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What is the difference between a hardener, a primer, an accelerator, and an activator for adhesives and sealants?

The start of a new year is an optimal time to look to the past and make plans for the next 12 months. Here at ASI, we are constantly looking for new and more efficient ways to bring you the content you rely on.

Welcome to ASI’s annual Buyers’ Guide, a purchasing and applications resource for raw materials, equipment and services used to manufacture adhesives and sealants, pressure sensitives, and adhesives and sealants products such as tapes and labels. The Buyers’ Guide also includes supplier details for finished adhesives and sealants.

Longtime readers of this column may note that I have always been a fan of silicone sealants; however, I worked for a manufacturer of these materials for many years, so I hope I can be totally objective. I have no doubt that the durability and longevity of silicones cannot be exceeded in most applications. However, I can offer you several observations from my personal experience using them at home.

Welcome to our twice-yearly green issue, where we feature the latest content on sustainability and regulatory issues for adhesives and sealants.

Adhesives are often a better way to assemble plastics than by using mechanical assembly with fasteners. For example, fiberglass composites are routinely bonded with epoxy or reactive acrylic adhesives in the automotive and marine industries because they give high strength and durable bonds.

It was a simple email message, but it gave me pause. I had responded to an inquiry within minutes of its arrival in my email inbox, and received a compliment back, praising my prompt response. I was surprised not only that my response time was noticed, but that it was acknowledged with such positivity.

What are the pros and cons of using pressure-sensitive tape adhesives in place of liquid adhesives in the assembly of electronic devices?

Fall is in the air, which can only mean one thing: travel season! In this issue, we’re previewing two key events coming up in our industry—the Adhesive and Sealant Council’s Fall Convention and Expo, and the World Adhesives Conference.

Companies using adhesives are expected to be able to consistently produce an assembly―whether in the flexible packaging, furniture, automotive or construction industry―without differences in the quality of the product manufactured. This is the case for both high-performance structural bonds and applications with lower performance requirements.