Advantages of Methyl Methacrylate Adhesives vs. Welding

Sustainability initiatives across the globe are leading manufacturers to consider the ecological impact of the products they make. In this respect, recyclability, reusability, and the circular economy value of products becomes a greater focus.

FEICA notes the potential for adhesives to meet the growing demand for sustainable solutions in manufacturing: "The use of adhesives and sealants in many sectors, including construction, automotive, and energy production, contributes to reducing the carbon footprint of a surprising number of everyday and advanced products and manufacturing processes, creating a 'new license to do business in the 21st century.'

In a report co-created by FEICA and Fraunhofer IFAM, a well-recognized Germany-based independent research and development institute, the role of adhesives in the circular economy is confirmed: "Through these construction methods, adhesive bonding and sealing are integral components for lightweight construction, the energy transition, and e-mobility, and thus support the circular economy and eco-balance effectiveness."

Save on Labor and Materials

Methyl methacrylate adhesives (MMA) provide exceptional savings in many areas of product building compared to welding, as the specialization for welding workers is less economical. The labor savings of MMAs results from the minimal training and fewer workers it takes to join substrates with these bonders. Welds are time-consuming, not only to apply but to set up the work area, inspect and remedy gaps, and filing seams and sharp edges.

Material waste and cost also reduce with the use of MMAs. Managing inventories of many mechanical fasteners consumes time and a greater deal of space than adhesives across the operation, and with fasteners, adhesives and sealants are still necessary to conceal and strengthen gaps from punctures due to riveting and threaded assemblies.

Bonding with MMAs reduces the components that welding requires to form a joint, and these bonding technologies require no surface preparation, improving productivity, and evenly applying to the full joint, creating one-step application.

Irregularly shaped components pose little difficulty to join with MMAs, whereas welds demand alteration of the substrates to secure them effectively, leading to extra or repeated work and requiring additional tools and equipment. Energy costs due to running the added equipment for welding are eliminated, as well.

Adaptable and Long-Lasting

The flexibility of fast or slower curing time makes MMAs ideal for productions and workflows of all types. Although rapid adhesion is a feature of methyl methacrylate adhesives, they lack sensitivity to different mixing ratios when comparing them with other adhesives, so work-life can extend to meet the demands of a given application.

Welds and threaded joints are susceptible to corrosion and faster fatigue than MMAs. The bonding agents form watertight seals, stopping any penetrating moisture and loss of integrity over the service-life of manufactured products.

Adhesives naturally fill gaps in seams that would otherwise expose interiors of structures to invading moisture and vibration. Transported goods remain in excellent condition through harsh changes in climate. And impact and fatigue resistance for structures made with MMAs surpasses that of welds in many cases, so components secured by MMA technology withstand more damage during normal operation.

MMAs resist UV rays and exposure to chemicals and prevent the potential degrading of finished structures. Mechanical fasteners can loosen or fail prematurely. But bonds by MMAs have extremely high durability, evenly distributing stress throughout the entire structure and securing vulnerable, load-bearing joints.

Unmatched Strength

H.B. Fuller heavy equipment and machinery adhesive products in the agriculture, construction, and mining equipment industries are ideal solutions when harsh environments affect performance. Our lockers maintain reliability in use with bolts for over three-million continuous, high-strength, alternating load tests by industrial fatigue torsion testing machines.

Shear strength of bonds formed by MMAs can also equal 2,900 PSI on certain substrates. When combined with the tensile strength and the tenacity of the bonds, MMAs make the time between vehicle maintenance periods increase, reducing material loss and costs from repairs. These traits of MMAs mean stress, tension, and splitting will not cause structural failure in the long term, and parts will not be relegated to scrap and waste at a greater rate.

Despite the high-strength bond, MMAs are also flexible, so the natural movement of structures does not cause the bond to break or stretch out of form easily, providing excellent elongation properties.

Improved Performance and Production

Exothermic reaction in methyl methacrylate adhesive happens quickly, and as a result, use of these bonding agents suits fast-paced production environments. In fluctuating temperatures, MMAs retain the ability to perform as normal.

Welding and mechanical fastening damage components by the necessary processes of using these conventional methods. Punctures and welded joints cause inconsistent performance due to the thicker, heavier, and additional parts metal fastening needs, unevenly supporting a more rigid construction.

Lightweighting with MMAs helps to reduce the materials used as well as the natural resources commercial vehicles and heavy-duty machinery produce through use of heavier metal fasteners.

Sustainability is additionally supported by the ability to recycle or reuse components joined with MMAs because the application materials are not damaged during construction. Instead, dismantling of components with adhesive joints leads to parts remaining whole.

Products like truck trailers can have a higher resale value when made with MMAs in comparison to welds because of the improved appearance. Longer service-life and reduced maintenance time further the value of products that feature MMA forged bonds in many demanding applications, including:

MMA adhesives are able to form bonds between dissimilar materials with different flexibility, like metal, plastic and composite, commonly used to replace bolts, nuts, rivets and welding in applications such as spoilers and bumpers in automotive light weight vehicles, to bond parts in the structure and structural applications in trucks, truck trailers, heavy machinery, boats and yachts, and also in the assembly of elevators and storage tanks.

Improved Design and New Product Development

Welding causes discoloration and warpage of materials, and dozens of holes from riveting worsens the appearance of products. Using MMA spares blemishes and damage in favor of smooth surfaces, ideal for applying graphics and creating more intricate patterns-free from seams and visible distortions. MMAs are also available in a variety of colors to match a high level of design freedom, making products that stand out from competitors and differentiating brands.

Creating new products in a way not possible with welds is a primary advantage of MMAs. Like said, bonding dissimilar substrates, such as wood, metal, plastic, and composite, enables manufacturers to choose from greater options in their new constructions. Structures that require extreme heat to build are easier to join thanks to the variety of disparate substrates MMAs can bond, as well as in conditions where UV rays strongly affect the work environment or where conditions may tend toward low temperatures.

Partner with the Experts

H.B. Fuller MMA adhesives help manufacturers in the commercial vehicles and heavy equipment and machinery industries to build high-quality, lightweight, and better products that are easier and more economical to produce. Contact a specialist to discover which solutions can give you an advantage in your production processes.

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