Fast curing adhesives can cure in minutes, or even seconds, which can improve assembly time and costs. Fast cure adhesives are available as one and two part formulations and come in a range of different chemistries. One-part formulations that cure with the application of heat or UV/LED light have a virtually unlimited open time at room temperature. Two-part formulations cure upon the reaction of their chemical components at ambient temperatures. Gel time for the fastest versions can be minutes, allowing them to be handled or removed from fixtures. To reach their fully cured state can take hours longer. It is important to note that engineers should question if a fast cure is absolutely necessary when selecting an adhesive--there could be trade-offs in the physical properties that would be less suitable for certain bonding, sealing and potting applications.
Typical Times And Mechanisms For Fast Curing Systems
| Systems/Properties | Gel Times @ 75°F | Cure Times | Cure Mechanism |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-component room temperature curable epoxy | 3-10 minutes | 12-24 hours at 75°F | Cross linking at room temperature |
| 1-component heat curable epoxy | Will not gel at room temperatures | 3-10 minutes at 250-350°F | Heat activated |
| 1-component cyanoacrylate | 30-60 seconds | 12-24 hours at 75°F | Moisture/humidity |
| 1-component silicone | 3-10 minutes | 12-24 hours at 75°F | Moisture/humidity |
| UV curable | Will not gel without UV exposure | 20-40 seconds with UV light | 365 nm with minimum 20-40 mW/cm2 |
| UV + heat dual cure | Will not gel without UV/heat exposure | 20-40 seconds with UV + 40-60 minutes with heat | 365 nm with minimum 20-40 mW/cm2 + heat 180-250°F |
| LED curable | Will not gel without LED exposure | 20-40 seconds with LED light | 405 nm with minimum 1-4 W/cm2 |
Applying a Fast Cure Epoxy
EP65HT-1 is a two part, room temperature curing adhesive that can be applied with a gun applicator. You can see how quickly it sets up in this video.
Performance Properties for Fast Cure Compounds
Master Bond fast curing adhesives are custom formulated to feature outstanding performance properties including chemical resistance, thermal conductivity, high temperature resistance, high strength, low outgassing and more, which can be altered to meet specific requirements.
Some of Our Most Popular Fast Curing Adhesives, Sealants and Coatings
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EP65HT-1 Two part, fast setting (3-5 minutes in 10-20 gram masses) room temperature curing epoxy. Serviceable from -60°F to +400°F. Tg of 125-130C. NASA low outgassing approved. Used by Boeing in various MRO applications. High tensile modulus. Excellent dimensional stability. Withstands 1,000 hours 85°C/85%RH. Can be applied with gun dispenser. |
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EP51 "5" minute type system. Fast setting. Rapid curing at ambient temperature. Serviceable from 4K to +250°F. Adhesive/sealant. High strength bonds. Good chemical resistance. One to one mix ratio weight or volume. |
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MB297 Higher viscosity (2,200-2,400 cps) and a slightly longer open time than low viscosity counterparts. High strength, rapid curing ethyl cyanoacrylate system. No heating or mixing needed. Good resistance to cleaning agents. Serviceable from -60°F to +250°F. |
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UV10TK40M One component, high viscosity UV curable system. Outstanding optical clarity. Tg 140°C. Enhanced chemical resistance. Superb physical strength properties. Reliable electrical insulator. Withstands 1,000 hours 85°C/85% RH. Serviceable from -60°F to +450°F. |
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EP17HT-3 One part snap cure epoxy. Cures in 2-3 minutes at 250-300°F. Service operating temperature range -60°F to +400°F. Ideal for bonding dissimilar substrates and applications subject to thermal cycling. Outstanding electrical insulation properties. Withstands 1000 hours at 85°C/85%RH. |
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EP51CC Easy to apply, paste like consistency two component epoxy adhesive. High bond strength. Can be packaged for use in field applications. Serviceable at cryogenic temperatures down to 4K. |
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EP77M-FMed Rapid room temperature curing silver filled electrically conductive adhesive. One to one mix ratio by weight or volume. Fixture time within 5-7 minutes even in small volumes. Exceptional low volume resistivity. Low outgassing. Superior bond strength to similar/dissimilar substrates. Serviceable from -60°F to +250°F. |
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LED405FL3 Fast cures under LED light. Outstanding optical clarity, with fluorescent dye. Can be used for small potting and encapsulation, as it can cure up to 1/8 inch thick. Withstands rigorous thermal cycling, mechanical shock and vibration. Serviceable from -100°F to +250°F. |
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UV17Med High flexibility and toughness. Outstanding abrasion resistance. Moderate viscosity. Resists thermal cycling and mechanical shocks. Bonds well to glass, metals, ceramics, composites and many plastics including polycarbonates, acrylics. Serviceable from -80°F to +250°F. |
