Adhesives & Sealants Industry Top Stories - Articles

From the Editor

A Wintery Mix

Our February issue brings articles on a wide range of topics, including green formulations and applications, curing materials, transportation end uses, and much more.

Susan Sutton

February 25, 2022

To start us off, Jowat’s Gerhard Haas asks: How can we make adhesives and bonding processes more sustainable? Luckily, he also provides some insightful answers clustered under a central recommendation to seek a holistic approach to sustainability. Learn more in “Green Bonding.”

Continued Consolidation in the Adhesives and Sealants Sector

Blaige & Co. provides details regarding its proprietary research on the impact of global consolidation.

February 23, 2022

Two distinct strategies are at play in adhesives and sealants segment M&A—one being employed by large, global consolidators and the other by domestic, private equity-backed consolidators.

Ask Dr. Dave

Ask Dr. Dave’s Greatest Hits

Dave Dunn has retired as a columnist following 20 years of monthly contributions.

Dave Dunn Ph.D.

February 21, 2022

After more than 20 years of sharing his expertise and wisdom in the monthly Ask Dr. Dave column, Dave Dunn has retired as a columnist. Here we share some of his most popular columns over the years.

Core-Shell Masterbatches in Acrylate Monomer

New liquid tougheners offer multiple benefits for structural adhesives and thermoset systems.

Zack Weinert Christopher MacNeill Ph.D. George Fortman Ph.D. Mike Bailey

February 21, 2022

A new solution has been developed in the form of pre-dispersed masterbatches of core-shell particles in (meth)acrylate monomers. These new liquid toughener dispersions are stable and have been proven to increase the toughness of acrylic materials. The utility of these tougheners has been demonstrated in light-curable thermoset formulations and in 2K acrylic structural adhesives.

Striving for Sustainability

How Are Adhesive Innovations Enabling the Circular Packaging Economy?

The packaging industry can address the growing market demand for sustainable packaging while also enabling operating and performance improvements that have benefits independent from sustainability.

Angel Harvey

February 16, 2022

The pandemic drove increased demand for packaging and created significant stresses on the packaging value chain, but it didn’t reduce the focus on sustainability. The industry has had to meet the various challenges of the pandemic while continuing to make progress toward a circular packaging economy.

Specialty Chemicals Insights

Connections, Solutions Take Center Stage at Specialty & Custom Chemicals Show

The Specialty & Custom Chemicals Show will feature more than 165 exhibitors, 39 Exhibitor Showcases, and a series of educational sessions focusing on pressing issues that manufacturers are facing both inside and outside their fence lines.

Jenny Gaines

February 15, 2022

With business booming and companies reaching capacity limits, customers and suppliers throughout the specialty chemical value chain are looking to make business-critical connections in 2022. SOCMA offers that opportunity and more at the Specialty & Custom Chemicals Show, which will be held February 28-March 2, at the Omni in Fort Worth, Texas.

Performance Elastomers from Renewable Resources

Elastomers produced with a new renewable monomer are helping create new market value while offering sustainability benefits.

Shinya Oshita Yoshikazu Ueno Yosuke Uehara Daisuke Konishi Hiromitsu Sasaki

February 14, 2022

Elastomer products are commonly produced using isoprene, butadiene, and styrene. A new renewable monomer has been used to develop unique polymers, such as liquid farnesene rubber (LFR) and a proprietary bio-based styrenic elastomer.

Electric Vehicle Market Advances Generate Adhesive Technology Innovations

As the electric vehicle market evolves and develops, adhesive manufacturers create new technologies to meet these needs.

Dave Czaplewski Manny Dias Giorgio Zaffaroni Laurie Gibbons

February 11, 2022

The use of adhesives in electric vehicles (EVs) is even more widespread than in conventional automobiles. In both types of vehicles, adhesives offer many advantages, including ease of use compared to welding, environmental resistance, sealing, distributing stress, and joining dissimilar materials.

Market Trends

Strong Growth Projected for Automotive Adhesive Tapes

Several key trends will help drive the 6.1% CAGR expected for automotive adhesive tape revenues through 2028.

February 9, 2022

Automotive adhesive tapes are lighter than mechanical fasteners such as screws and fasteners and simplify the automobile manufacturing process. The global automotive adhesive tapes market was valued at $8.7 billion in 2020 and is expected to account for $13.8 billion by 2028.

Improved Rheological Profile and Stability of 2K Waterborne Polychloroprene Dispersion Adhesives

Microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) offers multiple benefits in waterborne polychloroprene adhesive formulations.

Otto Soidinsalo

February 7, 2022

Polychloroprene has a long history in the world of adhesives. It has been the primary choice when fast, high-strength, and permanent bonds are needed in variety of applications, from shoe soles to foam bonding. Historically, polychloroprene adhesives have been solvent borne, but environmental and occupational safety reasons have recently caused a shift toward waterborne polychloroprene adhesives. One of the challenges in waterborne polychloroprene dispersion adhesives has been related to the thickening of these high pH systems, as well as the storage stability.