Epoxies were introduced to various industries in 1950 due to their versatile performance and characteristics in sealants, coatings, potting and encapsulations. These adhesives made their new hypes by eliminating the traditional way of adhesion in various industries by incorporating the exciting way of adhesion, known as One-part and Two-part epoxy adhesion.
One-part epoxy is a type of adhesive which can be used straightly to the bonding surface without the need for mixing or degassing, while Two Part epoxies are the most common adhesives which need to mix the two components(resin and hardener) before applying to the bonding surface.
Here in this blog, we will cover both parts of epoxies with their pros and cons and further, ways to choose the right adhesive for your upcoming bonding applications.
A] Complete Overview Of One-Part Epoxies
As we told earlier, One-part epoxies are pre-mixed adhesives which tend to make the bonds without using the mixing components. Although it needs a high temperature to cure, UV rays can speed the curing process by raising the temperature of the bonding surface. It has high shear, tensile and compressive epoxy adhesive strength with a curing time of 90 to 120 minutes at 300F.
The base epoxy resin blended with an appropriate mixer of catalyst or hardener is the composition behind the one-component epoxy adhesives. These compositions are bound to polymerize when they are exposed to the required heating temperature.
These epoxy adhesives are used in various industries such as automotive, aerospace, electronics, construction and also in general DIY processes for bonding surfaces, sealing joints, encapsulating electronics items and so on.
B] Complete Overview Of Two-Part Epoxies
As the name suggests, it is made from two components, namely, resin and hardener. they both are packed inside the two containers which have to be mixed during the time of bonding applications using the tray, surface or syringe. It comes with high tensile and excellent shear strength for creating bonds with most metals and plastics.
These epoxy-type adhesives are made from the composition of glycidyl polyether, amine hardener and rigidifying amine catalyst. It has an excellent curing time ranging from some minutes to an hour. Although the complete curing time can go for several days, it can reduced by providing heat to the applied area. It is observed that every rising temperature of 10 degrees will cut the curing time by half.
These two-component epoxy adhesives are used in various industries such as automotive, aerospace, electronics, construction, medical, optical, oil & chemical processing and OEM for bonding surfaces and sealing joints.
C] Advantages Of One-Part Epoxy Adhesives
This pre-mix adhesive offers a great set of benefits to various industries for high bonding strength, ease of application and much more. Here are some of the major benefits one-part epoxy offers:
- High Efficiency: Single-component epoxies are premixed adhesives which eliminate the time of mixing, making them suitable for high-volume product manufacturers.
- Reduced Formation Of Air Bubbles: Pre-mixed adhesives are less prone to the formation of bubbles as they are free from the manual mixing process.
- Excellent Chemical Resistance Properties: Any kind of chemical influences such as acids, alkalis, solvents or fuel can not affect the bonding strength of one-part epoxy which makes it an excellent chemical resistance adhesive.
- Act As A Conductor: One-part epoxy adhesives are formulated in such a way which maintains the thermal and electrical conductivity between two bonded surfaces.
D] Advantages Of Two-Part Epoxy Adhesives
These two-part adhesives also offer a great set of benefits to various industries for high bonding strength, durability and much more. Here are some of the major benefits of two-part epoxy:
- Excellent And Durable Bonds: Two-part epoxies are known for durable and strong bonding features which can withstand any kind of chemical environment for a longer time.
- Fast Curing Time: This adhesive offers fast curing of substrates ranging from a few minutes to an hour, making it widely suitable for automobiles, electronics, aerospace, medical and textile industries.
- Wide Range Of Substrates: Most of the substrates including metals, glass, wood, concrete, and plastics can be bonded using the two-component epoxy with high strength and reliability.
- High Chemical Resistance: They offer a high range of resistance from chemicals such as solvents, fuels, and oils as well as from harsh environmental conditions.
E] Comparing One-Part Vs. Two-Part Epoxy Adhesives
1. Cure Time And Temperature
One-part epoxy typically has a fast curing time compared to two-part epoxy. One-component epoxy can take a few minutes to an hour to cure initially while two-part epoxies can be cured in minutes to an hour. However, they both need external heat to cure optimally.
2. Applications
One-part epoxy is suitable for use in industries where fast assemblies are required such as electronics and automobiles. These epoxies are also used in small-scale projects where fast bonding is needed. While, two-part epoxies are used in large industrial projects such as aerospace, construction, and marine industries.
3. Customisation
There are limited to no options for customization due to limited properties and fixed formulation in one-part epoxy as it comes in a pre-mixed formulation. Two-part epoxy offers a wide range of customization to meet specific requirements with adjustable ratios and additives.
4. Cost
One-part epoxy offers a lower initial cost due to simpler formulation and applications. This epoxy offers a cost-effective way for small-scale projects and fast bonding needs. While two-part epoxy offers a high initial cost due to multiple components and specialized mixing equipment. This epoxy is suitable for large-scale projects requiring long and durable bonds.
F] Choosing The Right Adhesive For Your Application
When it comes to choosing the right adhesive for a specific application or need, individuals should consider some key points and those are:
Choose One-part Epoxy Adhesive if:
- Immediate Bonding is required: One-part epoxy offers fast curing time, making it ideal for quick assembly and immediate bonding applications.
- Requires Easy To-Use Adhesive: One-part epoxies are premixed formulation that offers without mixing application on bonding surfaces, making them more accessible and easy adhesive in general.
- Cost And Time Saving Required: One-part adhesive offers a lower initial cost with less setup time. These features make them an ideal adhesive for small-scale projects or immediate bonding requirements.
Choose a Two-Part Epoxy Adhesive if:
- High Strength and Durable Bonding Required: Two-part adhesives offer durable and long-lasting bonds with a high range of chemical resistance. This adhesive is ideal for those industries or DIY projects that need durable as well as high-strength bonding solutions.
- Customization With Adhesive Is Required: Two-part adhesive brings lots of customizing options due to their two-component formulations. Individuals can adjust the ratio and additives as per requirements such as cure time, viscosity and bonding strength.
- Needed For Versatile Substrates: Two components of adhesives offer most of the metals and plastics bonding capabilities with high strength and durability. This adhesive is ideal for complex metal bonding or bonding for moving objects in large industries or DIY projects.
Conclusion
Replacing the traditional way of adhesions, epoxies are the new trends for large as well as small industries for bonding various complex metal structures using the complex formulation of chemical compositions while adding versatility and simplicity using one-part and two-part adhesives. That’s why choosing the right adhesives as per the project’s need is crucial for forming high-strength and durable bonds.
Kohesi Bonds is one of the leading manufacturers of epoxy in India, offering a broad range of epoxy adhesive solutions including One and two-component adhesives along with customization options as per the project needs. Contact Us to get more information about the same.
