October 2020

We're exploring assembly applications in this issue, as well as formulation advances and various options for testing and quality control. Check it out!

Adhesives in Automotive Assembly

Advanced sealants and adhesives in vehicle assembly effectively and safely address key applications that have traditionally employed mechanical fasteners while adding design freedom to today's modern vehicles.

Greg Moran

September 29, 2020

Transportation has evolved tremendously over the last century. From horse and buggy to steam power, the internal combustion engine, multi-speed powertrains, and the latest push for hybrids and electrification—the way things move has changed tremendously.

Industry Assembles Virtually at The ASSEMBLY Show

The ASSEMBLY Show is virtual this year—early access began in August, the event is being held October 27-28, and on-demand login opportunities will last through June 2021.

October 12, 2020

Organizers of The ASSEMBLY Show have reimagined the event in a new accessible way due to ongoing concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Attendees’ virtual tickets enable access to the online portal October 27-28, 2020, as well as early access that began in August and on-demand login availability through June 2021.

Using Foam Sealants for Pest Prevention

Pest & Rodent Awareness Week is coming up. How can expanding polyurethane foams help seal building envelopes against unwanted visitors?

Kevin Corcoran

September 24, 2020

According to the National Pest Management Association, 37% of homeowners have seen a rodent in their home in the past year. As we mark Pest & Rodent Awareness Week in October, it’s important to take a proactive approach to deter these critters before they find a way into a building.

Performance Testing of Hydrophilic Coatings on Medical Devices

It is vital to choose the right testing methods to create certainty and predictability in the manufacture and use of hydrophilic coatings for implantable medical devices.

October 22, 2020

Having a piece of plastic or metal inserted into your body is never going to feel like a warm blanket wrapping around you, but it is possible to make sure that these vital instruments are doing their job while not causing any damage or unnecessary pain in the process. Surface engineering is key for medical devices like tubing, catheters, and stents that are implanted in the human body.

Renewable Alternative: Cashew Nutshell Liquid-Based Isocyanate Blocking Agent

A high-purity cardanol derived from renewable cashew nutshell liquid offers chemical features that can be successfully used in epoxy and polyurethane adhesives and sealants.

James Zhao Yun Mi Kim Pietro Campaner

October 16, 2020

Cashew nutshell liquid (CNSL) is a non-edible, bio-based material commonly used as a building block for various resins, hardeners, and modifiers in the adhesives, coatings, and composites industries. A high-purity cardanol, 3-pentadeca-dienyl-phenol, derived from the bio-oil CNSL has been employed to replace nonyl phenol (NP) in various applications, including isocyanate blocking.

Going Above and Beyond OEM Testing Requirements

The best practice in testing procedures involves incorporating additional quality control and testing standards beyond those required by OEM partners.

Matt Bosselman

October 9, 2020

Third-party coating, adhesive, and sealant providers benefit greatly from the rigorous testing standards required by their manufacturing partners. While this is a widely adopted norm, the best practice in testing procedures involves incorporating additional quality control and testing standards beyond those requirements.

Put Some Moxie in Your Epoxy: Toughening Epoxy Adhesives with a Polyurethane Prepolymer

The addition of a low-viscosity, blocked polyurethane prepolymer improves the strength and reduces the cure time of epoxy adhesives.

Jay A. Johnston

Cassie Popovski

October 5, 2020

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.

M&A Corner

COVID-19: The Black Swan

Though the COVID-19 pandemic caused a major slowdown in merger and acquisition activity, strategic and "bolt-on" deals are still getting done.

Andy Hinz

October 7, 2020

As we headed in to 2020, merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in chemicals and materials was humming along at near-historical levels. High valuations did not seem to deter buyers, with private equity (PE) firms clamoring to place capital and strategic buyers motivated for acquisitions to bolster their growth and help justify their high stock prices.

From the Editor

Putting Things Together During a Pandemic

Today’s environment of constant change, ambiguity, and even conflict can lead to especially problematic decision making.

Susan Sutton

October 20, 2020

Life during COVID-19 has brought about issues that many of us never envisioned back in early March. On top of innumerable personal challenges, many of our businesses have seen true upheavals. Operating with uncertainty is always difficult, but today’s environment of constant change, ambiguity, and even conflict can lead to especially problematic decision making.

Strategic Solutions

What Tests Should I Run on My Structural Adhesive Systems?

Each adhesive testing protocol should add tangible value to your structural design.

George W. Ritter, Ph.D.

October 14, 2020

When anticipating using adhesives in structural bonding, a common need is developing the testing protocol to demonstrate bonded system effectiveness. While pressure-sensitive tapes are used in structural joining, this discussion will focus on liquid, paste, and film adhesives in structural joints.

Ask Dr. Dave

Repairing Leaks in a Fire Sprinkler System

We have some pinhole leaks in our fire sprinkler system in a large residential apartment block. Can you recommend a sealant that will stop the leaks to give us some time before we have to replace the entire system?

Dave Dunn Ph.D.

October 2, 2020

Fire sprinkler systems are very difficult and expensive to replace or repair because the piping is often inside walls and ceilings. Some companies sell two-part epoxy adhesives that are fast curing and designed specifically for repairing this type of leak.