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!
Adhesives and Sealants TopicsColumnsFinished Adhesives and SealantsEnd User Features

Ask Dr. Dave

What alternatives do I have for bonding to surfaces like polyethylene and polypropylene?

Dave Dunn's September 2016 column.

By Dave Dunn Ph.D.
Dr. Dave
September 1, 2016

Question: What alternatives do I have for high-strength bonding to surfaces like polyethylene and polypropylene?

Answer: Cyanoacrylates can be used with special primers to get very high strengths on these low-energy plastics. However, cyanoacrylates are expensive, which normally limits their applications to relatively small bond areas. Two-part acrylic systems have been available for some time and provide good strengths on these plastics, but have been based on the use of methyl methacrylate monomer (the so-called “MMA” adhesives). While being very effective in promoting adhesion, methyl methacrylate has a noxious odor and is quite flammable.

Recently, a few companies have introduced acrylic adhesives using much less volatile and flammable monomers based on novel cure systems using complexed boron alkyls as the key component of their cure system. The boron alkyls appear to react with hydrogen atoms on the polyolefins. These adhesives have successfully bonded a range of low-energy plastics, including polyethylene, polypropylene and thermoplastic olefins, to themselves or to metals

The major limitations of these adhesives are their very long fixture times (typically 2-3 hrs), which limits their range of applications. I have recently gotten very decent shear strengths with these adhesives on ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), a plastic that has a very low frictional coefficient and is used very frequently in wear situations.  ASI


Any views or opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not represent those of ASI, its staff, Editorial Advisory Board or BNP Media.

KEYWORDS: adhesives in assembly bonding cyanoacrylates

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...
    Finished Adhesives and Sealants
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 dunn

    Ask Dr. Dave: What advantages do I have if I choose an adhesive that has MIL-SPEC approval?

    See More
  • ask dr dave dunn

    Ask Dr. Dave: What is the best way to prepare aluminum surfaces for bonding with epoxy or acrylic adhesives?

    See More
  • Dr. Dave

    Ask Dr. Dave: What adhesives do you recommend for bonding fiberglass for indoor applications?

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • adhesive-bonding-science.gif

    Adhesive Bonding: Science, Technology, and Applications

  • adhesive-bonding-materials.gif

    Adhesive Bonding: Materials, Applications and Technology

  • advances-in-structural-adhe.gif

    Advances in Structural Adhesive Bonding

See More Products

Related Directories

  • DuPont

    DuPont delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to OEMs and the aftermarket. Working across the value chain, we develop material systems solutions for demanding applications and environments. Additionally, we encourage a collaborative approach to e-mobility solutions making it easy for customers to partner with us.
×

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