Adhesives

'Open time' refers to the period of time within which the adhesive bond must be realised.

No. An adhesive is a non-metallic intermediary substance with inherent cohesive strength, used to create an adhesive bond between the surfaces of two materials.

Certainly. Elastic adhesives must have a certain thickness in order to absorb and reduce stresses in the bonding materials. Wood adhesives, on the other hand, require an adhesive seam that is pressed as thinly as possible.

Adhesion methods have numerous advantages, including no surface perforation, excellent distribution of stresses by elastic adhesives, mutual insulation of materials and the possibility of blind fastening.

An adhesive dissolved in water. The adhesive reaches its strength after the water has evaporated.

An adhesive applied with a glue comb. Thixotropic contact adhesives are easy to spread without pulling threads. The glue comb ensures that the adhesive is properly spread out (the second adhesive layer is applied crosswise on top of the first).

This problem is usually caused by the inclusion of solvent. The drying period may have been too short. Moisture may also be a cause, as contact adhesives are often not moisture-resistant. Moisture entering from the substrate damages the adhesive as it collects under the formica panel.

This problem may be caused by a substrate that is not porous enough. Paste adhesives and dispersion adhesives require at least one substrate to be porous or absorbent for the adhesive to reach its strength. In this case, it is advisable to use an appropriate contact adhesive such as Styrocol.

This problem may be caused by an overly long drying time. The adhesive should be left to dry, but not for so long that the surface loses its 'tack', i.e. the surface must remain somewhat sticky.

The component to be bonded has been applied to the adhesive too soon. The adhesive still contains too much solvent, so that it is pulled apart through stress or by the weight of the panel. This produces the effect of threads.

Possible cause: the mirror does not meet the requirements of the EN 1036 standard; the rear side of the mirror is unsuitable for bonding. Another possible cause: the adhesive was not applied in vertical, but in horizontal rills. Moisture remains behind on these horizontal rills and damages the mirror. Sealing all the edges of the mirror using adhesive may also cause damage because substances from the substrate are entrapped.

One disadvantage of adhesives is the fact that it is difficult to check the quality of an adhesive bond. In fact, an adhesive bond can really only be tested by destroying it. Bostik often hears from users: the bond was fine, I should have left it alone. Refer to the relevant Technical Data Sheet(s) to check the properties of the adhesive (adhesion, curing, tensile strength). Closely following the instructions provides enough certainty. Taking reference samples is also an option. By taking several small samples during the adhesion work (under the same circumstances and using the same materials), it is possible to check these samples at regular times.

Adhesives and sealants of this type cure more quickly. This may be important if the objects to be bonded require quick further processing or transportation. No air humidity is needed to cure 2-component adhesives or sealants. Only the temperature must meet the relevant requirements.

The adhesive bond was loosened before the adhesive had properly cured. The adhesive is pulled apart, creating threads or bumps. When the adhesive bond is re-created, air is entrapped. The problem is not caused by the adhesive itself, but by incorrect application.

Yes, SimsonPrene has recently been changed and is now suitable for the adhesion of PS foam panels. Styropast for porous substrates or Styrocol for non-porous substrates are also suitable for the adhesion of PS foam panels.