SubscriberI have a plastic GPS tag that’s about 75% the size of a deck of cards. We manufacture it. I want to adhere it to a metal bucket used on a construction excavator. I am looking for an adhesive that can both encase the entire GPS tag to protect it from impact and weather, but also adhere it permanently to the backside of a bucket that will be actively digging. Basically I want a glue like material that can cover the tag and adhere it at the same time, so likely some flexibility will be needed. Needs to be UV stable as it will be outside permanently. Looking for a 5 year life.
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Timfrank
Community Member
Thank you. How strong is the adhesive, and if I pour either in a mold with the GPS tag inside, will it cure all the way thru (time to cure?) and will gravity smooth it out flat?
304
John Merchant
3M Application Engineer
Hi Timfrank,
3M™ Scotch-Weld™ Epoxy Adhesive 2216 is our go-to potting adhesive. It’s a flexible epoxy that should adhere well to typical construction vehicle paints/coatings. Another option for potting/encasing is 3M™ Scotch-Weld™ Epoxy Adhesive DP125. DP125 is also a flexible epoxy, but it has a lower viscosity which could be useful if 2216 is too thick for your application. Let me know if you have additional questions.
Both will cure all the way through. Because they are two part adhesives, everything they need to cure (Base and Accelerator) is mixed throughout the bulk of the mold.
2216 Gray has a handling time of about 8-12 hours at which point you should be able to remove the mold. DP125 has a handling time of about 2.5 hours.
Both will flow and smooth out flat although DP125 is lower viscosity. Both have a nominal shear strength over 1,000 psi although the actual strength is highly dependent on the surface it is adhering to. You can get a feel for the expected strength by reviewing substrate OLS values on the data sheets:
https://3m.citrination.com/pif/000157?locale=en-US (2216)
https://3m.citrination.com/pif/000928?locale=en-US (DP215)