Dow DOWSIL EA-3838 Fast Adhesive

Dow has introduced DOWSIL EA-3838 Fast Adhesive — a primerless silicone adhesive designed to cure rapidly without oven heat for improved productivity and reduced energy usage in the manufacture of appliances, automotive electronics, lighting and avionics. The adhesive cures at room temperature and provides fast adhesion for short cycle times. Additionally, it creates strong bonds between a variety of dissimilar materials, including glass to metal, glass to painted metal and glass to plastic.

With its fast cure speed, the high-performance adhesive achieves bond strength in just 5 min, with homogenous curing throughout the adhesive cross-section. Manufacturers can also apply heat to accelerate further curing. The material’s standard 2:1 mixing ratio eases processing and is said to be simpler to use than current 5:1 offerings. For bonding applications that require expanded open times to support repositioning, 3:1 or 4:1 mixing ratios may be used. These flexible mixing ratios provide the processing flexibility that appliance manufacturers and other industries need.

The adhesive is available in pails or drums and dispenses with automated equipment without slumping in vertical, precured assemblies. It also comes in convenient cartridges that are easy to transport for prototyping and low-volume manufacturing. Importantly, it provides strong bonding and sealing for components with different rates of thermal expansion.