Advances in structural silicone adhesives

This chapter presents the latest research on silicone structural adhesives. Beginning with a definition of structural adhesives, this chapter discusses chemical and physical properties of silicone adhesives that make them versatile and cost-effective solutions in a wide variety of applications. Developments in the chemistry and formulation of silicone adhesives are then reviewed. New content includes a working model for the physics of RTV cure including impact of relative humidity, temperature, and silane diffusion. Updates to silane adhesion promoter chemistry and conductive filler strategies have been made. Finally, the authors include a new section on designing with silicone elastomers, failure prediction, and FEA validation.