ABSTRACT
The most recent, and perhaps the most versatile, generic family of structural adhesive products to be introduced to the parts-assembly industry has been designated modified acrylic structural adhesives. This chapter provides the reader with broad understanding of the technology, history, use, performance, and handling of this new adhesive joining tool. The limitations of the epoxy adhesives—they require clean, well-prepared surfaces; they require heat cures for best performance; they provide only moderate adhesion to newer engineering plastics now replacing metals in many areas—mothered the invention of the modified acrylic structural adhesives. The modified acrylic structural adhesives provide extremely high initial bond strength and long-term durability on load-bearing assemblies. Analogous performance with other generic structural adhesives normally requires high-temperature curing and rigorously prepared substrates. The modified acrylic structural adhesives provide the unique capability of curing rapidly at room temperature. In applications that require mass production, it is necessary to provide automatic dispensing equipment in joining process.
