3MScotch-WeldEPX
Two-component structural adhesives and applicator guns
Innovation
Even a bonded area of 10 cm2(like
in this picture) is sufficient to lift an
average family car off the ground! In
general, these structural adhesives
have enough cohesive strength and
creep resistance to permanently
bond high-strength materials and
they have the potential to replace mechanical and fusion fastening in
many applications.
The aircraft industry is one of the pioneers in use of structural
adhesives. Many other industries have also been taking advantage of
3M’s advanced formulations and innovative dispensing.
The 3MTM EPX application system for 2-component structural adhe-
sives provides quick, economic, clean, precise processing and quick
set-up times. It consists of:
EPX manual applicators or EPX air-powered applicators
Two-component adhesives in double cartridges
Static mixing nozzles
The adhesive can be applied at selected points or in a continuous
bead. Dosing, mixing and application are all achieved in one action,
delivering constant, defined quality. These 3M structural adhesives
achieve permanent high strength bonds with many materials such
as metals, glass, ceramics, wood, technical plastics and rubbers etc.
What is a structural adhesive?
Specifications
Product no. Description
Adhesive type
EPOXY formulations
DP 100 For metals, glass, ceramics and other materials. High shear strength for static loads.
rigid Excellent flow behaviour, therefore also well suited for potting. UL-listed.
DP 105 Particularly for materials with different, high expansion factors. High strength.
highly flexible Very good flow behaviour, therefore also very well suited for potting.
DP 110 Especially good for bonding metal and plastic, for static and dynamic loads.
thoughened
DP 125 Especially good for bonding plastic and for metals, where flexibility and peel strength are required.
flexible As DP 190, but with quicker time to handling strength.
DP 190 Especially good for bonding plastic and some types of rubber, as well as for metals,
flexible when flexibility and peel strength are required. UL-listed.
DP 270 Especially good for electronics. For potting, protection and sealing. No corrosion on copper, minimal exothermal
fluid reaction (heat development) and shrinkage (therefore also for bonding optical parts, e.g. lenses). UL-listed.
DP 410 Outstanding stability under static and dynamic loads. High resistance to impact.
thoughened Very good strength and excellent ageing characteristics.
DP 460 As DP 410, but longer work life. UL-listed.
thoughened
DP 490 As DP 410, but with high temperature resistance (120°C).
thoughened Thixotropic formulation, non-sag properties enable easy application to vertical surfaces.
DP 760 Especially for applications that require very high temperature resistance (230°C).
rigid
POLYURETHANE formulations
DP 609 Especially for plastics and wood. Good peel strength, viscosity and flexibility. Minimal flow.
flexible
DP 610 As DP609, but transparent, non-yellowing UV-resistant characteristics make it ideal for applications that require
flexible long term transparency and good visual effect. Good flow behaviour.
ACRYLIC formulations
DP 801 Very good for plastics, elastomers and metals. Good resistance to impact. For static and dynamic loads.
thoughened Short work life results in a fast development to handling strength.
DP 810 As DP 801, but longer work life. Significantly less odour that most acrylic adhesives.
thoughened
DP 8005 New, innovative product especially for bonding Low Surface Energy plastics (like PE or PP) together
thoughened or with other materials, without surface pre-treatment.
DP 8010 As above, longer work life of 10 minutes.
thoughened
3M’s high-strength structural adhesives are fundamentally load-bearing formulations. Bond strength is often as strong as, or stronger than
the materials joined.
