Why You Need a Custom Industrial Adhesive (and How to Create One)

Creating an industrial adhesive from scratch can be quite challenging, even if you have experience in the area. How are you supposed to begin?

02:11 29 October 2024

If you have a highly specialized industrial application, or if you need a product that can comply with new regulations, you may need a custom industrial adhesive created for your business. 

However, creating an industrial adhesive from scratch can be quite challenging, even if you have experience in the area.

How are you supposed to begin this process?

Why Create a Custom Industrial Adhesive?

Why would you choose to create a custom industrial adhesive?

These are some of the most common motivations:

• No existing adhesive to meet your requirements. First, it could be that there aren't any existing adhesives that meet your requirements. There may not be adhesives strong enough or reliable enough for your chosen application, or there may not be adhesives that can withstand the conditions that you're going to subject them to. For example, you may require an adhesive that can hold up to high heat and hostile environmental conditions, even when bonding unusual substances. There are many types of industrial adhesives on the market already, but with a world that continues to innovate, it's not uncommon for manufacturers and innovators to have profoundly novel industrial requirements.
• Discontinued adhesives. It's also common for manufacturers to seek the development of a custom industrial adhesive when the adhesive they used to use is no longer for sale. If the producer or distributor of your perfect industrial adhesive goes under or is no longer able to keep up with your needs, you may want to develop a novel solution of your own.
• Existing adhesives noncompliant with regulations. Regulatory requirements also put pressure on industrial businesses to develop their own custom adhesives. If an otherwise acceptable adhesive for your needs suddenly makes you non-compliant with laws and regulations, you'll need to come up with something new.

Primary Types of Adhesives

There are a few main types of adhesives in industrial settings.

• Structural adhesives. Structural adhesives are strong and capable of bearing significant weight. These are typically made of epoxies, acrylics, and cyanoacrylates, as well as other similar materials. These types of adhesives can withstand a great deal of physical disruption, including shocks and vibrations that would tear other adhesives apart.
• Pressure sensitive adhesives. Pressure sensitive adhesives don't solidify to form a solid final material; Instead, the adhesive bond is formed by applying pressure to the adhesive film and the substrate to which it's going to be attached. Conventional tape is a great example. Pressure sensitive adhesives are usually designed as temporary measures to hold things in place during assembly.
• Thermosetting structural adhesives. There are also adhesives that form a strong bond after being mixed or treated in a specific way. Usually, there's a brief window of opportunity where you can use the adhesive in a workable, convenient way – but the resulting bond is quite strong.

Adhesives and Reactivity

Reactive adhesives rely on permanent bonds formed with a monomer and an initiator. These chemical bonds tend to be strong and highly endurant, but they may not be right for all applications. Non-reactive adhesives don't have a permanent chemical bond and instead rely on physical changes to keep things together.

Choosing the Right Custom Industrial Adhesive Partner

How do you choose the right custom industrial adhesive partner?

• Expertise and capabilities. First, look at expertise and capabilities. Not every industrial adhesive manufacturer has the resources or experience necessary to create a novel adhesive from scratch. Those that do may not be able to create a product that's a good fit for your needs or your business. Go over the scope of your project before choosing a final partner.
• Years of experience. It's also a good idea to look at years of experience. Generally, industrial adhesive manufacturers become more broadly capable over time – and better at what they do.
• Past results. You may also inquire about past results. What types of custom adhesives has this business created in the past? How have other businesses used them? Are there good reviews and testimonials for this partner?
• Pricing. Advanced R&D in the industrial adhesive world can be pricey, depending on your aims. If you're working with a limited budget, you may need to interview multiple prospective partners to find the best fit.
• Working relationship. Developing a custom industrial adhesive isn't always easy or straightforward. It's a process that can take many weeks or months. Accordingly, you'll need to prioritize partners with whom you can form a meaningful and amenable working relationship.

Not every manufacturer needs to develop a custom industrial adhesive from scratch. But if there currently aren't industrial adhesives that meet your needs, if one of your best adhesives has been recently discontinued, or if you need new adhesives to comply with regulatory requirements, customizing a new product could be your best option moving forward.