- Overview
- PRODUCTS
- 3M™ VHB™ Tapes
- 3M™ Scotch-Weld™ Structural Adhesives
- Adhesive Transfer Tapes & Double Coated Tapes
- Spray Adhesives
- Reclosable Fasteners
- Adhesive Sealants
- Foam Tapes
- Hot Melt Adhesives
- View All Products
- APPLICATIONS
- Panel-to-Frame/Stiffener-to-Panel
- Small Joint Assembly
- Large Surface Lamination
- Mounting and Trim Attachment
- Gasket Attachment
- Sealing/Potting and Encapsulating
- View All Applications
- INDUSTRIES
- Manufacturing Industries
- Construction Industries
- Signage Solutions
- Metal Fabrication Solutions
- View All Industries
- MATERIAL BONDING
- Resources
- Science of Adhesion
- Benefits of Adhesive
- How Does Adhesion Work
- Adhesive Bond Strength
- Automated Manufacturing with Adhesives and Tapes
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- SUPPORT
Discover how 3M adhesives provide a reliable hold without screws or rivets for unlimited design possibilities.
Improve Joint Design for Striking Results
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From bonding joints to securing small metal brackets, create lasting bonds that withstand heavy wear with industrial adhesives and tapes. Unlike traditional fasteners which can leave punctures and marks, 3M bonding solutions provide high-strength, invisible bonds that fill gaps and tight, irregularly shaped spaces for a lighter, more aesthetically pleasing product design. They also enhance common metal joint assemblies such as lap, corner and butt joints, distributing multi-directional stresses effectively for greater strength.
Explore how 3M bonding and assembly solutions are engineered to simplify your joint assemblies:
Related Industries
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Metal FabricationShaft-hosel designs transfer the impact force of a golf club head when striking a ball.
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FurnitureMortise and tenon joints rely on the strength of the wood to help resist stress.
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Electronics Parts AssemblySmall joints attached with threaded mechanical fasteners provide stiff, structural assemblies.
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Rubber and Plastic Parts AssemblyAllow tight adhesion of low surface energy materials with chemical resistance for durable and strong adhesion.
Design Challenges Associated with Small Joint Assemblies
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- Acrylic, epoxy and urethane adhesives
- Over 1000 psi in overlap shear strength
- For highest strength, fatigue and environmental resistance
- Excellent for metal-to-metal bonds
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- One part solvent-free adhesive
- Reaches handling strength in 5–10 seconds
- Best for small bond lines (<10 cm²)
- Excellent for rubbers and plastics
- Very tight bond lines with near instant strength
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- 100% solid
- Thermoplastic resin
- Reaches bond strength in seconds
- Best for wood and plastic
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- Single component
- Hot-applied thermosetting adhesive
- Immediate strength and holding power
- Final cured strength over 1,000 psi
- Best for wood and plastic
Design Confidently With a Trusted Solution
Create innovative products with precision, speed, and strength. For a bond that lasts, get in touch with our experts to tailor a solution for your assemblies.
Performance Factors for Small Joint Assemblies
Bonding and assembly solutions with the features below are best suited for small joint assemblies:
- Low-viscosity liquids for tight-fitting parts
- Vibration resistance
- Very high strength
- Ability to bond dissimilar materials
Explore the range of 3M Industrial Tapes and Adhesives to be used in insertion or overlap joints for your project:
Good = + Better = ++ Best = +++
| Performance factors by products |
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| * Reaches handling strength in less than 3 hours (at 24°C) |
* * * Hold over 1,000 psi in overlap shear strength |
* Suitable for manufacturing industry |
| * * | * * * | * * * |
| * * * Reaches handling strength within 45 seconds |
* * Overlap shear strength is approximately 1,000-2,000 psi |
* * * Suitable for gasket bonding and smaller assemblies |
*Adhesive performance is dependent on cure temperature and size of assembly.