Product No. Colour Mix ratio (B:A) Work life Time to handling Viscosity Shear strength Peel strength Temperature
(minutes) strength (Aluminium, MPa) (Aluminium, N/cm)
-55°C +23°C +80°C
EPOXY formulations
DP 100 transparent 1:1 3 to 5 min. 15 min. fluid 6 9 2 4 -50 to 80°C
DP 105 transparent 1:1 4 to 5 min. 20 min. fluid 24 14 2 62 -50 to 80°C
DP 110 translucent 1:1 8 to 10 min. 20 min controlled flow 14 18 1 35 -50 to 80°C
or grey
DP 125 grey 1:1 25 min. 2 to 3 hrs controlled flow 24 24 3 62 -50 to 80°C
DP 190 grey 1:1 90 min. 4 to 6 hrs controlled flow 11 18 3 21 -50 to 80°C
DP 270 transparent 1:1 60 to 70 min. 4 to 6 hrs fluid 8 17 2 <4 -50 to 80°C
or black
DP 410 off white 2:1 8 to 10 min. 30 min. thixotropic 29 34 8 100 -50 to 80°C
DP 460 off white 2:1 60 min. 4 to 6 hrs controlled flow 31 31 5 107 -50 to 80°C
DP 490 black 2:1 180 min. 4 hrs thixotropic 24 30 12 92 -50 to 120°C
DP 760 white 2:1 45 to 60 min. 4 to 6 hrs thixotropic 20 29 24 60 -50 to 230°C
POLYURETHANE formulations
DP 609 off white 1:1 7 min. 45 min. low 17 14 2 70 -50 to 80°C
DP 610 clear 1:1 10 min. 2 hrs fluid 34 23 3 78 -50 to 80°C
ACRYLIC formulations
DP 801 green 1:1 1 to 2 min. 7 min. controlled flow 19 13 2 24 -50 to 80°C
DP 810 green 1:1 8 min. 10 to 15 min. controlled flow 8 30 3 52 -50 to 80°C
DP 8005 white 10:1 2 to 3 min. 90 min. thixotropic low 12* 6* 2* 28** -50 to 80°C
DP 8010 white 10:1 10 min. 120 min. thixotropic 6* 10* 2* 28** -50 to 80°C
* PP/PP ** HDPE
Rigid adhesive types for applications with static loading
and high shear strength (DP 100, DP 270, DP 760)
Flexible adhesive types for dynamic and shock loads (DP 105,
DP 125, DP 190, DP 609, DP 610)
Toughened adhesive types which combine the advantages of hard
and flexible types, i.e. with good peel strength, high shear strength
and good impact resistance (DP 110, DP 410, DP 460, DP 490, DP
801, DP 810)
Useful adhesive terminology
Structural Adhesive = Practical bond strength is at least 7 MPa
in overlap shear at 24° C.
Handling strength = the time it takes assembled parts to reach
a strength where further handling and processing can take place.
Time will be dependant on the surface to be bonded, temperature
and humidity.
Work life = the time during which an adhesive is liquid enough
to adequately wet-out on a substrate.
MPa = 1 MPa = 1 N/mm2= 145 psi
N/cm = Newton / 1 cm width.
Critical adhesive characteristics
EPX Adhesives Preselection
Work life vs. Handling strength
Product
DP 100
DP 105
DP 110
DP 125
DP 190
DP 270
DP 410
DP 460
DP 490
DP 760
DP 609
DP 610
DP 801
DP 810
DP 8005
DP 8010
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
Work life
Handling strenght
minutes
15
520
10 20
25 180
90 300
70
10 30
60
180 240
60
745
10 120
27
815
390
10 120
Sheer vs. Peel Strength on etched aluminium
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
40
20
10
30
5
15
25
35
DP 810
N/cm
MPa
3
300
300
300
DP 190
DP 270
DP 100
DP 8005
DP 8010
DP 110
DP 105
DP 125
DP 760
DP 609
DP 610
DP 490
DP 460
DP 410
0 5 10 60 145 180
Work life
(minutes)
Viscosity vs. Worklife
very fluid
fluid
controlled
flow
thixotropic
DP 100
DP 110
DP 270
DP 105
DP 125
DP 460
DP 410
9025
Fluid / Short Work life
Less Fluid / Short Work life
Fluid / Long Work life
Less Fluid / Long Work life
Tensile stress is exerted equally over the entire joint and
away from the adhesive bond.
Shear stress is across the adhesive bond. The bonded
materials are forced to slide over each other.
Cleavage stress is concentrated at one edge and exerts a
prying force on the bond.
Peel stress is concentrated along a thin line at the bond’s
edge. One surface is flexible.
Most applications are subject to a combination of stresses.
