Industrial & Manufacturing Blog
Metal fabricators have several options when they want to join pieces of metal together. They can weld them together or solder one piece of metal onto another. Brazing, mechanical fasteners, and adhesives are other possibilities. This article discusses the benefits and the shortcomings of using adhesives to join your steel components. Use this information to make an informed decision about the suitability of this joining method in your application.
The Benefits of Using Adhesives
They reduce the necessity for additional fabrication steps. Steel components that have been joined using adhesives may be more cost-effective than similar components that have been joined using another method, such as welding. This is because the adhesives used never cause the components to change colour or to be distorted in the way welding can cause steel to distort or change colour. It may therefore be unnecessary to paint or grind the joint. The avoidance of those steps may lower the cost of fabricating your steel components.
They distribute stress more evenly. Adhesives may contribute to the longevity of your steel components because the joint will be less likely to fail prematurely. This is because the adhesives allow any load that is placed on the joint to be distributed throughout the component instead of concentrating it around the joint. Other joining methods, such as mechanical fasteners, may make the joint to be thicker than other parts of the product assembly. This increased thickness can prevent the load stress from being dispersed quickly to the rest of the component. Consequently, the joint may wear out gradually until it fails.
Adhesives serve many roles. The adhesives that are used to join your steel components serve several purposes. For instance, the adhesives will act as a seal in addition to bonding one part of the assembly to another. Consequently, the steel products will be less likely to corrode because the adhesives prevent moisture from getting into the assembly.
The Shortcomings of Using Adhesives
The fabrication process may take longer to be completed. It is time consuming to prepare a metal surface, such as a steel surface, for the application of an adhesive. This is because contaminants must be carefully removed so that they don't hinder the effectiveness of the adhesives. Furthermore, it takes time for adhesives to cure fully before the components can be used. Adhesives may therefore not be suitable in case you need the steel components urgently.
Repairs may be harder to perform. Any damage sustained by steel products that were joined using adhesives may be hard to repair. This is because the bond is hard to break once the adhesives cure. This is unlike mechanical fasteners, such as screws or bolts, which can be unfastened easily.
Weigh the two sides above carefully and make an informed decision about the appropriateness of adhesives for your application. You may also consider the input of experienced steel fabricators as you make a final decision.
Share22 September 2016
If you work in or run an industrial or manufacturing facility, safety is key. In this blog, we are going to talk a lot about safety. However, we are also going to veer into other aspects of these industries as well. There will be posts directed toward consumers, business owners, workers and many others. Before you start reading, let me introduce myself. My name is Steve. I used to volunteer at an animal refuge where I put together a lot of buildings and frequently visited sheet metal processing facilities, fence manufacturing companies and similar businesses. I was incredibly interested in what they did so I decided to create this blog. Thank you for reading.
