You might have seen furniture makers using specialized adhesives for attaching wood or laminates. Have you ever pondered the specific nature of this adhesive? The adhesive in question is epoxy adhesive, renowned for its formidable strength and long-lasting durability. From making furniture to concrete fixation, this adhesive plays a versatile role in various industries.
So, let’s dive in and explore more about it.
What is Epoxy Adhesive?
Epoxy adhesive is a type of adhesive known for its industrial strength, versatility, and reliability in various applications. It is a thermosetting adhesive, which is made up of a resin or epoxy polymer and a hardener. This is primarily used to attach or bind a range of surfaces together with a strong, long-lasting, and robust bond that can endure extreme pressure and weather conditions.
These are the most widely used industrial adhesives and adaptable structural adhesives. It is famous for its high tensile and compressive strength, optimum coverage, and the ability to be used in submerged conditions. These features make them suitable for heavy-duty applications, such as wall cladding, and tile-on-tile applications.
Exploring the Primary Benefits of Epoxy Adhesive
Epoxies offer several benefits that make them a popular choice for various applications, including:
Durability
Epoxy glues offer durability, and can withstand harsh environmental conditions. They offer great chemical and temperature resistance, making them suitable for applications involving exposure to chemicals or extreme temperature changes.
Versatility and Customization
Epoxy glues are versatile and can be customized to suit specific requirements. It can be modified with pigments, fillers, and other resins to change its viscosity, bonding strength, flexibility, and other properties.
Excellent Adherence
Epoxy adhesives provide excellent adhesion to a wide range of surfaces and are the most commonly used structural type of adhesives. They can bond metals, concrete, glass, ceramics, plastics, wood, and other materials effectively. For instance, concrete epoxy adhesive is widely popular in the construction sector.
Strength
Epoxy glues are well-known for their strength, making them an ideal choice for heavy-duty applications such as bonding composite materials in aviation and aerospace manufacturing.
Customizable Cure Time
Depending on the type of curing agent used in epoxy adhesions, they can be cured at room temperature, at increased temperatures, or using UV light radiation. This allows for flexibility in application and curing processes.
Understanding the Pivotal Types of Epoxy Adhesive
Below are the major types of epoxies used in industrial applications.
● DGEBA Epoxy (Diglycidyl Ether of Bisphenol A)
This is the oldest and most versatile epoxy resin in adhesive formulations due to its low raw material cost and compatibility with a wide range of catalysts, allowing for the creation of diverse properties.
● Waterborne Adhesives
These adhesives are hydrophobic and cannot dissolve in water. Water dispersibility can be achieved through chemical modification or emulsification, using a surfactant to separate water from resin, affecting adhesive stability. AQUENCE, a water-based adhesive by Henkel, is used to create a variety of products, including books, home appliances, medical tape, and packaging.
● Epoxy Acrylate Resins
Epoxy acrylate resins, like vinyl ester and radiation curing resin, are used in adhesive production. They exhibit characteristics akin to polyester resins, possess ease of synthesis, rapid curability, and are amenable to peroxide-based curing processes. Additionally, they possess lower viscosity, flexibility, and improved wetting properties.
Its prime example is Allnex epoxy acrylates, which offer modern, high-performance solutions, including fast curing, high hardness, and excellent chemical resistance. It is ideal and suitable for use in acidic or harsh environments.
● One-Part Epoxy Resin Adhesives
One-part epoxy resin adhesives are commonly used as construction adhesives. These epoxy tile adhesives are useful for installing tiles. For example, 3M specializes in offering a wide range of one-part epoxy adhesives.
● Epoxy Novolac Adhesives
Epoxy novolac adhesives are highly resistant and adhere better to surfaces than bisphenol A (BPA) epoxies. It requires high-temperature curing for full properties. These epoxies’ room-temperature curing is similar to that of DGEBA adhesives.
● Fast-Set Epoxy
These glues are used in fast-setting, regular-drying, and slow-drying formulations. Additionally, these substances are offered in both liquid and gel formulations catering to various uses, and exhibit prompt solidification upon application. EP3 is the best example of fast-set epoxy as it cures at room temperature. It is an extra-fast-setting adhesive that is used for fixturing, repairs, and bonding to plastics, ceramics, metal, concrete, wood, and stone.
Quick Recap
Epoxy adhesive stands as a versatile and indispensable tool across a multitude of industries, proving its worth in furniture making, construction, and various other applications. Its remarkable strength, durability, and ability to create enduring bonds have solidified its status as a go-to choice for craftsmen and professionals alike. Whether it’s for intricate furniture joints, securing concrete structures, making medical tapes, or producing books, epoxy adhesive continues to play a pivotal role in enhancing the quality and longevity of diverse projects.