Adhesives and Sealants

One-part Moisture Cure RTV

These one-part adhesives utilize moisture from the atmosphere for curing.  They are supplied ready-to-use and require no mixing equipment or ovens. The assembled parts can simply be set aside at normal room environments. Parts can be handled in 10-120 minutes and achieve full properties in 24-72 hours, depending on the product utilized and its bond line thickness. Some of our newer products are formulated for faster room temperature cures. Because these products require moisture from the outside, they are not suitable for highly confined or deep section curing. Some acceleration of curing can be accomplished with mild heating at temperatures not exceeding 60C.  

Two-part Room Temperature Condensation Cure

A few of the condensation cure products are two-part formulations. These provide relatively fast room temperature cures and, because they contain their own source of moisture, can cure readily in more confined situations and in higher bondline thicknesses. Cure times range from about 30 minutes to 4 hours. These times represent when parts can be handled. The material will continue to cure and reach full properties in 8 hours to a few days depending on the product being used. These cure times can be accelerated by up to 10X with mild heating not exceeding 60C. Higher temperatures will not be of benefit because severe bubbling in the material will result. Because they cure relatively quickly once mixed, working times are limited. These materials are also not well suited for applications where the adhesives are highly confined and will experience high temperatures for long times once in service.

Heat Curing Adhesives

Many of these products are supplied as two-part formulations. In most medium to high volume processes, automatic mixing equipment is utilized. Once mixed, the adhesives have good working time at room temperature and only begin to cure once they are heated to temperatures above 100C. They need nothing from the outside atmosphere and will cure in unlimited thicknesses. Newly developed formulations cure more quickly at temperatures as low as 90C. At these temperatures, the adhesives will generally cure in about an hour.  Higher temperatures will result in faster cure times.  

There are also one-part adhesives that cure with heat. They require slightly higher curing temperatures, generally above 125C, for cure times of about an hour. Again, higher temperatures will result in faster cure times.