Design Guide

Adhesive Bonding

Adhesive bonding is a versatile method of joining like or dissimilar materials. Whereas holes, rivets, clamps, and screws have a tendency to cause stress points in concentrated areas, adhesives tend to distribute the load over the entire bonded area. The following criteria must be considered when selecting an adhesive for a particular application:

• Characteristics of the materials to be joined
• Surface preparation
• Joint design
• Type of adhesive and its handling
• Methods of applying the adhesive
• Curing of the adhesive
• Ultimate strength and environmental performance requirements of the adhesive bonded assembly

Adhesives for PPS

Despite the chemically non-reactive nature of PPS, there are adhesives that will bond PPS providing the surface is properly prepared for good surface wetting by the adhesive. High temperature and/or highly chemical resistant adhesives are generally required for applications where PPS is used. The types of adhesives listed below have been found to be effective with PPS. We also suggest contacting adhesive manufacturers regarding their latest recommendations for adhesives that are effective at bonding PPS.

Surface Treatments

When bonding PPS compounds, special surface treatments are often required to attain adequate bond strengths. Contaminants such as dust, grease, oils, or mold release must be removed from the surface. Typical cleaning solvents such as methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), trichloroethylene, toluene, or acetone may be used for this purpose, but cleaning agents that leave a film residue upon evaporation should be avoided. The surface treatment methods described below have been found effective at improving adhesion to PPS compounds. For more detailed information on these surface treatment methods and adhesive bonding of PPS, see our TSM-283 Adhesives and Paints for Ryton^® Polyphenylene Sulfide or contact your nearest Customer Service Center to request a copy.