Structural adhesives composed of epoxy resins and hydrogen bonded styrenic block polymer based TPEs
by Saya Yamada, Takato Kajita, Mio Nishimoto, Junko Horiuchi, Yoshirou Fujii, Kazumasa Sakaguchi, Kazuo Hattori, Hiroshi Tamura, Tatsuya Kano, Takenobu Sakai and Atsushi Noro, Nagoya University
A wide range of polymer materials with excellent performance and functionality has been developed in recent years to address diverse and complex material applications. Adhesives are one such example of these polymer materials. In general, adhesives are composed of a liquid substance (prepolymer) that is first used to fill in the rough surface of one substrate, and then the adhesive on the substrate is sandwiched by another substrate. Polymerization and crosslinking of the prepolymer in the adhesives are induced by heat or other external stimuli, leading to curing of the adhesives between substrates. Chemical or physical bonding of the cured adhesives to the substrate surfaces occurs, thereby joining the two substrates. Recently, structural adhesives, which are strong and used to meet strength and durability requirements, have received increasing attention for use in the assembly of automobiles, aircraft and buildings.