What Is the Absolute Strongest Adhesive?

by: FOC FAQ

EPOXY: Ask FOC Ask FOC

Published: February 22, 2017

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QUESTION: I need a really strong bond. What is the absolute strongest adhesive you have?

ANSWER:

Modern adhesives are pretty amazing, and people do seem to want to rely on them more and more. But it is important to know that epoxies are NOT primary fasteners. Primary fasteners are hardware devices that mechanically join two substrates together – like a bolt, clamp, clip, any threaded fastener like a screw, threaded insert, etc. They are immune to temperature swings and moisture – the ban of much chemistry, and the Achilles heel of epoxy. If you are relying on a critical joint not to fail, epoxy is probably not the way to go.

Also, it is a misconception to think that strong joints require ‘strong’ adhesives. Good adhesion is all about the surfaces involved. Adhesive failures usually happen at one of the surfaces – not within the adhesive itself. This is where cleanliness of the surfaces prior to bonding is critical. Also, the amount of surface area devoted to the bond, a decreasing piece of real-estate in ever-more miniaturized packages – needs to be adequate. The best adhesive and cleaning won’t work if the bond area is too small.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT & RESOURCES:

Category Resource: FOC Epoxy Page
Find More Information in this Blog: Helpful Epoxy Tips (and a Few Tricks)

Answered by AskFOC Technical Team February 22, 2017

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FOC FAQ Fiber Optic Center has a team of technical experts and marketing strategists with decades of years in the field. This team contributes to the fiber, cable and specialty industries coverage through news, alerts, reports and general media information.

About Fiber Optic Center, Inc.

Fiber Optic Center, Inc., (FOC), is an international leader in distributing fiber optic components, equipment and supplies and has been helping customers make the best cable assemblies in the world for over two decades. Several areas of specialization and expertise, in which they are the industry leader, make them the preferred choice for many of the world’s fiber professionals. In these key technology areas, FOC is "at least as technical as the manufacturer" about the products they sell. Striving to "make the business part easy," they offer outstanding and personal customer service, low or no minimum purchase order values, and from-stock delivery on industry-leading products and technology. FOC is the industry connection to the most innovative optical products, technologies and technical experts who integrate their manufacturing knowledge and vast experience into customers' worldwide operations. @FiberOpticCntr

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