Shelf life runs from a few months for some cyanoacrylates and film adhesives to two years for many epoxies and hot melts. Storage conditions matter: CA and some acrylics are kept refrigerated, film adhesives frozen, and moisture-cure products sealed. Quality systems quarantine expired lots and require recertification testing before any extension.
Shelf life on that cartridge ran out two weeks ago, red-tag it, we can't use it on certified parts.
Also heard as
- storage life
- expiry
Do not mix it up with
- Pot life: Shelf life is for the sealed package; pot life starts only once the two parts are mixed.
Related terms
Film adhesive
A thin sheet of partly reacted epoxy on a carrier, laid into joints and cured with heat and pressure.
Cyanoacrylate
A one-part instant adhesive that cures in seconds when trace moisture on a surface triggers it.
Moisture cure
A cure triggered by humidity in the air or on the parts, used by silicones, urethanes and silane polymers.
Pot life
How long a mixed batch of two-part adhesive stays usable before it thickens too much to apply.