August 16, 2024
Different adhesives have different properties that make them unique and desirable. While acrylic adhesives are known for their high strength, they also have many other properties that make them fit for several different applications. One such property is the great chemical resistance of acrylic adhesives.
What Are Acrylics?
Before we dive into acrylic adhesive chemical resistance, we should talk about the adhesive itself. Acrylic-based adhesives are a type of structural adhesive that are known for their strong bonds and versatility. Depending on the product, they can be resistant to UV light, extreme temperatures, movement, and certain chemicals. They can also bond various types of substrates together. Because of these diverse properties, these adhesives are used in everything from building boats to manufacturing electronics.
Some manufacturers refer to these adhesives more commonly as methacrylate adhesives or MMAs. The two are essentially the same, and the terms are often used interchangeably.
What Does Chemical Resistance Mean?
In terms of adhesives, chemical resistance refers to the adhesive’s ability to maintain its integrity and bond strength when exposed to certain chemicals. Some adhesives have poor chemical resistance and long-standing exposure to certain chemicals may lead to bond failure. Other adhesives, like acrylics, have good chemical resistance and can maintain a lasting bond in challenging environments where exposure to certain chemicals is prevalent.
This property is crucial for ensuring long-term performance, particularly in applications involving exposure to solvents, acids, bases, oils, and other corrosive substances.
What Chemicals are Acrylic Adhesives Resistant to?
Every adhesive is slightly different, so the chemical resistance of an MMA adhesive or acrylic will depend on the specific product. We are taking a closer look at how acrylic adhesives perform in the face of a few different types of chemicals.
Solvents
Solvents are substances that can dissolve other materials. They include a wide range of substances, but some examples include ethanol, esters, and methanol. In general, acrylics tend to have better resistance to solvents than some other types of adhesives, but degradation may still occur depending on the solvent and the specific product.
Acids & Bases
Some methyl methacrylates and acrylics have resistance to certain acids and bases. This resistance is usually best for weaker acids and bases as very strong acids and highly concentrated bases may still cause degradation over time.
Hydrocarbons
The chemical resistance of MMA adhesives and acrylics is sometimes in relation to hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbons are organic compounds made of hydrogen and carbon. They are the main components in petroleum and natural gas. Hydrocarbons are used heavily in the automotive, aerospace, oil, and gas industries, so acrylics can be good for these applications.
Oils
Acrylic glue chemical resistance will sometimes include a high resistance to oil. This property makes some acrylic adhesives suitable for applications in the automotive and industrial industries where exposure to lubricants and hydraulic fluids is common.
Water and Humidity
Some acrylic adhesives have water resistance so they can maintain their bond strength in wet or humid environments. This property is especially beneficial for some outdoor applications. While water resistance may be high, it does not mean the product is suited for below the waterline applications. Always check the technical datasheet.
Selecting a Chemically Resistant Acrylic for Your Application
The good chemical resistance of acrylic adhesives makes them a popular choice for a wide range of applications, but specific products have better resistance to certain chemicals than others. Before choosing which acrylic you need, you should consider what chemicals your application will be exposed to as well as the amount of exposure. If you are in need of an adhesive with excellent chemical resistance, then an epoxy adhesive may be an even better choice.
While some product descriptions will talk about chemical resistance, you can usually find the specifics of an epoxy, acrylic, or MMA adhesive’s chemical resistance on its technical datasheet. You can also talk with one of our adhesive experts if you have more questions.
