Adhesives play an important role in creating sustainable and resilient infrastructure. While the hybridization of adhesives is not a novel concept, recent innovations in raw materials have unlocked new possibilities for toughened epoxy systems. The reaction of a polyurethane segment into an epoxy polymer has proven to be successful in building and construction applications that require flexibility as well as resistance to temperature and solvents. This study shows that hybrid epoxy-urethane adhesives can achieve higher adhesive strength and faster cure than non-hybridized epoxy adhesives alone.
The North American markets for epoxy and polyurethane adhesives are $2.4 billion and $2.3 billion, respectively, across all industries, as estimated by The Adhesive and Sealant Council.1 Transportation applications make up approximately half of all epoxy adhesive volume, but epoxy adhesives are also often used in the assembly, building and construction, and do-it-yourself (DIY) spaces as well. Polyurethane adhesives are more diversified in their uses, as they can be found in packaging, woodworking, footwear, and leather applications, in addition to those mentioned for traditional epoxy materials. Recognizing the large market size and wide range of applications, it’s no surprise why someone would want to take advantage of both technologies’ strengths.