August 5, 2023
There are so many adhesives available from so many brands. Because a lot of products may be similar in their applications and abilities (sometimes even identical in most regards), the smallest differences can make all the difference.
We took two products with almost the same chemistry and compared their strength with an American Society of Test Methods (ASTM) test. The first product is Plexus® MA300, a legacy structural adhesive that is widely used for several applications. The second product is Infinity Bond MMA 300. This newer product has the same chemical makeup as the well-known Plexus MA300 methyl methacrylate but is more cost effective. Our test is designed to see how the two compare in terms of their strength specifically.Running the Test
We followed the guidelines set out for the American Society of Test Methods (ASTM) D1002 lapshear test to determine the strength difference between Plexus MA300 versus Infinity Bond MMA 300. The results are notated in newtons (N) and pounds per square inch (PSI).
The test uses pieces of aluminum metal as defined by the ASTM test standards. These pieces all are scuffed and cleaned with isopropyl alcohol before testing to ensure proper surface preparation. Once complete, the aluminum is overlapped by half an inch, and glass beads are used to guarantee there is a 10-milliliter layer of adhesive between the two substrates. Next, the pieces are left to cure in an oven overnight before the actual testing the next day.
To test the strength difference between Infinity Bond MMA 300 and the Plexus MA300 adhesive, the bonded aluminum pieces are clamped on both ends by a universal testing machine. This machine will slowly pull them apart until they experience bond failure. The machine will also record the PSI and N force it took to reach this point. This same test was completed three times for each adhesive, and the average was calculated for each.
Who Came Out on Top?
Once the tests were completed, we found the following results:
| Products | Sample 1: | Sample 2: | Sample 3: | Average: | ||||
| Infinity Bond MMA 300 | 4282 N | 5562 N | 5512 N | 5119 N | ||||
| Plexus MA300 | 860 N | 713 N | 919 N | 831 N | ||||
| Products | Sample 1: | Sample 2: | Sample 3: | Average: | ||||
| Infinity Bond MMA 300 | 1925 PSI | 2501 PSI | 2478 PSI | 2301 PSI | ||||
| Plexus MA300 | 387 PSI | 321 PSI | 413 PSI | 374 PSI | ||||
In the end, we found that Infinity Bond MMA 300 required more force than the Plexus MA300 methyl methacrylate in order to experience bond failure. Infinity Bond experienced adhesive and cohesive failure at an average of 5119 or 2301 PSI. On the other hand, Plexus MA 300 experienced adhesive and cohesive failure at an average of 3383 N and 1521 PSI. The difference between the two was 1,736 N and 780 PSI.
More Notable Information
After comparing both averages, Infinity Bond MMA 300 was the clear winner. While the two have the same chemical makeup, it was proven to be stronger than the Plexus MA300 MMA in our test. For applications where great strength is required, this difference is notable as using a product with lesser strength could lead to bond failure. The Infinity Bond product also has the added bonus of being cheaper. 
Infinity Bond MMA 300 is a general-use methyl methacrylate adhesive or MMA. MMAs are structural adhesives that are often chosen for their strong bonds between metals, plastics, and composites. They can have multiple applications in product assembly and manufacturing within various industries.
This Infinity Bond product in particular has a fast cure time as well as great chemical and impact resistance. It can withstand extreme temperature changes, so it is a great adhesive for tough weather conditions.
Heard enough? If you are ready to make the switch from Plexus MA300 to Infinity Bond MMA 300, place your first order. If you still have more questions, they can help with that too. Contact us today to order or get more information.
