Structural Acrylic Adhesives

Also called also called tough acrylics, toughened acrylics or second-generation acrylics (SGAs).

Definition

Two component reactive adhesive consisting of an adhesive base or resin which reacts with a catalyst, accelerator or hardener and cures rapidly at room temperature.

Types

Surface-Activated No Mix

The acrylic base component is applied to one substrate and the activator is applied to the other surface. The curing mechanism is activated upon contact of the adhesive base with the activator to form the bond.

Two-Component Mixable Systems

Two components are mixed prior to application using standard two component meter-mix-and-dispense systems such as meter-mix-dispense machines, two-component syringes and cartridges, and static mixers. The two components meet in a disposable static mixer just before application to the materials to be bonded.

Advantages/Disadvantages

Structural acrylic adhesives bond to a wide range of materials including metals, hard-to-bond plastics, glass and composites. Compared to epoxies, structural acrylics require less surface preparation and are not as sensitive to dirty or oily surfaces. In addition they have the ability to bond dissimilar substrate materials. Structural acrylics can be very rigid or quite flexible. They offer high peel and high impact strengths, providing tough, durable, shock resistant bonds. Structural acrylics also feature good chemical and environmental resistance. Mix ratios are more forgiving than other two-component adhesives such as epoxies, meaning that precise mixing is unnecessary. Curing occurs at room temperature, eliminating the need for external heat-cure sources. With multiple application techniques, a wide range of available viscosities and quick, controllable curing, acrylic adhesives are highly adaptable to production requirements and dispensing machinery.