Cleavage Peel
Tensile Shear
DP 801
DP 490
DP 760
DP 609
DP 610
DP 801
DP 810
DP 8005 DP 8010
DP 190
Operation Instructions
The EPX system of controlled two-component structural adhesives enables bonding operations to be carried out quickly, with precision and in
four simple steps:
Applications and benefits
The 3M™ Scotch-Weld™ EPX structural adhesives range is widely used in product assembly where high mechanical performance is required,
and also for sealing and potting in electrical / electronic applications.
The EPX structural adhesives offer significant advantages – at a low investment cost:
Reducing costs for combining different materials for the same or better performance;
Eliminating secondary sealing or finishing operations, saving time and money;
Achieving stronger and stiffer structures by improving stress distribution;
Joining a wide variety of materials that are unable to be assembled by traditional methods of fastening.
Slip the cartridge into the dispenser
and close the dispenser’s lock.
Unscrew the tip of the cartridge and
fix the nozzle on the cartridge.
Pull the trigger for exact dispensing,
the two components are mixed and
applied at once.
The result is a clean and precise
application without the user coming
into contact with the adhesive.
Bonding a golf club head to shaft.
3M Scotch-Weld DP 810
Bonding a seat cover to the ABS moulding
3M Scotch-Weld DP 190
Bonding a magnet to a steel rotor
3M Scotch-Weld DP 460
Bonding tubular joints for high impact applications
3M Scotch-Weld DP 490
Encapsulating memory chips to protect against
hacking of a digital set-top box
3M Scotch-Weld DP 760
Bonding automotive interior parts (PU) to the dash-
board (PP)
3M Scotch-Weld DP 8005
EPX manual applicator
complete with plunger 1:1/2:1 - suitable for 50 ml cartridges.
Note: for 38 ml 10:1 cartridges (DP 8005, DP8010), a 10:1
plunger is also required
EPX air-powered applicator
for 1:1 and 2:1 50 ml cartridges
EPX air-powered applicator 8501
for 1:1 and 2:1 400 ml cartridges
EPX air-powered applicator (not shown)
for DP 8005, DP 8010, 265 ml cartridges
Supply form: Duo pack cartridges
1:1 and 2:1 mix ratio = 50 ml and 400 ml
10:1 mix ratio = 38 ml and 265 ml
Bulk versions on request
The EPX applicators
Important Notice:
All declarations, technical information and recommendations in this
brochure are based on tests we believe to be reliable, but we are unable
to guarantee their complete accuracy. Before using our product, please
make sure it is suitable for the intended use. Any question concerning
the reliability of 3M adhesives is subject to the applications of the terms
and conditions of sale and any applicable legislation.
3M and Scotch-Weld are registered trademarks of the 3M Company.
The EPX accessoires
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EPX plunger for EPX manual applicator:
Type 1:1/2:1 for all 50 ml cartridges
Type 10:1 for 38 ml cartridge (DP 8005, DP 8010)
EPX mixing nozzles for cartridges:
Quadro nozzle for 50 ml cartridges
(except DP 8005, DP 8010)
17 Element nozzle for DP 8005, DP 8010, 38 ml
EPX mixing nozzles for large cartridges:
24 Element nozzle for all 400 ml cartridges
18 Element nozzle for DP 8005, DP 8010, 265 ml
cartridge
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Equipment
The 3M™ Scotch-Weld™ EPX adhesive system includes:
Applicators
All the applicators are ergonomically designed to minimise fatigue and ensure the maximum ease of use, particularly in “hard to get at” applica-
tions. There are manual and air-powered guns for 50 ml cartridges and an air-powered gun for the 400 ml cartridges. The selection of a manual
or air-powered gun and the 50 ml or 400 ml cartridge depends upon the production requirement(s) for the application.
Air-powered applicator
The use of a compressed air feed enables operators to apply precisely the quantity of product required without interruption.
Manual applicator
The manual applicator is a light, reliable tool, which requires no special maintenance; it is particularly well suited to smaller scale use at multi-
ple work- stations.
Mixing Nozzles
The adhesive is extruded through a static mixing nozzle, which ensures that the two components are mixed together thoroughly every time.
The mixing nozzle can be adapted to extrude different bead diameters by cutting the tip.
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