Adhesives Mag logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Adhesives Mag logo
  • NEW PRODUCTS
  • NEWS
    • Adhesives & Sealants Headlines
    • Mergers/Acquisitions
    • Events Calendar
    • Market Trends
  • TOPICS
    • Finished Adhesives and Sealants
    • Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives (PSAs)
    • Coatings
    • Raw Materials and Chemicals
    • Materials Handling/Processing
    • Meter/Mix/Dispense
    • Curing
    • Testing/Quality Control
    • Packaging of Adhesives & Sealants
    • Converting/Packaging
    • Composites
    • Sustainability
  • COLUMNS
    • European Perspectives
    • Strategic Solutions
    • Supply Chain Strategies
    • Tape Talk
  • TOP 20
  • MULTIMEDIA
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Webinars
    • eBooks
  • EXPLORE
    • Adhesives in Action
    • Blog
    • ASI Store
    • Industry Links
    • Market Research
    • Classifieds
  • DIRECTORIES
    • Buyers' Guide
    • Global Adhesives & Sealants Directory
    • Raw Materials, Chemicals, Polymers and Additives Handbook
    • Equipment Handbook
    • Distributor Directory
  • EMAGAZINE
    • EMAGAZINE
    • ARCHIVE ISSUES
    • ADVERTISE
      • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • CONTACT
  • SIGN UP!

Ask Dr. Dave

By Dave Dunn Ph.D.
April 1, 2011

Question: We manufacture two-part epoxy adhesives that are normally used by customers at ambient temperatures. We don’t completely understand why we always seem to get higher strengths if we cure them at higher temperatures. Is it a different type of curing?



Answer: It is difficult to give you an exact answer without the full details of the adhesive or what type of hardener you use for the epoxy. However, I can make some comments and generalizations about this type of adhesive.

Compared to some other types of structural adhesives, such as cyanoacrylates or reactive acrylics, epoxies are highly crosslinked structures and tend to become highly viscous very early in their cure cycle. The result is that the molecules’ mobility becomes restricted, which limits their ability to collide and react.

Is not unusual to see a lot of unreacted epoxy when curing is carried out at moderate temperatures. Heat has two effects: it lowers the viscosity and increases the reaction rate. A good way to observe this is to perform differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) on your cured adhesive. DSC measures the energy absorbed or released as the adhesive is ramped up from low to high temperatures.

In the case of the adhesive cured at ambient temperature, you will normally see an exothermic peak (heat released) during the scan as the remaining epoxy cures; the area under this peak gives you an estimate of the amount of unreacted epoxy in the sample. When an adhesive is fully cured at higher temperatures, this peak will not be observed. Heat-cured adhesives give the maximum adhesive strength and physical properties, plus enhanced heat and fluid resistance. It is common to have long heat cure cycles for very high strength epoxy adhesives.

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Dave dunn

Ask Dr. Dave is written by Dave Dunn, Ph.D., of F.L.D. Enterprises, a technical consultancy and full-service industrial market-research firm specializing in the adhesives, sealants, specialty rubbers and plastics fields. Dave is a former vice president and director of Loctite Corp. and has spent many years in troubleshooting adhesive and sealant problems. Questions for publication should be directed to him at 242 Trails End, Aurora OH 44202; phone (440) 477-5164; fax (330) 247-1690; or email DrDave242@windstream.net .

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • mouse in hole

    Using Foam Sealants for Pest Prevention

    According to the National Pest Management Association,...
    Finished Adhesives and Sealants
    By: Kevin Corcoran
  • linked network nodes

    Using the Power of AI for Adhesive and Sealant Formulation

    With the help of software solutions, adhesive formulators...
    Adhesives and Sealants Topics
    By: Karen Parker
  • top20-hero.jpg

    2024 ASI Top 20: Leading Global Manufacturers of Adhesives and Sealants

    ASI's annual ranking of the top 20 global adhesive and...
    Adhesives and Sealants Topics
Manage My Account
  • eMagazine Issues
  • eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Popular Stories

Picture of a tub and a tube of an epoxy

CREATIVE MATERIALS INC.: Conductive Epoxies

cardboard packaging

Utilizing Biobased Materials to Enable Sustainability in Hot-Melt Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives

rolls of tape

What’s Next in Tapes: A Look at Industry Trends

ASI Top 20 website

Events

January 1, 2030

Webinar Sponsorship Information

For webinar sponsorship information, visit www.bnpevents.com/webinars or email webinars@bnpmedia.com.

View All Submit An Event

Products

Structural Adhesives: Properties, Characterization and Applications

Structural Adhesives: Properties, Characterization and Applications

See More Products

ASI CASE EBOOK

Related Articles

  • Ask Dr. Dave

    See More
  • Ask Dr. Dave

    See More
  • Ask Dr. Dave

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • hetrophase.jpg

    Heterophase Polymerization: Basic Concepts and Principles

  • adhesion.jpg

    Laser Surface Modification and Adhesion

  • 4.png

    Progress in Adhesion and Adhesives, Volume 7

See More Products

Related Directories

  • Dorsett & Jackson Inc.

    Dorsett & Jackson is a 100% Employee-Owned Specialty Chemical Distributor headquartered in California, servicing the West Coast and Southwest. Providing resins, additives, pigments, and equipment to the coatings, adhesives, sealants, inks, composites, and plastics markets since 1955.
×

Keep the info flowing with our eNewsletters!

Get the latest industry updates tailored your way.

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletters
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey & Sample
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Youtube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing