Dow Launches Fast Curing Silicone Adhesive for Reduced Energy Usage, Greater Assembly Efficiency at Any Production Volume

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Dow, introduced today new DOWSIL™ EA-3838 Fast Adhesive, an advanced primerless silicone adhesive that cures rapidly without oven heat for improved productivity and reduced energy usage in the manufacture of appliances, automotive electronics, lighting and avionics. This innovative new adhesive cures at room temperature and provides fast adhesion for shorter cycle times. Additionally, DOWSIL™ EA-3838 Fast Adhesive creates strong, reliable bonds between a variety of dissimilar materials, including glass to metal, glass to painted metal and glass to plastic.

“Appliance manufacturers and those in other key industries are increasingly calling for higher performing industrial adhesives that are reliable, strong, easy-to-use and promote cost-saving efficiencies,” said Pina Beato, European marketing manager. “New DOWSIL™ EA-3838 Fast Adhesive is addressing this demand and illustrates Dow’s commitment to providing our valued customers with the cutting-edge materials they need to achieve the right balance of properties, better bonding and more efficient overall business operations.”

With its fast cure speed, high-performance DOWSIL™ EA-3838 Fast Adhesive achieves bond strength in just five minutes. Homogenous curing throughout the adhesive cross-section promotes greater reliability. Manufacturers can also apply heat to accelerate further curing. Regardless of production volume, DOWSIL™ EA-3838 Fast Adhesive’s standard 2:1 mixing ratio eases processing and is simpler to use than current 5:1 offerings. For bonding applications that require expanded open times to support repositioning, 3:1 or 4:1 mixing ratios may be used.

“With its flexible mixing ratios, DOWSIL™ EA-3838 Fast Adhesive provides the processing flexibility that appliance manufacturers and other industries need,” said Beato. “This certified high-throughput material is suitable for a wide range of end uses, which can enable job site managers to reduce the number of products they typically need to order, store and handle.”

DOWSIL™ EA-3838 Fast Adhesive is available in pails or drums, and dispenses with automated equipment without slumping in vertical, precured assemblies. This versatile industrial material also comes in convenient cartridges that are easy to transport for prototyping and low-volume manufacturing. Importantly, DOWSIL™ EA-3838 Fast Adhesive provides highly reliable bonding and sealing for components with different rates of thermal expansion, such as when joining the inner and outer windows of microwave ovens to frames.

In addition to ovens and cooktops, DOWSIL™ EA-3838 Fast Adhesive can be used to bond door gaskets to refrigerators and for metal-to-plastic bonding with dishwasher bases. This adhesive can also be used for display bonding in automotive interior applications. Additionally, DOWSIL™ EA-3838 Fast Adhesive can be used as a wind turbine sealant and for sealing the lights, edges and cargo doors on aircrafts due to its excellent resistance to weather and sunlight.

DOWSIL™ EA-3838 Fast Adhesive is available worldwide through Dow’s extensive network of distribution partners.

To learn more, visit dow.com/electronics.