Sale of Adhesives for Boats
Looking for a reliable adhesive for boats or yachts? You have come exactly to the place where you can buy special marine adhesives for boats from the Swiss company Sika, Italian brand Adesiviadeco, famous supplier of marine accessories Forniture Nautiche Italiane, etc.
If you find it difficult to choose the right adhesive for yachts, consult the experts of the topRik marketplace right now. Just use the Contacts section or call the specified phone number above. You will receive a written response if you send an e-mail to [email protected].
Types of Adhesives for Boats and Yachts
In modern shipbuilding and yacht repair you will find traditional types of adhesives for boats, as well as modern, innovative compositions. The first types include ecoside glue for yachts, the second - polychloroprene, polyurethane, acrylic glue for boats. Let's take a closer look at the most popular of them.
Polyurethane Adhesive for Yachts
We could not help but mention the advantages of polyurethane adhesives for marine applications, since we have a wide range of Sikaflex products from this innovative group.
Today in the world it is common to use elastic materials, especially since such materials, in addition to providing a reliable connection, simultaneously seal it, connecting parts made of both homogeneous and different materials. Most advanced gluing and sealing technologies are based on the use of flexible, easy-to-use adhesives that provide high-quality results. The purpose of an elastic connection is not only to hold elements together and protect the vessel from water infiltration, but also to dampen vibrations and acoustic noise, insulate metal parts and dampen the loads arising at the joints, which cannot be provided through welding, riveting and using screws.
The French division of the Swiss company Sika is a leading developer and manufacturer of one- and two-component polyurethanes for marine applications. The Sikaflex product range includes cleaners for preparing surfaces for bonding, primers, adhesives, and sealants. All products are widely used in shipbuilding and repair.
With all their diversity, Sikaflex adhesives and sealants have common features and advantages:
- constant elasticity that does not change over time;
- shock absorption of dynamic loads and vibration absorption;
- gas and water tightness;
- corrosion suppression;
- resistance to environmental influences and atmospheric phenomena;
- possibility of subsequent sanding and painting;
- possibility of application both below and above the waterline;
- durability.
The Sikaflex family of adhesives are structural adhesives and are intended for a wide range of materials (wood, light alloys, fiberglass, steel, ceramics, glass, plastics). One-component elastic adhesives Sikaflex are designed for laying deck timber panels or planks and non-slip plastic coatings on metal, fiberglass or wood surfaces.
If you are building a boat with your own hands, pay attention to Sikaflex compounds , which will greatly simplify the process of attaching the hull to the deck and will help secure internal bulkheads, sills, coamings, and fenders. And even the connection of the keel with the rest of the hull can be done after careful preparation using highly elastic polyurethane adhesive Sikaflex-292.
Deck equipment and all types of equipment also need reliable fixation and protection of the connecting joint. And here Sikaflex-292 with its high performance characteristics is indispensable.
Sika company also produces compounds for fastening glass used in portholes and skylights.
Using Sika products is very easy. However, we must remember that the Sikaflex system requires a systematic approach - careful selection of means and precise execution of the sequence of operations, taking into account the properties of the materials to be joined. For advice, always contact the experts of the topRik marketplace.
Polychloroprene Adhesive
Polychloroprene is highly soluble and has a high level of adhesion, making it an excellent option for adhesive production. The strength of the seam is ensured by rapid crystallization without the participation of an accelerator or cross-linking additive, even at room temperature. This ensures the strength and preservation of the film for a long time, and a high curing speed. To ensure initial strength of 10-20%, the film is dried, activated by heating to 60-70°C, and the surfaces are pressed for a couple of minutes. The product is ready for use after half an hour.
Polychloroprene adhesives also include:
- solvent (auxiliary component: toluene, benzene, gasoline, ethyl acetate);
- resin (modifier);
- zinc and magnesium oxides (vulcanizers);
- isocyanate ("crosslinker");
- antioxidant that slows down aging;
- filler with corrective properties (soot, silicon dioxide, clay, calcium silicate).
Glue based on polychloroprene rubber is most often a translucent or opaque liquid of white, red, brown color with exposure for up to 20 minutes at a temperature of 20°C. There is no time limit for dry film. Porous materials are joined using a “wet” method (the solvent gradually moves into the material). For non-porous materials, the evaporation rate is important, which can be increased by heating and contact with low pressure.
To increase the strength of the seams, polychloroprene-based adhesive is vulcanized with a catalyst or by heating under a pressure of 0.3 MPa to a temperature of 80 °C. The consumption of the adhesive depends on the viscosity.
Properties of connections using polychloroprene adhesives:
- resistance to water, ethyl alcohol, lubricants, weak alkalis and acids, salt fog, acetone;
- operating temperature from -50 to +95 °C;
- resistance to vibrations, abrasion, shear, prolonged static loads;
- good gap filling;
- ability to withstand a constant load of 0.2 - 0.7 MPa.
Polychloroprene rubber adhesive is not suitable for gluing products that will be used near strong oxidizing agents, ketones, and chlorinated hydrocarbons. At temperatures above +95°C, destruction begins and by-products are released. This category of adhesives is not suitable for creating connections with a shear strength of 2 MPa or more.
The curing of the two-component adhesive is ensured by a catalytic reaction. The length of time to use after mixing depends on the ambient temperature. The properties of the compounds (resistance to hot water, chemicals, oxidation, ozone) differ little from rubber, elasticity remains at temperatures from 50 to +60°C.
Adhesive compositions made from natural or polychloroprene rubber belong to the contact category; most compositions are universal.
