Product Name
PLEXUS MA830 - 490ml 10:1 Ratio Cartridge Two-part Methacrylate Adhesive
Brief Description
Plexus MA830 is a two-part, gray methacrylate structural adhesive engineered for high-strength bonding of metals, thermoplastics, and composite assemblies. This adhesive features a 10:1 mix ratio and cures rapidly at room temperature, often requiring little to no surface preparation. It provides a unique combination of high strength, excellent fatigue endurance, outstanding impact resistance, and superior toughness.
Popular Applications & Uses
- Structural bonding of various metals, including aluminum, stainless steel, raw steel, and powder-coated or e-coated metals.- Adhering thermoplastics such as ABS, acrylics, PBT, polycarbonate, rigid PVC, and TPU.- Joining composite assemblies like DCPD, FRP, gelcoat, phenolics, epoxy-based composites, and RIM.- Replacing mechanical fasteners and welding in diverse manufacturing and assembly processes.- Bonding panels, brackets, and structural components in the automotive, marine, and transportation sectors.- Manufacturing of wind blades, turbine housing assemblies, and lightning suppression systems in the energy industry.- Bonding solid-surface materials for countertops and worktops.- Assembly of signage and display elements.
Industries that Commonly Use It
- Aerospace/Defense- Automotive Service/Repair- Construction/ Building Services- Countertop- Energy (specifically wind energy)- Fabrication (including Metal Fabrication and Plastic Fabrication)- General Manufacturing- Marine- Sign & Display- Transportation/ Specialty Vehicle
Special and Unique Features
- Offers primerless adhesion to many metals, most thermoplastics, and composites.- Provides a rapid cure time, achieving workability within 4 to 6 minutes and approximately 75% of ultimate strength in 15 to 25 minutes.- Exhibits excellent fatigue endurance, outstanding impact resistance, and superior toughness.- Capable of bonding dissimilar materials effectively, such as metal to plastic or composites.- Features good gap-filling capability, accommodating irregular surfaces or high tolerance fits.- Demonstrates good environmental resistance, including resilience to temperature swings, vibration, and various chemicals.- Helps reduce labor and can eliminate the need for mechanical fasteners or welding, resulting in a cleaner finish and lighter products.- Supplied as a non-sagging gel for ease of application.
Key Properties
- Chemistry: Two-part Methacrylate (MMA) adhesive- Mix Ratio: 10:1- Color: Gray- Working Time: 4 to 6 minutes- Fixture Time (75% ultimate strength): 15 to 25 minutes at 74°F (23°C)- Shear Strength: 2,000-2,800 psi (13.8 – 19.3 MPa)- Tensile Strength: 3,200-3,800 psi (22.0 – 26.2 MPa)- Tensile Elongation: 30 - 60%- Operating Temperature Range: -40°F to +180°F (-40°C to +82°C)- Shelf Life: Adhesive (Part A) 13 months, Activator (Part B) 10 months, Cartridges 10 months (stored between 54°F (12°C) and 74°F (23°C))
Surface Compatibility
- Metals: Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Raw Steel, Carbon Steel, Galvanneal, Galvalume, Powder-coated metals, E-coated metals.- Thermoplastics: ABS/ABS Blends, Acrylics, PBT, Polycarbonate, Rigid PVC, TPU, Styrenics, Urethanes.- Composites: DCPD, FRP, Gelcoat, Phenolics, Epoxy Based Composites, RIM, Vinyl Esters, Polyesters.- Other: Generally compatible with glass and wood, common for MMA adhesives.
Known backups / known substitutes
- Other Plexus methacrylate adhesives: Plexus MA832, MA920, MA2230, MA2245, MA8210, MA205HV, MA2015, MA2030, MA422, MA425, MA420, MA420FS, MA550, MA590, MA8110.- Other brands of methacrylate adhesives (MMAs): 3M, American Sealants (ASI MMA), Araldite, Devcon (e.g., Plastic Welder), Infinity Bond (e.g., MMA 300, MMA 310, MMA 500), LOCTITE (Acrylics), LORD, Permabond, SCIGRIP, Sika (SikaFast), Weld-On.- Epoxy Adhesives (Note: MMAs generally offer greater flexibility, toughness, faster cure, and better gap-filling).- Polyurethane Adhesives (Note: MMAs are often easier to use in fast-paced environments and tolerate mix inaccuracies better).
Comparison Note
Plexus MA830, as a methacrylate adhesive, offers significant advantages over traditional mechanical fasteners (screws, rivets) by distributing stress evenly, reducing weight, resisting corrosion, and providing a cleaner finish. Compared to epoxy adhesives, MA830 provides greater flexibility, toughness, and impact resistance, making it less brittle. It also boasts faster cure times, better gap-filling capabilities, and requires minimal surface preparation, bonding a wider range of materials, including many plastics that epoxies struggle with. While some MMAs can have a strong odor and are flammable, Plexus MA830's rapid cure and robust performance make it a preferred choice for demanding structural bonding applications.
