Adhesives


Recommendations on adhesives are made on the basis of tests, following each manufacturer’s recommendations on surface preparation, bonding conditions, application of primers and adhesives. The user should also satisfy himself, preferably by testing, that any adhesive or bonding material listed in Appendix 3 will be suitable for his specific application.

The user should at all times follow the adhesive manufacturer’s recommendations as to suitability, surface preparation, use of primers, application methods, curing times and conditions to be satisfied for effective bonding.
Manufacturers’ health and safety precautions should also be observed.

BONDING FOAMALUX AND FOAMALUX ULTRA TOGETHER
Solvent Adhesives - Based on methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), tetrahydrofuran (THF) and cyclohexanone.
Adhesives set as solvents evaporate; successful bonding requires application of pressure and components fitted together accurately as solvent based adhesives will not fill gaps.

BONDING FOAMALUX & FOAMALUX ULTRA TO OTHER MATERIALS

1. Reaction Adhesives - There are two basic types: 1-part adhesives set by reacting with moisture; 2-part adhesives set by the reaction between a chemical base and a catalyst.

• 1-part adhesives - polyurethane or cyanoacrylate based -
set very quickly and are ideal when small components, particularly of wood, metals and plastics, are bonded to Foamalux and Foamalux Ultra.

• 2-part adhesives - polyester, polyurethane, polymethacrylate or epoxy based - are slower to cure, but ideal for bonding Foamalux and Foamalux Ultra to metals, wood and masonry.

2. Contact Adhesives - These are used when bonding sheets of Foamalux and Foamalux Ultra to flat surfaces and are based on solvent solutions of synthetic rubbers - eg. polychlorophene or nitrile rubber. Both surfaces to be joined should have adhesive applied: after solvent evaporation bring the two surfaces together under pressure.
It is by no means comprehensive as there are many adhesive manufacturers and many hundreds of adhesives available. Double sided pressure sensitive adhesive tapes are a very efficient and effective means of attaching flat panels to each other and to support structures and of attaching other flat materials to Foamalux.