Curing structural adhesives evaporation

Thermoplastic adhesives soften and melt when heated (provided that they do not decompose). In other words, they do not cross-link during cure. These adhesives are single-component and harden upon cooling by evaporation of a solvent or water vehicle. They have poor creep resistance, fair peel strength, and are used mostly in unstressed joints and designs with caps, overlaps, and stiffeners. The most common application is to bond nonmetallic materials such as wood, leather, cork, and paper.In general, thermoplastic adhesives are not used for structural applications or at temperatures above 66°C (150°F). Thermoplastic adhesives includeit t ... 

These thermoplastic and flexible adhesives cure by carrier solvent evaporation and/or absorption. Some rely on a mobile, tacky film of residual polymer, formed as solvent is lost. This is capable of migrating into a second such film to give a coherent structure as the two adhesive films flow into each other. Vulcanised, heat- cured versions cross-link at elevated temperatures to give very robust adhesives capable of sustaining substantial loads. 

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