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Ask Dr. Dave

Alternative Cure Systems for RTV Silicone Sealants

We use RTV silicones in our assembly operations, and our workers keep complaining about the strong vinegar smell. Somebody told me that we might be able to get low-odor, low-volatile silicones. What issues should we be aware of?
Dave Dunn, Ph.D.
Dave Dunn Ph.D.
January 25, 2022

Room-temperature vulcanizing (RTV) silicones are well-known for their extreme durability. They are convenient one-component sealants that cure by reaction with moisture from the atmosphere.


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Wound Dressing
Strategic Solutions

PSA Wound Dressing Adhesion and Skin Type: A Delicate Balance

Consideration must be given to various skin types to ensure dressings can be securely attached and easily removed without skin damage.
Joseph Miglionico
December 15, 2021

Pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) offer easy application and secure bonding, including adhering wound care dressings to skin. Skin is a variable substrate, however, and consideration must be given to various skin types to ensure dressings can be securely attached and easily removed without skin damage. 


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Ask Dr. Dave

Bonding Polystyrene Foam

We want to bond sheets of polystyrene foam to steel and to wood. What adhesives would you recommend that will be effective and safe to use?
Dave Dunn, Ph.D.
Dave Dunn Ph.D.
November 19, 2021

Bonding polystyrene foam to steel and wood is an application that was traditionally done with contact cements or other solvent-based adhesives. Due to health and flammability concerns, however, the modern trend is to use 100% reactive systems.



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Relative-performance-graph
Strategic Solutions

Assembly with Adhesives

Three key steps must be undertaken when considering the use of adhesives in assembly operations.
George Ritter
George W. Ritter, Ph.D.
October 11, 2021

When manufacturers are looking to use adhesives in an assembly operation, three steps must enter into the decision process: suitability, compatibility, and capability.


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From the Editor - Susan Sutton
From the Editor

Moving the Adhesives and Sealants Industry Forward

The adhesives and sealants industry relies heavily on distributors for far more than simply raw materials and chemicals shipments.
Susan Sutton
Susan Sutton
September 23, 2021

According to a recent report from Grand View Research, the global chemical distribution market was estimated to be $247.1 billion last year and is projected to see robust growth (5.4% CAGR) to 2028. The distribution of specialty chemicals, such as those used in CASE (coatings, adhesives, sealants, and elastomers) and other sectors, is expected to be the fastest-growing segment of the market, reaching $139 billion in that timeframe.


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Ask Dr. Dave

Bonding Fluoroplastic Parts to Metals

We manufacture PTFE and other fluoroplastic parts. We have been requested to make parts that can be bonded to metals. Is there a good adhesive, some sort of additive to the PTFE, or a surface treatment that we can use?
Dave Dunn, Ph.D.
Dave Dunn Ph.D.
September 21, 2021

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a high-performance plastic used in a variety of industries, particularly for its heat and chemical resistance and “non-stick” properties. However, PTFE has a low surface energy that does not allow adhesives to wet its surface and subsequently bond.


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Ask Dr. Dave

Adhesives for Fiberglass Bonding

What are the best adhesives for bonding fiberglass components?
Dave Dunn, Ph.D.
Dave Dunn Ph.D.
July 20, 2021

Called thermoset polyesters, these materials are glass fiber-reinforced unsaturated polyesters. They are also often referred to as “sheet molding compounds” (SMCs), “fiber-reinforced plastics” (FRPs), or simply “fiberglass.”


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EditorsBlog-Susan
From the Editor

Adhesives and Sealants Help Brands Achieve the Complete Package

Brands are exploring sustainable packaging as a means of increasing their appeal to environmentally conscious consumers.
Susan Sutton
Susan Sutton
May 21, 2021

Brands have long relied on their products’ packaging to draw the consumers’ eye and entice them to consider a purchase. But packaging has evolved beyond eye-catching graphics to encompass so much more, particularly as consumers continue to explore “green” products and services with the goal of helping to address climate change.


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