3M™ Scotch-Weld™ Structural Adhesive Film AF 46

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3M™ Scotch-Weld™ Structural Adhesive Film AF 46 is a thermosetting epoxy film adhesive that provides excellent adhesion to metal and glass. It is lightweight, low tack and has easy-to-use shop handling properties. This 1.0 mil thick film has flexible cure cycles and a high degree of film clarity when in contact with a solid surface. To achieve adhesion, relatively low bonding pressures may be used. With high shear, peel and cleavage strengths over a wide temperature range, AF 46 offers reliable, long-term durability and helps meet specific challenges for metal and glass bonded structures.

This heat-curing, easy handling film is designed to meet numerous customer specs in aerospace manufacturing. AF 46 supplies high shear, peel and cleavage strengths over a wide temperature range through a spectrum of environmental conditions. Once cured, it provides excellent bond strength from -67°F to 350°F (-55°C to 175°C) for use in multiple environments.

What is Structural Adhesive Film?
The fewer rivets you have in your aircraft the better. Structural adhesive films enable the designer to get more innovative with their parts, and reduce the overall number of rivets required on your structure. This thermosetting modified epoxy in film form can be used for bonding substrates, including metal and glass. In general, structural adhesive films come in a variety of weights and thicknesses to minimize the weight while maintaining the structural integrity. AF 46 is a 1.0 mil thick version of 3M™ Scotch-Weld™ Structural Adhesive Film AF 42, which is available in varying weights and thicknesses.

Because these films are less messy and don’t required mixing, they offer efficiencies in the design process. They are easier to use for glass bonding and metal bonding than typical paste adhesives.