Epoxies come as two-part systems that cure at room temperature, or as one-part pastes and films with a latent hardener that cures with heat. They bond metals, composites, ceramics and wood with lap shear strengths often in the 20 to 35 MPa range, fill gaps, shrink little and resist heat and chemicals. Standard grades are stiff and weak in peel, so toughened versions are used where joints see impact or flexing.
Use the two-part epoxy on the brackets, the acrylic smells up the whole cell and we don't need the speed.
Two epoxies with the same lap shear number can behave completely differently in peel and impact, so compare toughened grades on the test that matches the real load.
Also heard as
- epoxy adhesive
- structural epoxy
Related terms
Two-part
Describing an adhesive supplied as a resin and a hardener that start curing only once mixed.
Mix ratio
The proportion of resin to hardener in a two-part adhesive, given by volume or by weight.
Pot life
How long a mixed batch of two-part adhesive stays usable before it thickens too much to apply.
Toughened
Describing an adhesive modified with rubber or soft particles so the bond resists cracking, peel and impact.
Post-cure
Extra time at elevated temperature after the first cure, which finishes crosslinking and raises Tg and heat resistance.