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Stay up to date by reading sealants and adhesives industry newsletters

If you frequently use industrial sealants or adhesive systems in your company, you will want to know the most current information about these products. Industry newsletters and magazines help you learn the latest.

I recommend: Adhesives and Sealants.com offers a free newsletter that lets you know about product information and other industry resources. Adhesives and Sealant Industry offers a free eNewsletter as well as a traditional print magazine.

Use packaging adhesive to pack your products securely

A strong packaging adhesive is essential when shipping your products. You do not want them to open at the wrong time.

I recommend: IDS Packaging provides a wide variety of hot melt and low temperature packaging adhesives. Adhesive Packaging Specialties, Inc. offers custom solutions for when you cannot find the right solution on the market.

Patch things up with industrial sealants

A sealant is great for when you have cracks or spaces that you want to fill up. They help contain liquids or prevent irritants from entering your system.

I recommend: At Ellsworth Adhesives, you can search for the right sealant by material. Henkel North America allows you to search for products based on the application you need it for.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When purchasing adhesives and sealants, keep in mind the average temperature where consumers are likely to use the product. Colder climates have different needs than warmer climates. You should be sure that the adhesive or sealant you select is appropriate for the climate.
• •  Even though specialty adhesives and sealants should to last a long time, it is a good idea to regularly check to make sure they are not leaking. This could be a costly mistake and it is best to catch it as soon as possible.

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Get an adhesives and sealant overview before you start searching for products to meet your needs

The variety of adhesives and sealants can be overwhelming for any size company. Whether you own a contracting business and need a good wood sealant, or you manage an industrial plant with adhesive needs, it's a good idea to get an overview of the industry before starting your search for the right product.

I recommend: Find a complete overview of the adhesive and sealant industry at The Adhesive and Sealant Council. The Council offers a thorough reference of types of adhesives and their uses. Find a complete tutorial on sealants at Adhesives Magazine. While the main purpose of a sealant is to prevent air, water and other elements in, there are many types of sealants for use in various applications.

Distinguish between the types of sealants and adhesives

Sealants are either water or solvent based, and they can be used in many different industrial, contractual and even office settings. Find out the latest trends when it comes to using sealants and adhesives, and learn which work best for what jobs.

I recommend: Omnexus offers an entire library of articles on the latest adhesives and sealants news and trends, and Cabot has a great key terms glossary where you can look up many sealant and adhesive related terms if you still aren't sure what they mean.

Buy industrial sealant materials and adhesives with confidence

Use the knowledge you find online to buy sealants and adhesives with confidence. Once you've found the latest trends in the industry, you'll be able to make a better decision about the manufacturer with whom you want to work.

I recommend: Find specialty adhesives and sealants manufacturers all in one location on the Adhesives and Sealants buyers guide, or find a thorough market overview and detailed uses run-down at Adhesives.org.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  California is the only state with air quality regulations that affect the uses of adhesives and sealants. If your company operates in California, you will need to meet the standards set by one of the 13 air quality districts in the state.

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Get information from a current or potential industrial sealants supplier

Adhesives manufacturers can get you started when looking to increase your awareness, educate your organization or up date your knowledge of the sealant industry. Most will provide you with educational materials about the types of sealants and adhesives that work best for your business. Make sure you consider the source when using any of the educational materials. While they may provide ample resources, they are also written to entice you to give them your business.

I recommend: Dow Corning creates many types of sealants and adhesives to use in several industrial settings. They also can provide you with a solid beginning knowledge base if you're new to the sealant world. Omnexux's large line of specialty adhesives and sealants makes them the ideal manufacturer to find additional information. Use their library of articles in your training.

Hire professional adhesives and sealants educators

While professional training can be an added expense, it is well worth the cost if you operate a large scale manufacturing plant and need to train or educate many employees. Hire professionals who deal directly with adhesive and sealant manufacturers to customize your training session.

I recommend: Set up a training session for your employees with Chemsultants International. They can teach the fundamentals of adhesives and sealants with hands-on training. Consider utilizing a program through A Roustis Interactive. They provide plastics training courses to companies around the world.

Join industry groups to gain access to valuable adhesive systems training information

Some of the best information and training resources can come from your peers. Look to others in your specific industry for advice, technical information, shared manuals, software or other training materials.

I recommend: Join the Adhesive and Sealant Council to network with thousands of other industrial organizations, adhesive manufactures and others. Use the online library of presentations pertaining to adhesives at Adhesives.org, and sign up for their newsletter.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Because industrial sealant materials are used in so many different facets of manufacturing, make sure you find customized materials that specifically deal with your use of these products.

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Accelerator or catalyst

An accelerator or catalyst is part two of a two-part adhesive formula. The accelerator is used to speed the curing process of a resin.

I recommend: DYMAX provides an additional explanation of adhesive accelerators and a selector guide to match the accelerator to the right adhesive.

Binder

A binder is a component of an adhesive that is responsible for the bond that holds two materials together.

I recommend: Chemidex provides a searchable index for all types of binders and resins that includes data sheets and safety information.

Centipoise (CPS)

Centipoise is the unit of measure for viscosity, the thickness of a fluid.

I recommend: The Engineering Toolbox provides a conversion chart for viscosity that helps to convert from centipoise to poise, stokes and SSU. Syn Lube provides a guide on viscosity and the different types of viscosity that can be measured.

Epoxy

An epoxy is a two-part adhesive. The properties of an epoxy include a low shrinkage rate during curing and a strong resistance to environmental or chemical damage.

I recommend: 3D Chem provides an explanation of the chemical composition of epoxies and the most common applications for epoxy products.

Fixture time

The fixture time of an adhesive or sealant is the time necessary for the adhesive to hold something in place. The fixture time will vary according to the adhesive, the thickness of the substance, the surface and temperature.

I recommend: Parson Adhesives provides charts for the specs of different adhesives. The specs include the cure speed, which is the fixture time plus the time needed for full curing.

Tack

The tack of an adhesive is the consistency of the adhesive on a surface that had not finished curing.

I recommend: The Adhesives and Sealants Industry provides information on the technology used to perform tack tests on a variety of adhesive products.