Plastics joining curing

Elastomers, plastics, fabrics, wood and metals can be joined with themselves and with each other using nitrile rubber/epoxy resin blends cured with amines and/or acidic agents. Ethylene-propylene vulcanizates can also be joined using blends of carboxylated nitrile rubber, epoxy resin and a reactive metal filler (copper, nickel, cobalt). However, one of the largest areas of use of nitrile rubber modified epoxy systems is in the printed circuit board area [12]. 

These solvent-free, so-called PI, adhesives are used to join PC, PMMA, PET, PS, PVC, and glass, whereby at least one component must be transparent, so that the composites usually comprise plastic-plastic, glass-plastic and plastic-metal combinations (optics industry, microelectronics). In exceptional cases (fixation of structural components on nontransparent carriers), it is also possible to cure a surrounding strip of adhesive directly. 

Adhesive Bonding - A method of joining two plastics or other materials in which an adhesive is applied to the parts surfaces. Bonding occurs through mechanical or chemical interfacial forces between the adhesive and adherend and/or by molecular interlocking. Surface preparation of the adherends and curing of the adhesive may be required. 

Hot-meltS/ radiation-curable adhesives, and epoxies can all be applied to a substrate in film or sheet form. The substrate can be metal, plastic, or paper. In addition, the substrate can be woven, nonwoven, or knot. The porous substrates can be used to manufacture filter aids or medical adhesives, e.g., to attach prostheses to the skin. An interesting form of substrate is a foam that joins surfaces of irregular gaps. The foam can also be formed instantaneously during curing to fill gaps. 

Silicone adhesives cure without the application of heat or pressure to form permanently flexible silicone rubber. The rubber remains flexible despite the exposure to high or low temperatures, weather, moisture, oxygen, ozone, or UV radiation. This makes them useful for joining and sealing joints in which considerable movement can be expected, such as intermediate layers between plastics and other materials of construction (e.g., acryUc glazing). Several types of silicone adhesives/sealants are available, including one-part and two-part systems. 

---