| Adhesive Chemistry | Available heat-resistant systems | Common options include silicone, epoxy, polyimide, phenolic, ceramic-filled, and modified acrylic systems. Continuous-use temperatures commonly range from approximately 150°C to above 300°C, depending on formulation. | Request the technical data sheet, recommended substrate list, cure profile, and continuous-versus-peak temperature limits. |
| Temperature Performance | Continuous operating temperature | General-purpose high-temperature products may support about 150–200°C; specialty formulations may support about 200–300°C or higher under defined test conditions. | Confirm whether the rating applies to continuous exposure, short-term exposure, or post-cure testing. |
| Bond Strength | Lap-shear or tensile-shear strength | Two-part structural epoxies commonly show room-temperature lap-shear values in the approximate range of 10–30 MPa on suitable metal substrates, although results vary substantially by test method and surface preparation. | Compare results tested under ASTM D1002 or ISO 4587, including substrate, overlap area, cure conditions, and test temperature. |
| Thermal Cycling | Resistance to repeated heating and cooling | Qualification programs often use repeated cycles such as room temperature to 150°C, 200°C, or another application-specific temperature. There is no universal cycle count for all adhesive types. | Define cycle temperature, dwell time, ramp rate, number of cycles, and allowable change in bond strength. |
| Substrate Compatibility | Materials that can be bonded | Typical substrates include aluminum, stainless steel, carbon steel, ceramics, glass, ferrites, composites, and selected engineering plastics. | Require sample testing on the exact grades, coatings, surface roughness, and cleaning process used in production. |
| Viscosity and Application | Viscosity, dispensing, and application method | Low-viscosity grades are suitable for wetting or impregnation; medium-viscosity grades are common for manual or automated dispensing; thixotropic grades help reduce flow on vertical surfaces. | Check viscosity measurement temperature, mixing ratio, pot life, nozzle size, and compatibility with automated equipment. |
| Curing Requirements | Cure method and production time | Available cure methods may include room-temperature cure, heat cure, moisture cure, or UV-assisted cure. Heat-cure schedules commonly range from approximately 80°C to 180°C, depending on chemistry. | Verify fixture time, full-cure time, required oven accuracy, humidity limits, and whether post-curing is necessary. |
| Customization | Formulation and packaging options | Possible customizations include viscosity, color, filler content, thermal conductivity, dielectric properties, flexibility, cure speed, mixing ratio, cartridge format, and private packaging. | Ask for the minimum order quantity, development fee, sample lead time, pilot-batch process, and ownership of customized formulation data. |
| Electrical Properties | Dielectric strength and insulation performance | Electrically insulating adhesives are commonly specified by dielectric strength, volume resistivity, dielectric constant, and dissipation factor. Values depend strongly on filler type, thickness, and conditioning. | Request test methods, specimen thickness, frequency, temperature, humidity conditioning, and lot-to-lot variation data. |
| Chemical and Environmental Resistance | Resistance to oils, solvents, moisture, and aging | Performance should be evaluated against the actual chemicals, humidity level, temperature, and exposure duration. No single adhesive is universally resistant to all solvents or fuels. | Request immersion, humidity-aging, salt-spray, and thermal-aging results relevant to the application. |
| Quality Management | Manufacturing and inspection controls | A qualified supplier should be able to provide batch traceability, raw-material controls, viscosity checks, mixing records, curing verification, and a certificate of analysis where applicable. | Review ISO 9001 certification status, sample inspection records, nonconformance procedures, and retention-sample policy. |
| Regulatory Documentation | Compliance and safety documents | Common buyer requirements include Safety Data Sheet, technical data sheet, certificate of analysis, restricted-substance declarations, and applicable RoHS or REACH-related declarations. | Confirm document revision date, regulatory market covered, substance thresholds, and whether declarations are supported by supplier or laboratory data. |
| Fire and Flammability | Flammability classification | For electrical or transportation applications, buyers may require testing under standards such as UL 94 or application-specific fire-test methods. Classification depends on specimen thickness and formulation. | Do not accept a general “flame resistant” claim without a formal test report identifying the exact product and thickness. |
| Indicative Pricing | Bulk export price factors | Indicative bulk pricing can vary widely: approximately USD 4–12/kg for standard industrial grades, USD 12–35/kg for specialty high-temperature grades, and higher for advanced ceramic, polyimide, or highly customized systems. These are market indications, not quotations. | Compare resin type, performance grade, packaging, order volume, Incoterms, testing, shelf life, and hazardous-goods handling costs. |
| Minimum Order Quantity | Standard versus customized order size | Standard products may be available in small trial quantities, while customized formulations and private packaging commonly require higher minimum order quantities, often from tens to hundreds of kilograms. | Confirm trial-order terms, production-batch size, packaging minimums, and whether unused packaging materials are charged separately. |
| Lead Time | Sampling and mass-production schedule | Typical sample preparation may take about 3–10 working days; standard production may take about 2–6 weeks, subject to formulation, packaging, raw-material availability, and order volume. | Obtain a written schedule covering sample approval, purchase-order confirmation, production, inspection, and dispatch. |
| Packaging and Shelf Life | Package size, storage, and usable life | Common formats include cans, bottles, syringes, dual cartridges, pails, and drums. Shelf life is formulation-specific and often ranges from approximately 6 to 24 months when stored under the stated conditions. | Check batch date, expiry date, storage temperature, humidity limits, freezing sensitivity, and packaging compatibility. |
| Export and Logistics | Shipping method and hazardous-goods status | Depending on composition and flash point, some adhesives may be regulated as dangerous goods for air or sea transport. Export preparation may require compliant labels, packaging, SDS, and transport classification. | Confirm UN number if applicable, transport class, flash point, air-freight restrictions, pallet requirements, and export documentation. |
| Commercial Terms | Payment and Incoterms | Common international terms include EXW, FOB, CIF, and DDP where legally and operationally appropriate. Payment structures vary by supplier relationship, order size, and buyer location. | Specify currency, payment schedule, inspection responsibility, insurance coverage, delivery point, and responsibility for import duties. |
| Pre-Approval Testing | Validation before purchase | A practical qualification program should include initial bond strength, thermal aging, thermal cycling, humidity exposure, chemical exposure, dimensional inspection, and process repeatability. | Approve the product only after testing production-representative substrates, bond-line thickness, cure process, and environmental conditions. |