Structural adhesives are all about creating more efficiency without sacrificing the strength and durability of your structure. But when trying to get more efficient, you must make sure that the changes you’re making are safe for your employees and your customers. Here are five features to look for when choosing a safer structural adhesive. 

Structural adhesives have been around for decades, and they’re used in a variety of industrial applications ranging from fabrication to general assembly to transportation. Adhesives provide many benefits over traditional bonding and fastening methods. They save time and labor, allow manufacturers to lightweight their end-products, and allow for more flexible designs through the bonding of dissimilar materials.

But when choosing the right structural adhesive for your application, there’s one requirement that’s universal – safety. You must always make sure the adhesive you choose is safe for your workers and end users.

Not all adhesives are created equal in this regard, so here are some features you’ll want to look out for.

5 Safety Features to Look for in Your Adhesive

#1) Low Odor

At the end of the day, structural adhesives are chemicals and some formulations can produce off-putting and sometimes harmful vapors that are released into the air making for unpleasant working conditions, especially if you need to work in enclosed or confined spaces. MMA adhesives in particular have been embraced by many industries due to their rapid curing, high strength and minimal required surface preparation. However, these products do have a distinctive odor that many operators would prefer to avoid.

Adhesives with strong odors can result in low morale, longer cycle times, compliance headaches, and even costly ventilation equipment. If the work is in an enclosed space like an elevator, or in an environment like a hospital, where such odors will not be tolerated, a compromise might be made to use a less effective adhesive which could result in shorter service life.

The good news is there are low-odor adhesive options on the market, which make working in enclosed environments safer and more bearable for your employees.

They’ll also make your end-users happy, too. Odorous adhesives can leave a residual smell even after curing that can permeate your end product – potentially leaving your customers unhappy. Make sure a low odor profile is at the top of your list when choosing a structural adhesive.

#2) Non-Flammable

Another safety concern with chemical products is flammability. Some adhesives have a flammable profile, which typically means added costs in the form of proper safety training, designated flammable storage, transportation and equipment.

Not to mention that iIf you run out of glue, an overnight shipment could cost you hundreds of dollars in hazmat fees from your carrier.

Consider your work environment and your product’s use. If there is any chance for flame exposure, you must make sure your adhesive can safely stand up to that environment.

If possible, find a structural adhesive with a low flammability profile. Not only is it safer for your employees, but it will also keep your production costs down and profit margins up. Also if you get in a jam, you’ll have piece of mind knowing that you can ship the product where you need it, without breaking the bank with excessive freight costs.

#3) Low Toxicity Profile

It’s important to find an adhesive with as low of a toxicity profile as possible. Again, it’s about the safety of your workers. Working with a less toxic material creates a much safer work environment and process.

Plus, as stated before when talking about odor and flammability, if you’re working with an adhesive with a high toxicity profile, there are associated risk mitigation costs.

Many manufacturers today work with internal or external safety/compliance personnel. While these people do an important job, they can make your life difficult if you need to get the project completed and the required materials are not worker-friendly.

Whether it’s OSHA or the company’s chief safety officer, finding a structural adhesive with a low toxicity profile can save you a lot of extra headaches and help you focus on your mission-critical responsibilities.

#4) No Primer

This feature has less to do with safety and more with saving time, but it’s still important for your efficiency and cost savings. A lot of structural adhesives require the application of a primer to work. This extra step adds time, which is ironic because people look to adhesives to help save time in their production lines.

So, don’t settle. There are plenty of adhesives on the market that allow for primerless application, without sacrificing strength or durability.

#5) High Strength

At the end of the day, your products need to be strong and durable in a variety of different environments – including heavy loads, inclement conditions and high use wear and tear. Depending on your industry there are likely minimum performance benchmarks that your products must adhere to. Find an adhesive that can do the job.

But remember, it’s not just about high strength. While many structural adhesives can withstand harsh conditions, the challenge is in finding one that gives you the benefits of a low odor and toxicity profile, is non-flammable and requires no primer without compromising on strength and performance.

Here’s a good example of one that hits all the marks.

The Huntsman Araldite 2080 Line

Only a few years ago, you would have been hard-pressed to find an adhesive with all these key features. Traditionally, manufacturers have been limited to either methyl methacrylate (MMA) adhesives – known for its odor and high flammability – or polyurethane (PU) adhesives – known for their high toxicity and need for surface prep.

But today, the Araldite 2080 line of structural adhesives from Huntsman fits the bill on all five of these safety factors, and they can be used in a wide variety of applications. The Araldite 2080 line creates the perfect high-strength and high-elongation bond with outstanding stress and impact resistance and fast reactivity times without any of the downsides and safety issues of MMA or PU adhesives.

At Chemical Concepts we’re proud to stock this new line of revolutionary structural acrylate adhesives. If you’re interested in learning more about how you can add this adhesive to your process, get in touch with our experts.

Do you want performance and safety? Why compromise?

We’ll be happy to talk shop and help you save valuable time and money.