One-component contact adhesive based on polychloroprene rubber, suitable for:
- gluing thermoplastic, rubber, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride materials;
- gluing wood, chipboard, fiberboard, cardboard, foam rubber, foam;
- gluing plastics, steel and aluminum sheets, plywood, laminate, cork and ceramic coatings, fiberboard, linoleum to surfaces made of wood;
- gluing textiles, fabrics, cardboard, paper, glass, ceramics;
- gluing rubber to metal.
Two-part polychloroprene compounds are used to create seals that provide watertight seals to electrical and mechanical equipment.
Preparation of Surfaces Before Gluing with Polychloroprenes
The polychloroprene adhesive base requires careful preparation of materials; 80% of the strength of the joints depends on this. Dirt, dust, and peelings are removed from the surfaces and treated with a degreaser. All this must be done 12 hours before gluing.
The materials to be glued can be:
- homogeneous;
- homogeneous, needing additional porosity;
- not homogeneous.
The first option is the simplest, but is rare; incompatibility is eliminated by high-quality surface preparation (grinding, etching, primer treatment).
Polychloroprene adhesive rubbers are said to provide ease of use. No special skills are actually required, just read the instructions carefully. It describes the method of preparing materials, applying glue, joining parts, and curing conditions.
The marketplace offers a range of polychloroprene adhesives for various repair work and materials.
Epoxy Adhesive
This is a composite material based on epoxy resin, which, in combination with a hardener component, acquires unique strength and resistance to mechanical damage. Therefore, it is excellent for the production and repair of boats, yachts and other small vessels.
In small shipbuilding, epoxy material in combination with a reinforcing component is used to make fiberglass boats. The finished vessel becomes durable and wear-resistant. Therefore, such compositions are used for the production of sports yachts or high-tech parts.
More often, epoxy resin is used for repairs in the form of glue. The material allows you to strengthen the hull, eliminate minor defects or signs of wear of the vessel (cracks, pits), and improve waterproofing. The composition is suitable for gluing and impregnating boats with a wooden or plastic base. Epoxy adhesive is sometimes used to add mast or deck structure.
High-strength adhesives and protective coatings are made on the basis of epoxy composition. They provide powerful adhesion to various materials: wood, plastic, metal, glass, etc.
Epoxy adhesives for yachts and boats are characterized by the following advantages:
- mechanical resistance - the coating is difficult to scratch or unintentionally damage;
- hydrophobicity – epoxy adhesive for boats has a minimal coefficient of water absorption;
- chemical resistance to sea salt and petroleum products;
- does not conduct electric current - the most important property for materials that are constantly in contact with water;
- heat resistance - high and low temperatures will not cause repairs. At critical temperatures, adhesive joints and coatings do not crack or deform.
Depending on the type of hardener, cold and hot epoxy adhesives for yachts are distinguished. In the first case, the composition hardens at room temperature, and in the second, heating is required.
Acrylic Adhesive for Boats
Acrylic adhesives are compositions that, under certain conditions, are capable of polymerization and transformation into solid, plastic polymers to varying degrees. In all strength characteristics they are superior to epoxy and other sealants.
They are characterized by fast hardening speed, high adhesion to most materials, resistance to low and high temperatures, as well as chemical influences. In original packaging they have a long shelf life.
Since the beginning of production, acrylic adhesives have been mainly used in the military industry, in particular for the needs of aviation, warships and submarines. Now they are widely used in all areas of industry, including shipbuilding, as well as in everyday life.
All types of acrylic adhesives have a radical polymerization mechanism based on redox processes. At the same time, the launch of this mechanism differs and, depending on the method of polymerization, adhesive materials are divided into 2 groups - two-component and one-component.
Various types of acrylic adhesives are used for gluing almost all known materials, including difficult-to-glue materials. For example, some low-viscosity cyanoacrylate adhesive compositions are capable of gluing even “greasy” surfaces.
Advantages of Using Special Adhesives
In each of the sections for special adhesives, the advantages of each category are described in detail; here we highlight only the main ones, which are of particular importance for operation in sea (water) conditions:
- waterproof adhesives do not allow moisture to pass through;
- UV-resistant glue does not deform in the sun and does not change color;
- the strongest adhesive will ensure a reliable connection;
- elastic adhesives are excellent for decks and other parts of a yacht that are constantly subject to vibration.
How to Choose the Right Adhesive for a Boat
The choice of adhesive should begin with an assessment of the operating conditions and type of load. To obtain a high-quality result, it is necessary to select the correct adhesive, taking into account the differences in the expansion coefficients of the materials to be joined and the forces arising during operation.
You should know exactly the properties of the materials, because glue for wooden boats is not suitable for PVC boats, and glue for plastic is not suitable for an aluminum boat. Analyze the homogeneity or heterogeneity of the bonded surfaces. Read the instructions carefully to learn the features of the gluing technology.
Preparing and Applying Glue
Typically, the instructions for using the adhesive describe how to prepare the surfaces to be glued, as well as the method of applying the adhesive and the drying time.
For each type of adhesive, and even for each individual composition, these requirements can vary significantly. But we can highlight some general actions:
- cleaning the base from dust, dirt, traces of corrosion;
- degreasing the surface;
- sanding;
- applying primer if necessary.
When cleaning, use only lint-free wipes, changing them frequently.
After proper preparation and complete drying of the surface (except when the glue can be applied to a wet surface), glue is applied. The number of layers and drying time for each are specified in the instructions.
The steps may vary for different products. Some need to be applied to one of the surfaces, others to both, the exposure time is also different. To ensure proper quality of connections, pay attention to such nuances.