For most applications, double sided tape provides adequate strength. However, the target is to get adequate strength at lowest overall cost. While double sided tapes offer instant assembly, labor and time for surface preparation with an expensive activator, cutting the tape, applying and setting the parts affects the cost and productivity.

Manufacturers are now moving towards LOCTITE Structural adhesives as they are simple to use and offer strength as high as overlap welds.

See a detailed comparison between double sided tape and LOCTITE structural adhesives:
Double sided tape LOCTITE Structural bonders
Have lower strength than any assembly method Have strength equal to that of overlap welds
Numerous steps involved in application resulting in longer cycle time* Few simple steps involved in application resulting in 20% lesser cycle time**
Any remaining contaminant adversely affects adhesion performance Provides adhesion even through surface contaminants
Risk of poor tape and substrate contact 100% gap filling and unification of the assembly
Lower resistance to torsion Higher resistance to torsion
More stiffeners needed Less stiffeners needed
Repositioning is not possible after application Can be repositioned during the open time
Cannot be used on complicated or chamfered profiles Can be used on all profiles
Difficult to automate Automation easy with dispensing equipment

*Typical suggested steps for applying double sided tape are cleaning surface, cutting tape to appropriate length, applying tape to panel surface, peeling backing from tape and mating the surfaces, rolling the finished joint ensuring application of 15 psi of pressure to the double-sided tape

**Typical suggested steps for applying LOCTITE Structural adhesives are cleaning surface (which can also be skipped based on strength evaluation, apply adhesive and mate the surfaces, and then keep them clamped for some time

Explore comparison with other methods

LOCTITE Structural bonders are preferred over welding by designers for fabrication projects. They have higher strength than spot welds, cost half and are up to 20 times faster.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Room temperature curing adhesives that don’t need any special equipment

    No special skills needed and can be upto 20 times faster than welding

    Bonded joints have uniform stress distribution resulting in better load transmission

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Mechanical fastening methods like rivets and bolts reduce productivity and are not cost-effective. LOCTITE Structural Adhesives deliver 2x more strength at half the cost. Also, bonding with structural adhesives is easier and quicker than bolting or riveting.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Easy and quick application process as only surfaces need to be clamped post dispensing adhesive bead

    Distribute stress uniformly across the entire bond area spreading out the load and providing structural integrity

    No loosening under vibration or thermal expansion as the bonded parts are completely unitized by the adhesive

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Help & Support

Looking to improve the reliability of your assemblies?

Learn how LOCTITE Structural Bonding solutions can help you in achieving reliable results with maximum strength.

Looking for professional advice?

Talk to our expert for first-hand information for achieving reliable results with LOCTITE Structural Bonding solutions.

frequently asked questions
Here's list of queries with responses that might help you.

We have been using welding for our structural requirement. Will structural adhesives be able to achieve the right strength?

LOCTITE structural adhesives have been proven to be able to take almost as much load as overlap welding and that too at only half the cost. LOCTITE adhesive also offer other advantages like making the process simple, and providing sealing along with bonding.

We use adhesive tapes. It is not messy. Wouldn’t using LOCTITE adhesives increase the process time and cost?

While double sided adhesive tapes are not messy, their application process is definitely very long and complicated – what with the need to cut to specific dimensions and expensive activators. LOCTITE adhesives are mostly applied through static mixers that ensures precise application without any mess.

We are using polypropylene and we have tried to use multiple methods and adhesives before, but they didn’t work. Which LOCTITE adhesives would be suitable?

There are many suitable LOCTITE structural adhesives based on acrylic, epoxy, modified silane and hybrid technologies that would be ideal for bonding polypropylene. Drop a query to our LOCTITE experts with the specifics of the application requirement and they will be able to recommend the right solution.

Replacing rivets is out of question – if we use adhesives, it will take longer to bond but with rivets we would be able to assemble instantly.

Rivets offer the advantage of instant assembly, however result into concerns of reliability because of uneven stress concentrate points that become fatigue and failure points and also lead to corrosion. Instead, LOCTITE structural adhesives offer better reliability and come in various cure types which can be further accelerated with the help of activators.

Can LOCTITE products withstand loads under extreme humidity and temperature conditions?

Yes, LOCTITE structural adhesives have been designed to withstand heavy loads under various ambient conditions. Especially, LOCTITE structural adhesives based on modified silane technology which cure in the presence of humidity, are excellent for outside applications where high temperature, UV resistance etc. features are preferred.

Which LOCTITE structural adhesives can bond rubber to metal?

LOCTITE structural adhesives based on acrylic, epoxy, modified silane technology and hybrids are excellent for bonding rubber to metal. Drop a query to our LOCTITE experts with the specifics of the application requirement and they will be able to recommend the right solution.

Is it possible to bond glass to glass or glass to metal with LOCTITE adhesives?

Yes, bonding dissimilar substrates like glass to metal or even glass to glass is possible with LOCTITE adhesives. If optical clarity and aesthetics is a must, choose clear epoxies like LOCTITE E-30 CL. Otherwise LOCTITE acrylics are also a great choice for bonding glass to metal or glass to glass. Prefer modified silanes if glass has to be fixed to a metallic frame. Drop a query to our LOCTITE experts with the specifics of the application requirement and they will be able to recommend the right solution.

Is any surface preparation needed before applying LOCTITE structural adhesives?

Removal of dirt, dust or other surface impurities from the surfaces to be bonded is important before adhesive application as they can interfere with the effectiveness of the bond strength. This can be achieved through either degreasing or abrasion. Chemical treatments like primers, corona discharge, flame and plasma treatments can also be used to modify the surface properties to further enhance bond strength.

What is meant by open time/working time/pot life of an adhesive?

Open time is the time within which parts should be assembled post application of the adhesive to ensure proper surface wetting and achieve maximum strength.

What does on part life of adhesive signify?

This term is relevant for adhesives where activator is used on one of the parts. On-part life is the time within which activator or primer provides full performance.

What is the difference between fixture time and full cure time?

Fixture time of an adhesive is the time needed to achieve enough strength to hold the parts together without additional support or to achieve lap shear strength of 0.1 N/mm2 whereas full cure time of an adhesive is the time needed to achieve full performance.

What is a hybrid adhesive?

Combination of two different adhesive technologies, which are normally stand-alone technologies and at the outset cannot be manually mixed. A Hybrid combines the positive attributes of both technologies which provides new performance parameter. LOCTITE Hybrid adhesives combine the speed of cyanoacrylates (commonly known as instant adhesives) with the strength of epoxies/acrylates to give universal that can bond anything in seconds providing high strength.