Acrylic adhesive is a versatile binding agent with variations in chemistry for different purposes. It can be sold in liquid, paste, and tape form and designed for permanent or removable installation. The chemical design balances shear, release, and tack performance characteristics. Polymers improve adhesion and the viscosity of the material is often related to the shear rate. Acrylic adhesive can be used as a two-part application or sold in tape form. It is suitable for outdoor use due to its ability to withstand changes in temperature, humidity, UV light, and solvents. Removable adhesives are designed with less tack and release for easy removal without damaging materials.
Acrylic adhesive is a binding agent obtained by polymerization of acrylic acid. Variations in chemistry produce types of acrylic adhesive for different purposes that balance shear, release, and tack performance characteristics. Other distinctions include the viscosity of the formula, the setting or hardening time, and the temperature required for setting. Acrylic adhesive is sold in liquid, paste and tape form. Chemical properties can be designed for permanent installation or to allow for removal by the application of a substance to break the chemical bond.
Polymers are the compounds created by bringing together quantities of simple molecules, or monomers. The crosslinking of polymers improves adhesion, or shear, which is a measure of the material’s ability to adhere to itself. The chemical design of acrylic adhesive is a balance between internal cohesion, or shear, and adhesion and peel, which are external measures. Release, or adhesion, is the measure of the bond between the adhesive and the materials to which it is bonded. Adhesion usually increases over a period of time after application as the adhesive hardens. Tack measures the degree to which the adhesive immediately bonds to the other material.
Engineering acrylic compounds can produce a wide range of adhesives suitable for many purposes. The viscosity of the material is often related to the shear rate, with firmer adhesives having a higher shear. Many acrylics require a 24 hour cure period to achieve full adhesion, but softer variations tend to have better tack and peel compensation due to lower shear. Some types are designed for heat curing. There tends to be an inverse relationship between curing temperature and required curing time; a higher curing temperature requires a shorter curing time and vice versa.
Acrylic adhesive is often used as a two part application, with an initiator applied to one of the materials to be bonded and a bonding agent to the other. The two parts are clamped or held together until curing is complete. An alternative is a form in which the two compounds are mixed before application. Acrylic adhesive is also sold in tape form as a roll of pressure sensitive material.
Permanent installations require an adhesive that can withstand changes in temperature, humidity, UV light and solvents. Acrylic adhesive has these qualities and is often the preferred option for outdoor uses. For installations that may require removal of the adhesive after an interval, removable adhesives are designed with less tack and release; this allows the bond to be broken without damaging the materials that have been joined.
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