Fastening & Assembly Solutions & Technology July 2012

FAST JULY 2012
ADHESIVE FORMULATION
Speciality building blocks
for adhesive formulators
The key to success in helping the formulators of adhesive or composite solutions to achieve market
differentiation is based on producing speciality chemical building blocks that meet customer’s
expectations. FAST explains how specialist materials manufacturer Huntsman has achieved this by
focusing on a four-pronged approach based on performance enhancement, cost reduction,
formulation processing optimisation and limitation of toxic substances
Huntsman Advanced Materials relies
on a four-pronged approach to the
building blocks it manufactures to formulate
modern adhesives. This approach is
predicated on performance enhancement,
cost reduction, formulation processing
optimisation and the limitation of toxic
substances wherever possible.
Huntsman’s core competencies lie in
synthesis and formulation and the company
utilises these skills to add new and
innovative high performance materials to
its range of proven and qualified building
blocks in the drive to enable market differentiation
for formulators in the areas of
adhesives and composites, focused on the
delivery of mechanical and thermal performance
improvement.
Take resins and hardeners, for example:
TGMAP type Araldite MY0610
offers very high mechanical and thermal
properties. In comparison to TGMDA
resins, such as Araldite MY 721, higher
modulus can be achieved with similar
thermal resistance (see figure 1).
Another example is tri-functional,
TGHPM type epoxy resin Tactix 742 provides
higher glass transition temperature
resistance than any other resin.
Dycyclopentadiene based, novolac
epoxy Tactix 556 presents the lowest
moisture absorption among any other
epoxy resin (see figure 2) but diaminodiphenylsulfone
hardener Aradur 976
offers thermal resistance and stability, as
well as chemical resistance.
Tougheners and flexibilisers
Specially modified epoxy/rubber adduct
Araldite LY 1146 improves impact resistance,
adhesion on contaminated surfaces
and corrosion resistance. While working
at higher temperature than epoxy/rubber
adducts, Flexibiliser DY 965 provides
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good impact resistance
and adhesion to metal (see
figure 3)
Other resins including benzoxazines,
such as Araldite
MT35600, are a special class
of thermosets, exhibiting
extremely good thermal and
mechanical properties while
Kerimid and Matrimid polyimide
resins are a range of
polyimide and bismaleimide
resins suitable for long term
resistance above 200°C.
Reducing formulation
costs
While reducing the cost of
formulations can be achieved
through the careful selection
of raw materials, the manufacturing
process is also pivotal
to the delivery of sustainable
solutions. Reducing the number
of mixing or synthesis
operations, lowering production
time through easier incorporation
and reducing the
investment in manufacturing
equipment are all examples of
the factors that strongly influence
the final cost of a formulation.
With access to a number of
complementary global production
facilities, the company
offers off-the-shelf or customised,
high quality and cost
effective products and services
for formulators within
blends (of resins or hardeners),
master-batches, as well
as pre-adducted chemicals.
Blends of liquid bisphenol A based
Figure 1: Comparing the modulus that can be achieved
with similar thermal resistance
Figure 2: Moisture absorption among epoxy resin
Figure 3: Studying impact resistance and adhesion
to metal surfaces
epoxy resins with reactive diluents, such
as Araldite BY 158 or Araldite BY 157, or
blends of solid bisphenol A epoxy resins