Adhesives seem to hold our modern world together. From large aircraft structures to tiny computer chips, engineered bonds create efficient, reliable components and systems. Adhesives provide fast surface-to-surface attachment that evenly distributes loads. According to the experts at Axiom Materials, epoxy film adhesives represent the leading edge in advanced bonding technology and offer unmatched performance. These specialized adhesive films allow precise application and provide exceptional strength, temperature resistance, and bonding capabilities between dissimilar materials. As manufacturing demands increase for lighter, stronger and more durable bonds, epoxy film adhesives are becoming indispensable.
How Bonding Compares
Bonding offers benefits over traditional mechanical fasteners and welds. Unlike metal bolts, screws or welds, adhesive bonds will not corrode or loosen over time. The continuous attachment also reduces stress points that concentrate in discrete fastened zones. Mechanical fasteners and welds can also suffer fatigue over repetitive load cycles. Adhesive films handle dissimilar material bonds much better as well.
Strength in Shear
Unlike screws or welding, adhesives joints best resist shear stresses along the glue line rather than perpendicular ‘pull-off’ stress. Proper adhesive selection and bond design takes advantage of high shear strength by aligning load vectors parallel to attachment surfaces. Understanding this difference allows engineers to optimize bonded structures.
Advanced Epoxy Films
Epoxy adhesives reach the highest performance levels because of their exceptional durability, high strength, and chemical resistance. Epoxy resins form tight molecular cross-linked polymer structures when cured properly. Epoxy film adhesives take these properties a step further by eliminating mixing, optimizing thickness, and controlling flow. Consistent bonds mean reliable structures.
Superior Attributes
Epoxy film adhesives require no messy weighing, mixing or spread application in the field. They avoid these complications while ensuring consistent adhesive quality across projects. Uniform supported films ranging from 0.005” to 0.125” thick also guarantee precise adhesive control without waste. Lastly, minimal flow prevents drips or runs before cured.
Easy Application and Cure
Applying adhesive films feels similar to using tape. Techs simply peel off a liner, layer the adhesive, remove another liner, then join parts with heat and moderate pressure to initiate curing. Standard autoclaves, ovens, or heat bonder tools supply full strength post cure. Some films even enable room temperature applications.
Design Flexibility
Film adhesives suit many bond line geometries via advanced cutting and layering options. Unlike messy liquid adhesives, films hold position in vertical bonds while handling gaps or steps at interfaces. Film tearing lets pieces conform around contours, fasteners, and complex intersections without compromising performance.
Bonding Dissimilar Materials
Joining different metals, plastics or composites often requires intermediate films to bridge incompatible surfaces. Epoxy adhesive films serve this transitional role perfectly. They resist galvanic corrosion and adhere strongly to various metallic and non-metallic materials combinations.
Wide Service Temperatures
Once hardened, epoxy film adhesives retain high bond strength from frigid arctic cold to hot baking desert sun. Most formulations handle sustained temperatures from -60°F to over 280°F (-51°C to 138°C). Some extreme films even take temperatures exceeding 500°F (260°C).
Major Markets and Applications
Major markets utilizing epoxy film adhesive technology include aircraft, automobiles, railcars, ships and spacecraft. Epoxy films bond wings, body panels and engine components on planes as well as attached rocket payloads. Cars and trains integrate structural framed panels and interconnect systems with the films. Marine vessels employ them for hull assembly and decking attachments.
Conclusion
As structural designs become more complex and modular, epoxy film adhesives open new possibilities beyond mechanical means. Automation helps scale production while innovations produce tougher, more versatile film options. Hybrid bonding combining films with bolts, rivets and welds creates optimized high-performance structures. Epoxy films cement the engineered products of our dreams.
