With the host of diverse biomaterials produced by an estimated 6.5 million species on land and 2.2 million species in the oceans, the biomimicry toolkit that man has to play with is, for all practical purposes, limitless. The superior designs discovered in nature have inspired many research programs from around the world, both at the university and commercial levels. The gecko, sandcastle worm, caddisfly, mussel, and sea cucumber are all species that have inspired new chemical approaches to creating adhesives with unique performance features.

Pressure-sensitive tape has a high degree of functionality, which in turn often results in savings of time and money, quality improvements via enhanced performance, and improved aesthetics. In multiple examples across several markets, process improvements such as reduced preparation time and decreased downtime add to the overall value generated by pressure-sensitive tape use.

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. 

The definition of “sustainability” is in flux. As it pertains to construction, sustainability is constantly evolving to encompass varying approaches and priorities. In the U.S., sustainable construction is the method of creating buildings and using processes that are environmentally reliable and resource efficient throughout the building’s life cycle, including design, construction, operation, and renovation. Western Europe defines sustainable construction as a way to build that aims to reduce health and environmental impacts affected by the construction process or by buildings.

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

Additive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, has seen increased adoption across industries and regions for producing a variety of end-use parts. 

The shift from brick-and-mortar to digital shopping had been under way for some time when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Since 2017, ecommerce revenues have risen from an estimated $1.4 trillion to $2.4 trillion, or about 2.7% of global output.

The global adhesives and sealants market grew from approximately $45 billion in 2010 to around $63 billion last year, according to The Adhesive and Sealant Council’s recently released “2020-2023 North American Market Report for Adhesives and Sealants, with a Global Overview.” During this period, over 200 patent applications (simple family groups) in the technical fields of adhesives and sealants were filed across the five major IP jurisdictions (US, EU, CN, JP, KR).

While certainly no guarantee of success, a business strategy with robust crisis management increases not only the probability of survival but a faster return to a thriving business. In many cases, it also enables a business to uncover and correct its weaknesses.

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.