Acrylate adhesives are ideal
for bonding stereolithography and rapid-prototyping parts due to rapid cure,
low VOCs, and low moisture and temperature sensitivity. The same adhesives are
also useful in bonding glass in fiber-optic applications.
This article examines the external events that have led to greater awareness of adhesives’ performance in the event of a fire, the standards and regulations that are being imposed, and the development of new fire-resistant materials.
Historically, fire resistance has not generally been a significant requirement when specifying adhesive systems. Recent incidents, however, indicate that this may soon change. These include events outside of the formulators’ arena, such as increased sensitivity to the performance of components in a fire, and events within the formulators’ arena, such as the development of flame-resistant additives.
Many
factors affect the performance of the ubiquitous gaskets that provide critical
seals between pipe segments and ensure satisfactory operation of a range of industrial
equipment, but no factor is more important than compressive load.