, pails) for higher volume applications
  • Smaller cartridge packaging for lower manual applications
• Can be used on much thinner substrates
• They can be bonded and sealed in a single operation
• You typically do not need a primer
• Very high strength values (>2,000 psi)
• No solvent emissions

Another great advantage to using structural adhesives is freedom in your designs. They can allow for relatively easy combining of dissimilar substrates (such as dissimilar metals or metals to composites or thermoplastics) and complicated shapes. These can also be multi-functional to allow for:

• Much needed and added insulation
• Vibration and sound dampening
• Superior structural joint strength with a stress distribution running along the bonded area
• Concurrent joint sealing without the necessity for a separate sealing process or gaskets

Structural adhesives are chosen for a multitude of assembly operations and play a key role in the move to composite materials.

Structural adhesives should be chosen with the end use requirements firmly in mind, once known, proper adhesive can be selected by matching requirements to different processing and performance characteristics of each structural adhesive.

Conditions of end use:

• Temperature
• Humidity
• UV exposure
• Chemical Resistance to specialized chemicals

With over 40 years of experience in developing and manufacturing various structural adhesives, the extensive line from LORD, including epoxy, acrylic, and urethane adhesives improve appearances, durability, and strength, all while offering flexibility with design and overall cost savings. LORD structural adhesives will eliminate the costs associated with metal preparation and finishing operations and are formulated to improve your processes and final products for a variety of composite, metal, and plastic assemblies.

If you need any assistance choosing structural adhesives, LORD adhesives or how they could help your building process, we are here to help!  Give us a call, toll-free, at 1-800-220-1966 or email us at [email protected]. We are standing by ready to help!