Adhesives
Below 100°C there are hundreds of adhesives which work. Between 100°C and 250°C certain silicones can be used. Above 250°C it becomes difficult. The biggest problem is the difference in thermal expansion between the materials to be glued. Metals expand more than ceramics. When gluing ceramic to metal, the adhesive generally works at high temperature and comes loose when the structure is cooled down. When gluing ceramic tiles to a steel shell, a blob of glue in the centre often works better than a continuous layer, as the thermal expansion mismatch is reduced over the smaller area.
Air setting glues cannot be used between two impervious surfaces. Heat setting glues are not strong until heated. Cold setting glues are supplied as powder and liquid.
Ceramic adhesives normally set hard and rigid. In some cases we can formulate pyroplastic glues which are partially molten at high temperature, but they generally lose volatiles in time and become rigid.
When in doubt, give us a full description of your application with regard to
What materials are to be glued?
Arrangements, e.g. ceramic inside a steel pipe.
Temperature
Thermal cycling
Must it be gas tight?
Shorten Glue is a very fine glue with a toothpaste consistency, supplied in mastic tubes, which can be injected into sub millimeter spaces over fair distances. Air setting.
High Temperature Fibre Glue is used from 1200°C to 1600°C.
Water Based High Temperature Tile Grout is for alumina wear resistant tiles at temperatures above 250°C. It can work up to 1600°C, but the steel shell is ruined long before that.
Kerastick is used for foundry moulds and ceramic fibre, and so is Core glue.
Brickstick is used for instant holding of heavy bricks upside down, mainly in construction of rotary kilns. The brick forced into position by a hydraulic ram, and stays in place. With conventional mortars, the bricks have to be held in place until the key is inserted.
In some applications mastics are used as adhesives. Kerasil Mastic is popular.
In other applications plasters are used, such as Keratuff 1 and Keratuff 2 .
For kiln bricks, repairing broken, lips Fibre Plaster is used.
Cold setting glues are used between impervious surfaces. Hardcast Fine is used by many thermocouple manufacturers. It sticks well to glass. Most chemical variations can be made based on Versimould technology. Phospatch fine can also be used. It’s unique property is that it is the only ceramic that sticks to copper.
Graphite glue is used to repair clay Graphite crucibles for melting zinc or aluminium.
We make a polystyrene glue, because solvent based adhesives destroy polystyrene. The trouble is you can’t hot wire cut it through the glue. We have lots of tricks for gluing various plastics and bonding ceramic to plastic.
Electricast Glue is used for joining electrical ceramic components.
Polystyrene Glue: A wholly inorganic glue, which sticks well to expanded polystyrene.
Water Based High Temperature Tile Grout
Description: A high density plastic alumina refractory. It has high strength and abrasion resistance and good adhesion generally.
Applications: Mainly used to glue alumina tiles into pipes which are to be used at high temperatures. The maximum service temperature is 1700°C.
Installation: Supplied as powder, to which +12 to+13% water must be added for a stiff putty consistency, or more water for a softer embedding consistency. Typically you place far too much in a corner between tiles, then push and wiggle the next tile into place as tightly as you can, pushing out a large amount of excess material. Scrape the excess material into the corner for the next tile. It sets in around 2 to 3 hours.
Colour: White
Maximum particle size: 1mm
Packaging: 25kg plastic bags
Project no. 1396
Fibre Plaster
Description:
Aluminosilicate ceramic fibre in plaster form, supplied wet ready to use. Very easily applied to any surface
Applications:
High temperature insulation
Heat shields
Burner cores
Chimneys
Thermal shock protection
Furnace hoods
Preheater lids
Ladle lids
High gas flow areas of fibre lined furnaces
Repair of cracks and joints
Protection of equipment
Protection of electrical cables
Upgrading of linings for thermal efficiency or faster cycle times.
Repair of broken element holding lips.
Sealing of kiln and furnace doors
Lightweight doors.
Properties:
Very low thermal conductivity; 0,2W/mK.
Electrically insulating,
Very low density; 1,3g/cm³ wet, 0,7g/cm³ fired.
Low shrinkage; normally 12% but all taken up in the thickness of the layer, therefore no cracks.
Extreme thermal shock resistance.
Very low thermal mass.
High reflectivity.
Low permeability compared to fibre blanket or modules.
High reflectivity.
Rapid commissioning.
Excellent adhesion to all surfaces.
Minimal anchoring required.
Chemical composition:
aluminosilicate 55%
Fe203 < 0,1%
Alkalis 0,27%
Volatiles 45%
Installation:
Fibre Plaster is supplied wet in well sealed plastic 10kg buckets. The wet density is normally 1,1g/cm³.
