Adhesive Mix Variables that Lead to Failure

For Part 1 of our multi-part series, “It May Not Be the Adhesive!” we cover some of the more common variables of the mix process itself that can lead to potential adhesive failure. These include wooden sticks, foreign particles, and generic syringes.

Wooden sticks

Easy to use, inexpensive, and disposable, wooden sticks seem an ideal choice for stirring together the Part A and Part B of a system.

These ubiquitous tools, however, have many downsides. Porous and made of wood fibers, wooden sticks can break and leave behind small splinters that may compromise the performance of the adhesive.

Foreign Object Debris (FOD)

When mixing by hand, the possibility for contamination is greatly increased due to “stuff” falling into the mix that resides on the mix technician’s body, clothing, equipment, and environment.

This “stuff” includes hair from the face, head or arms, and dirt and other small particles on the shirt or protective apron. It also includes particulates on mixing tools or in the mixing room environment.

Mixing adhesives next to a machining step is another sure fire way to introduce contamination into your mix.

Generic syringes

Many companies routinely order generic syringes without paying attention to how they’re manufactured. The problem here is that some syringe brands have pistons coated in silicone oil, which is added to help the piston move smoothly in the barrel.

Once the mixed adhesive comes into contact with the syringe piston, it’s now contaminated due to the silicone oil – a huge concern for aerospace components as silicone can inhibit the adhesive-to-substrate contact required to achieve strong adhesion.

These are a few of the more common variables that can affect your adhesive when mixing in-house.

Let Appli-Tec remove your adhesive mixing headache

Engineers rely on Appli-Tec and our packaged PMF adhesives because when a part fails, they know it’s not the adhesive.

Appli-Tec conducts incoming inspection, including FTIR validation, of each adhesive before its use. Our mixing environment is temperature and humidity controlled, and mixing is performed to a documented procedure with every lot number, quantity and time recorded.

It’s why you get consistent results, every single time.

Greg Duhamel was the Engineering Lead for Appli-Tec and a chemist with 25 years experience in the adhesive industry. Data driven, he worked to standardize manufacturing processes and procedures to ensure consistent product conformity.

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