Novel One-Component Adhesive Systems

Several novel methods have been developed over the years to provide one-component systems with long shelf life and good performance properties when cured at a moderate time and low temperatures. These include frozen, microencapsulated, and molecular sieve catalyzed systems. 

Amines have also been microencapsulated within small cellulosic or polyelectrolyte capsules. This is a method for keeping the amine separate from the epoxy resin during storage. When the user decides to initiate cure, the capsules are broken, usually in the application process, and the amine is free to react with the epoxy resin. A successful example of this type of product is an epoxy adhesive that can be preapplied to machine screw threads. When the screw is ultimately threaded into place, the shearing action causes the capsule to break. Bond strengths are generally low for this type of adhesive, but this may not be important in certain applications. 

Molecular sieves such as zeolite have also been used as carriers for low-molecular-weight amines. An amine, such as DETA, can be absorbed into the sieve prior to mixing with an epoxy resin. The sieve protects the amine from reacting with the epoxy resin, and a relatively long shelf life is possible. Release of the DETA is then initiated by heat or through displacement by atmospheric moisture. 

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