What Is an Aerospace Adhesive?
Aerospace adhesives are specialized adhesives used in the manufacturing of aircraft and spacecraft. They are designed to be lightweight yet strong enough to compare to metals, serving primarily for bonding purposes. Unlike conventional adhesives, aerospace adhesives must exhibit exceptionally high performance to endure harsh environmental conditions encountered during space exploration. This includes resistance to heat, chemicals, and vibration, and ensuring durability.
These adhesives are critical in assembling structural components like wings and fuselages, engine parts for high-temperature environments, interior components for weight reduction, and electronics that must withstand vibration and impact. Predominantly made from epoxy, acrylic, and silicone resins, these adhesives include various additives to meet specific performance criteria. When mixed with hardeners, the resins undergo chemical reactions that form strong, durable adhesive bonds.