- 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
- Large Surface Lamination
- Sealing Encapsulating
- Small Joint Assembly
- Gasket Attachment
- Mounting Trim Attachment
- Panel-to-frame/Stiffener-to-Panel
- View All Applications
- Industries
- General Industries
- Construction
- Metal Fabrication
- Signage Solutions
- Transportation Industry
- Appliances
- RESOURCES
- Science of Adhesion
- Benefits of Adhesive
- How Does Adhesion Work
- Adhesive Bond Strength
- Automated Manufacturing with Adhesives and Tapes
- View All
- SUPPORT
Adhesives for composite material applications
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Take your designs to the limit and beyond with 3M structural adhesives. With the ability to bond dissimilar (multi) materials, including aluminium and carbon fibre composites, you can use lighter and thinner materials for groundbreaking innovations in form and function.
Recent advances in multi-material adhesives have given manufacturers new assembly options beyond traditional mechanical and thermal assembly methods. Use these strong and durable adhesives on composite materials for maximum performance to optimise your design.
What to consider when choosing a structural adhesive.
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Your assembly requirements, end use and materials are all important factors in selecting the optimal joining and bonding solution. Consider these questions to help you select the best adhesive for your needs.
- What materials will be bonded?
- What kind of environment will it be used in (temperature, humidity, UV exposure, etc.)?
- What kind of force are the joints built for (shear, tension or compression)?
- Does it need to resist chemicals (motor oil, jet fuel, weak acids and bases)?
- Are there any mechanical challenges (impact, vibration, stress type and magnitude)?
Considering these key factors will help determine your adhesive options. Keep reading to learn more about 3M adhesives.
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Choose your multi-material adhesive
Selecting the optimal adhesive is important, and we have the resources to guide you through it. 3M has completed extensive field trials and testing and developed a selector chart that covers the majority of composite and multi-material applications. Flip through it and find your application and materials to make your selection.
Adhesive options to optimise your designs
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Epoxy adhesives generally have the highest strength and overall performance.
Feature focus: Best resistance to high temperatures, solvents and outdoor weathering.
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Two-part adhesives that provide excellent bond strength and durability, although slightly lower than epoxy adhesives.
Feature focus: Faster cure speed, high tolerance for oily or unprepared bonding surfaces, bonding with a wide variety of materials, including nearly all plastics.
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Two-part flexible adhesives with excellent impact resistance and good adhesion to most plastics.
Feature focus: Bonds well to woods, concrete and rubbers with reduced resistance to solvents and high temperatures.
Applications
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Glass-filled polypropylene
Permanent composite bonding for strength and aesthetics
3M™ Scotch-Weld™ Structural Plastic Adhesive DP8010 Blue was used to bond ABS inserts to glass-filled polypropylene bumpers. It was the only solution that provided a permanent structural bond without pre-treatment while maintaining the desired look.
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Thermoplastic Composites
Lightweight composite adhesive bonding for vehicle panels
3M™ Scotch-Weld™ Structural Plastic Adhesive DP8010NS Blue is used in bonding interior trim panels to the aluminium frame. It provided the desired bonding strength for the lightweight interior panels that could also withstand driving force and provide structural support.
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Glass Reinforced Plastic
Flexible adhesive for vehicle manufacturing
A 3M polyurethane adhesive sealant was used to bond the glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) side panel to the coated steel frame of a commercial bus and coach. It was selected because it offered a high load capacity and could withstand vibrations and thermal expansion. This customer also used 3M™ VHB™ Acrylic Foam Tape with the adhesive sealant to speed up production.
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Carbon Fibre
Carbon Fibre composite bonding for drilling platforms
3M™ Scotch-Weld™ Toughened Epoxy Adhesive has been used to bond carbon fibre during the assembly of lightweight drilling platform equipment. 3M’s epoxy adhesive was used to secure bonded joints of carbon fibre and stainless steel. Field tests have shown resistance to dynamic loading, crude oil, hydrocarbon mud and fragments of rock mixture flowing at 80 to 100ºC.
