Either way, you want to learn more about this adhesive. The good, the bad, and everything in between. You want to know more about Formoa 2-30 IQ.
Here at Forgeway, we manufacture industrial adhesives including Formoa 2-30 IQ. We've been helping industrial manufacturers with their adhesive and sealant challenges for 30 years.
In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about Formoa 2-30 IQ. If you're worried we are being biased (as it is our product), we also asked our customers for their feedback on the product.
By the end of the article, you will know the most important features of Formoa 2-30 IQ.
What is Formoa 2-30 IQ?
Formoa 2-30 IQ is a two-component (2K) Hybrid Polymer adhesive. Typical Hybrid Polymer adhesives will only have one component as they cure by moisture in the air.
The second component for Formoa 2-30 IQ is a booster system that contains moisture (and other elements) to help speed the curing process. Regarding performance, Formoa 2-30 IQ has all the existing benefits of a single-component (1K) Hybrid Polymer adhesive. We will discuss performance later in the article.
Due to the 2K nature of this product, it requires specialist dual-component cartridges and mixer nozzles. The cartridges can come in varying sizes from 250ml up to 490ml. Bulk options are also available.
Formoa 2-30 IQ is a Hybrid Polymer adhesive. Just with faster cure speed.
What are the advantages of Formoa 2-30 IQ?
Now that you have a base understanding of Formoa 2-30 IQ, it's time to look at some of the advantages of using this product. You can typically find this out by reading the datasheet. However, it isn't always clear which characteristics benefit from a TDS.
Formoa 2-30 IQ has a fast curing speed
The obvious and most significant advantage of using this two-component Formoa is the increased cure speed. Typically, Hybrid Polymer adhesives are slow curing. They rely on moisture in the air to trigger the chemical reaction needed to cure.
The moisture can take a long time to go through the adhesive bead and fully cure. This is particularly the case when the bead is larger.
The moisture in the second component mixes into the entire bead. This ensures that the entire bead can cure at the same rate. The graph below shows how much faster the Formoa 2-30 IQ cures than a very similar product that is single component.
Typically, Formoa 2-30 IQ will reach handling strength in around 90 minutes. A single-component version that has similar performance will take more than 6 hours to reach handling strength.
Formoa 2-30 IQ cures 4x as fast as a 1K alternative.
Formoa 2-30 IQ cures more consistently
1K Hybrid Polymer adhesives aren't just slower curing, they can also be inconsistent. The requirement for moisture in the air to initiate curing can cause the cure time to fluctuate.
Where there is a larger bead or lack of moisture in the air, the 1K adhesive can take much longer to cure. Temperature can also affect the cure time of 1K Hybrid Polymer adhesives.
However, as the moisture is mixed into Formoa 2-30 IQ when applied, you won't see such inconsistency. You can be sure that it will almost always cure at the same speed. This consistency is a significant advantage over its single-component counterparts.
Formoa 2-30 IQ has minimal hazard concerns
Maybe it's biased to compare Formoa 2-30 IQ against 1K adhesives. It's perhaps more appropriate to compare it against other 2K products. Whilst there are performance differences compared to traditional 2K structural adhesives (more on that later), Formoa 2-30 IQ has significantly fewer hazard concerns.
Typically, two-component products will have significant hazard labelling. Not only is this a challenge for health and safety departments to approve, but it can also present shipping issues.
Formoa 2-30 IQ will not present such challenges due to the Hybrid Polymer base chemistry. Hybrid Polymer adhesives have very few hazardous ingredients.
This means you will not face the same shipping or health & safety challenges that you would with similar 2K products.
What are the disadvantages of Formoa 2-30 IQ?
You will know that nothing is perfect. We truly believe Formoa 2-30 IQ is a fantastic product. We wouldn't be selling it otherwise. However, here are some of the characteristics you should be aware of regarding the product.
Structural adhesives have higher performance than Formoa 2-30 IQ
Whilst Formoa 2-30 IQ has an added component, it is still a Hybrid Polymer adhesive at the end of the day. Hybrid Polymer-based adhesives are not able to match the same performance levels of structural adhesives.
A structural acrylic or epoxy adhesive could comfortably have 10x the strength of Formoa 2-30 IQ. It may seem like a no-brainer to go with a higher-performing structural adhesive.
However, strength is rarely the most important feature in a bonded joint. Other characteristics like flexibility, adhesion compatibility, and durability are equally important when ensuring a strong bond.
It's important to understand what strength requirements you are going to need before choosing an adhesive. That way you can make sure the adhesive is going to be in the right ballpark.
If you will need a higher strength adhesive, you can look towards using a 2K structural adhesive.
Formoa 2-30 IQ is more reliant on operators to apply correctly
One of the main reasons companies like to use 1K products instead of their two-component counterparts is the ease of use. You won't have to mix 1K products on-site. The manufacturer is responsible for ensuring they have mixed the product correctly.
2 component products will need you to mix them correctly to ensure they cure. They are reliant on both components to ensure a quick and effective cure.
The added requirement for mixing the two components can cause consistency issues. Humans aren't perfect. We all make mistakes. If the operator doesn't follow the correct process, it will impact quality.
The two-component nature of Formoa 2-30 IQ can create consistency challenges. Using this product is more reliant on operators getting things right. Typically, single-component versions are much easier to use.
Formoa 2-30 IQ can require specialist application equipment
The two-component cartridge of Formoa 2-30 IQ will also require specialist application equipment. It's very different to the 1K cartridge applications.
This specialist equipment can be a lot more expensive than traditional cartridge guns. Formoa 2-30 IQ also has a high viscosity compared to other 2K adhesives.
This high viscosity makes it difficult to use with a manual applicator. Prolonged use will almost always require the use of a pneumatic or electric applicator gun.
What should you consider when selecting an adhesive?
Now you have a better idea of Formoa 2-30 IQ. You have read the article and understand what the product is and some pros and cons. It's now time to look at your application. Do you have the right adhesive product?
We often get asked this question here at Forgeway. As adhesive manufacturers, we will give our opinion on which product we think will (and won't) work for you.
When it comes to selecting an adhesive - whether it's Formoa 2-30 IQ or not - it's important to understand your application and requirements fully before looking at an adhesive product.
If you want one of our bonding experts to help you with your application, you can reach out or click the banner in the top right corner.
However, if you want to research yourself, you can click on the button below to take you to an article. It will help you understand what you need to consider before selecting an adhesive.