There are many processes involved in making a reliable adhesive bond, such as surface preparation, application of the adhesive, and final curing. These processes are critical and can make a fundamental difference in the quality of the bond and its ultimate cost.
Perhaps one of the more easily overlooked processes is the application of the adhesive - the process of getting the adhesive from its shipping container to the part. It is a deceptively simple process that can have an enormous effect on the economics and quality of the resulting product. Application involves the following sub-processes.
* Removal of the product from its shipping container
* Metering
* Mixing
* Distributing the adhesive to the bonding area.
This article will review the important considerations in each of these sub-processes for liquid adhesive systems.
The actual specification for such processes are dependent on the adhesive material that will be used, on the part design and its required end-use properties, and on the overall economics and production speeds required in the operation.