Robust Bonding for Demanding Environments: Araldite® AV 138M-1 / Hardener HV 998-1 Structural Adhesive Solution

Heavy industrial equipment, shipbuilding, chemical pipelines, rail transit, and outdoor metal structural bonding & repair.

In many industrial applications, bonded joints must withstand significant static and dynamic loads while maintaining long-term stability in harsh environments involving high temperatures, humidity, or chemical exposure. Traditional joining methods (e.g., welding or bolting) often have limitations when bonding dissimilar materials (such as metal to ceramic or metal to plastic) and can create stress concentrations. Customers urgently need a high-strength structural adhesive that cures at ambient temperature without complex heating equipment and offers exceptional chemical and heat resistance.

The Araldite® AV 138M-1 epoxy resin combined with Hardener HV 998-1, offered by Huntsman, is a two-component, room-temperature curing epoxy structural adhesive specifically engineered for demanding industrial environments.

• Superior Heat & Chemical Resistance: The system exhibits excellent comprehensive performance after curing, with a temperature resistance of up to 140°C. TDS data shows that even after immersion in various chemical media (acids, alkalis, oils) for up to 90 days, it retains high lap shear strength, making it ideal for chemical or marine applications.
• Thixotropic Paste, Sag-Resistant: The product features excellent thixotropy and a high-filled paste viscosity. This characteristic prevents sagging or slumping when applied to vertical or overhead surfaces, easily filling gaps of 0.05 to 0.10 mm and ensuring uniform adhesive layers.
• Ambient Cure, Easy Processing: No expensive heating equipment or autoclaves are required. The adhesive cures at room temperature after simple mixing. According to TDS, the pot life is approximately 30 minutes (for 100g at 25°C), providing ample time for complex assembly operations.
• High Strength & Versatility: The adhesive delivers exceptional bond strength to a wide variety of substrates, including steel, aluminum, ceramics, glass, and rigid plastics. After curing for 16 hours at 40°C, it achieves very high tensile lap shear strength, compliant with ISO 4587 standards.
• Rapid Development of Handling Strength: As per typical data in the TDS, a shear strength of 1 MPa can be achieved in just 20 minutes at 60°C, suitable for repair or production scenarios requiring fast turnaround.

By combining "high-temperature resistance, chemical resistance, and excellent thixotropy," Araldite® AV 138M-1 / Hardener HV 998-1 has become an ideal choice for replacing traditional mechanical fastening and achieving reliable bonding of dissimilar materials.