Page 47 - Handbook of Adhesives and Sealants

An Introduction to Adhesives and Sealants 17

aging infrastructure. The transportation equipment market has grown
due to the increased production of more fuel efficient, quieter riding
cars. Like the adhesives market, the industrial sealants market is
fragmented among a multitude of applications and industries.

1.3.4 Adhesive and sealant industries
The industries that are most influenced by adhesives and sealants
consist of four main categories:

1. Base material producers including resins, mineral fillers, extend-
ers, etc.
2. Formulators who take the base materials and combine, process,
and package them into adhesive and sealant systems that provide
various levels of performance
3. End-users who take the packaged adhesives and sealants and pro-
duce assembled products
4. Associated industries such as equipment manufacturers, testing
laboratories, consultants, etc.

The base material producers are usually large chemical or material
companies that manufacture materials for broader markets such as
petrochemicals or plastics. When demand warrants, they will produce
materials specifically for the adhesive and sealant formulators.
The formulators can range from very small business with several
employees, addressing small niche markets, to large international
companies with several hundred products. Both small and large for-
mulators are generally willing to modify a formulation if they believe
that it will improve performance, production efficiency, or add some
other value. However, a minimum volume is usually necessary before
formulators will make modifications to a standard formulation or de-
velop a new product for a specific application. Formulators have a sig-
nificant knowledge base regarding adhesive or sealant systems and
how they are to be applied in practice.
The end-user usually purchases its adhesive from a formulator,
rather than produce it internally. It is increasingly difficult for an end-
user to keep up with the continuing technological changes. Therefore,
it is often best left to the specialized formulator. The end-user, how-
ever, must select the proper adhesive or sealant, substrate, joint de-
sign, and processing conditions for specific applications. Once these
are selected and verified as to performance and cost, the end-user
must be vigilant that none of the processes, materials, or other rele-
vant factors change.