It can easily be thinned down with water or it ordered stiffer for tamping applications:
Onto brick; Blow dust off and trowel on.
Insulating firebrick or very porous surfaces; Rub a thin layer on very firmly before building up the profile.
Cables; No preparation required.
Ceramic fibre; Over fresh fibre, softening by water dilution usually helps.
Onto steel; Expanded metal, Mentex 72 or similar. Cut and bend a few strands backwards and tack them onto the steel so that the expanded metal sheet is about 5mm off the steel surface. Squeeze some Fibre Plaster through the mesh and then plaster over it to the desired thickness. Free standing structures; Use expanded metal as a skeleton.
Door seals; Plaster a narrow strip onto one surface, cover with fibre paper and close the door to press the Fibre Plaster into the exact thickness required.
Kerasil Mastic:
Kerasil mastic is supplied wet in mastic tubes, ready to use. It has a soft consistency and is almost fluid. It coats very well and easily to all surfaces, and sets very hard and strong. It sets rigid and permanent, and should therefore be used with discretion in moving structures. It can be injected deep into cracks and joints, without being sucked dry by the surrounding material.
As a brick mortar the soft consistency allows thin joints to be made. As a fibre module cement it gives a considerably larger contact area than normal mortars. Exposed surfaces normally become smooth and exhibit no cracking. A thin dry film develops rapidly on the exposed surface, so bonding should be performed quickly.
Kerasil mastic is 90% pure silica and can be used up to 1300°C. It is light brown when wet, and becomes almost white when fired.
Packaging is in mastic tubes, with a nozzle. The nozzle must be removed and the tip cut off. Then the tube is placed in a hardware store gun (as used for silicone sealants) and the nozzle replaced. Cut the nozzle for the appropriate size to insert in the crack or flange, and squirt it in.
Wash hands well after contact and apply a moisturising cream.
Setting is slow at ambient temperature and rapid at high temperature.
Shorten Glue:
An adhesive or sealant with extreme penetration properties. It was developed for anchoring wires in 2mm diameter ceramic tubes. It will penetrate a 1mm hole to a depth of at least 100mm.
Can be used as a mortar for ultra thin joints.
Chemistry: Alkaline aluminosilicate.
Maximum particle size: 0,3mm
Consistency: Soft paste with a low yield value but no flow without pressure. Similar to soft toothpaste.
Colour: Grey.
Set: Air setting, very hard.
Strength: Will break brick before breaking bond.
Packaging: Mastic tubes, 540grams, like hardware store silicone sealer. Boxes of 15 tubes.
Shelf life: About 8 months.
Development no. 16929.
Graphite Glue
Description: A glue for repairing clay-graphite crucibles.
Application: Mix powder and resin to desired consistency. Apply to both surfaces, rubbing it in well. Stick the surfaces together as tight as you can. Smear a thin layer over the joint. Allow to cure for 24 hours or heat it up to speed up hardening.
Maximum service temperature: 1000°C exposed to air, higher under reducing conditions or covered by non-ferrous metals.
Repair is very effective for low temperature metals, for aluminium it should be used in conjunction with scrim and Alusmear.
Not recommended for use over 900°C
Development no.1300
High Temperature Fibre Glue
An extremely dense glue for bonding ceramic fibre and fibre board at high temperatures, or for protective coating.
Density: wet: 2,75/cm3.
Color: White.
Shrinkage: not measurable.
Set: heat setting.
Packing : supplied wet in plastic buckets, any quantity.
Shelf life: 12 months
Development no. 33024
Electricast Glue
A glue with extremely low electrical conductivity, based on zirconium silicate.
Mix 100 weight parts powder with 12 weight parts water.
It will appear to be far too dry. Carry on mixing for 2 minutes and it will become a soft, VERY STICKY paste. Place on the bonding surface and squeeze the parts together. It grips in seconds.
Wet material must be used within half an hour. Make small batches, 1kg maximum, otherwise hand mixing is difficult. Full chemical set takes about 24 hours.
Development no. 77038
Polystyrene Glue
A wholly inorganic glue, water based, which sticks well to expanded polystyrene.
It sets without having to dry in air. It comes in two parts; powder and liquid binder.
Mix the two to any consistency from putty to pourable and it will still set in about an hour or two.
Note; After gluing, you can no longer hot wire cut through it.
It can also be used for hardening the surface of expanded polystyrene. On its own it cracks a bit and pulls the polystyrene, so use it in fiberglass, membrane, scrim or geotextile for high strength.
Development no. 66488