MMAs or methyl methacrylate adhesives are two-part acrylic adhesives often used in structural bonding to replace rivets and welding. They cure quickly at room temperature to create a strong but flexible bond that makes them good adhesives for various applications and industries. Unlike some other structural adhesives, MMAs are also good for bonding dissimilar materials.
Although MMAs are great for many reasons, they also have a reputation for being quite smelly. Used in excess at plants and in manufacturing, the MMA adhesive odor can quickly have people turning up their noses.
What Do MMA Adhesives Smell Like?
If you haven’t been exposed to the methyl methacrylate odor, consider yourself lucky. The MMA adhesive odor is typically described as a sharp, fruity odor. While the smell of fruit may not seem so bad, these adhesives are far from a stroll down the produce aisle or a freshly made fruit smoothie. Much more unpleasant, the smell is considered pungent and acrid with people rushing to cover their noses.
For those working with MMAs regularly in manufacturing plants, it means taking the appropriate safety precautions and often just having to deal with the horrible smell. But, it may not have to be this way.
How to Get Rid of MMA Adhesive Odor
If you really want to get rid of the smell in your production process, you need to start at the source. To decrease the MMA odor, look for odorless adhesives or low odor adhesive solutions for your applications. These products help make working with MMAs a lot more bearable and pleasant to the nose.
We recommend the following products to reduce MMA adhesive odor during production.
Infinity Bond MMA 920
A great low odor MMA adhesive with a high bond strength, this product has a 5-minute open time and will hit almost 80% of its ultimate strength between just 12 to 15 minutes at room temperature. This quick bond time can lead to speedy production. Requiring little to no surface preparation, Infinity Bond MMA 920 can also bond to various materials including plastics, steel, aluminum, PVC, fiberglass, and more. On top of everything else, it has excellent resistance to hydrocarbons and salt solutions.
3M Scotch Weld 8600 Series
These products are a low odor MMA option that combine the flexibility of a sealant with the strength and cure time of an acrylic. Because of their low odor formulation, they are also classified as nonflammable and do not have a GHS08 health hazard classification like some other MMAs. They bond well to a variety of substrates, so they have various applications in everything from sporting goods and commercial appliances to trailers and enclosures. Check out the 3M Scotch-Weld 8610 and the 3M Scotch-Weld 8625.
3M Scotch Weld 8700 Series
While not quite as flexible as the 8600 series, these 3M adhesives do have a rapid cure time and require minimal surface temperature. They boast reliable cold temperature performance as well as great impact and peel strength. They, too, are low odor adhesives and are considered nonflammable with no GHS08 health hazard classification. Explore the 3M Scotch-Weld 8710, 3M Scotch-Weld 8705, and 3M Scotch-Weld 8725.
Not sure which low odor MMA to choose? We want to help. Our adhesive experts are available to talk through your production requirements and goals to help you determine which product is best for your needs. We can even help you find an efficient, custom adhesive solution for your job if needed. Just contact us today. Your employees' noses will thank you.