Adhesives as an alternative in manufacturing

Almost everything that is made by industry processes has component pieces, and these have to be fixed together. Traditionally mechanical devices and fixings, such as screws, rivets and spot welds were used. However, increasingly, manufacturing businesses seeking to reduce costs and improve product designs and performances are choosing to use adhesive bonding as an alternative to conventional methods.

The numerous benefits of using adhesives include reduced component and assembly costs, improved product performance and durability, greater design freedom, and less finishing operations. One of the key advantages of using adhesives over mechanically fastened joints is that there is a more uniform distribution of stresses over the bonded area. This means fewer and less severe concentrations of stresses, resulting in a more robust structure with the risk of fatigue cracks and corrosion significantly reduced.
From an aesthetic perspective, adhesive bonding gives a much smoother appearance to designs. There are no protruding fasteners such as screws and rivets. Adhesives can also provide the ideal solution to joining together materials that may differ in composition, moduli and thickness. As adhesive bonding does not require high temperatures, it is also a suitable means for joining together heat-sensitive materials prone to distortion from the heat of brazing or welding.
Adhesive bonding is suitable for use in a wide range of industries from construction and engineering, to electronics and automotive, to furniture and manufacturing. Some of the most common substrates for adhesive application include mineral wool, foil, plastic, foams (soft and rigid), metal, rubber, plasterboard and metal to concrete.

The automotive industry is just one example of an industry that has benefitted immensely from the replacement of mechanical fasteners with adhesives. Adhesives play a major role in construction of the interior, providing high performance assembly solutions which offer significantbenefits in terms of improved strength, ductility, substrate choice and design freedom, together with aesthetic appeal.

Axil Adhesives Ltd (part of Chemique Adhesives and Sealants Ltd) specialise in producing high performance technical and structural adhesives which can be used as an alternative to mechanical fixings for the widest variety of applications. Axil's Threadlocker range replaces the need for lock washers, spring washers and other thread fixings, which not only is a far more efficient method of preventing bolts from loosening over time, but is also far cheaper than mechanical methods.

Suitable for production line environments, Axil's Ultra Violet curing adhesive cures in as little as three seconds. The 'cure on demand' technology of this adhesive means it will not dry until required, as the cure is ca used by exposure to certain wavelengths of UV. This type of adhesive is particularly popular in industries needing to bond glass, such as medical products or glass topped furniture, as it cures to a transparent film.

Mick McMullen, Managing Director of Axil Adhesives says: ''Increasingly, as chemical technology improves, more and more companies using traditional adhesives and other fastening methods are going to be able to make impressive savings in their processes.''

Providing a total package solution, Axil adhesives Ltd have a full range of application equipment for use with their adhesive range. Axil's engineers are able to configure and supply the whole range from small installations for precise application to spray booth application.

So what does the future hold for adhesives? Well, this will be heavily influenced by trends in other sectors as the adhesive industry depends greatly on secondary industries. The rise of consumer electronics is likely to remain a key force in determining the future of adhesives. With the constant demand for more compact products, it would seem the role of mechanical fixings is fast becoming obsolete.

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