A New Route to High-Performance Flexible Adhesives and Coatings: 2K STPE/Epoxy Technology
Combining a silyl-terminated polyether with epoxy technology as a two-component system provides a balance of high-strength performance and flexibility with bonding properties similar to traditional epoxies.
In the past half-century, the global market for sealants and adhesives in construction and industrial applications has experienced significant growth. Polyurethane-, silicone-, and silyl-terminated polyether (STPE)-based materials enjoy substantial market share in sealant applications due to their superb flexibility and adhesive characteristics, while epoxy products have remained a dominant force in adhesive applications due to their outstanding strength and good adhesion properties after surface treatment.
While these chemistries can meet most application requirements, performance gaps still need to be filled that require a balance of strength, flexibility, and adhesion. Examples of such opportunities include a primer that can endure structural movement and an adhesive that can withstand substrate vibrations or oscillations.