
Epoxy Adhesives
Epoxies may consist of one component that hardens by contact with surface moisture or dual components that use other curing methods. This curing may be accomplished using heat, UV light, visible light, radiation and chemical reaction. Heat induced curing is straightforward; the substance is heated till molten and then allowed to cool to hardness. This is how hot melt adhesives work. Ultraviolet light and radiation are sometimes used instead of heat to initiate the curing process, which then hardens the adhesive as the light or radiation is removed. Occasionally ultraviolet adhesives will bond simultaneously with the ultraviolet treatment. Chemical reaction curing can happen by way of the epoxy doing something as simply as being swirled with another substance or being subjected to moisture or natural light. Dual component epoxies consist of a resin and a hardener or activator that is combined to react and cure into a polymerized bond. Dual component epoxies are mixed, and then immediately applied to the surfaces being bonded.