Here at the Gluegun blog, we're committed to making sure all of our customers – no matter their range of professions or activities – have the information they need to get the right adhesive for the right job, every time. That is why today, we want to bring you the lowdown on 3M's line of methyl methacrylate (but that's a mouthful, so we'll just say MMA from here on out) adhesives. These sturdy little workhorses deserve a bit of praise – and you deserve to know how MMA adhesives can save you time, money and frustration.
You remember that great old quote by Alexander Pope, "To err is human, but forgiveness is divine?" First off, this blog has no business opining on metaphysics (we know we wouldn't read about religion on a website that sells glue guns) but we can talk a little about regular physics, and old Mr. Pope's quote has a nice application here.
You see, one of the greatest things about 3M's line of MMA structural adhesives is that they have this unique, very forgiving cure mechanism. They are pretty tolerant of changes in mix ratios and mix degrees, so even you don't mix the components in the exact same amounts every time (within reason, of course) the adhesive will still bond. The mixture also stays "soft" for long enough that you literally have some "wiggle room" to get things situated so that they bond just right.
In fact, unlike many other products, you don't even have to mix 3M acrylic adhesives before you apply them – you could apply the separate components one after another to a surface or material, meaning you can avoid situations like difficult, precise mix ratios (not to mention having to decide whether you need to clean the mess you just made spilling the JB-Weld mix or you need to scrub it off your fingertips before it dries. We can't be the only ones that have that problem.)
Honorable mention: the shelf life on these adhesives are amazing – they're usually good for about a year and a half, and you don't even have to refrigerate them, so you save money in the long run because you don't have to replace other glues that expire more quickly.
3M's acrylic adhesives aren't just perfect for bonding acrylic substrates, of course. They are also great for most plastics. Here is a quick list of the best applications for these products:
- Electronics
- Fiberglass Assemblies
- Signs and Displays
- Panel Assemblies
- Magnet Bonding
- Metal Enclosures
- Battery Sealing
And of course, there are many, many more.
There's no time like the present – click here to check out our line-up of 3M acrylic adhesives (including some low-odor options, for those of you that don't particularly like the smell).
Thanks for reading – got any suggestions for us, or do you have some favorite applications for these adhesives we didn't mention? Let us know!