R.D. Abbott Company, Inc., a North American full service supplier of rubber materials used in compounding and fabrication, has signed an agreement with diversified technology and manufacturing company Lord Corporation to distribute the latter’s In-Mold Bonding (IMB) adhesives in the US, Canada and Mexico.
The In-Mold Bonding-branded adhesive product line effectively bonds platinum-cured liquid silicone rubber (LSR) to other various substrates like silicone and thermoplastic moulded parts, aluminum, steel, magnesium and glass directly during an injection or compression moulding process.
The adhesives reduce secondary operations like plasma treatments and other complex surface preparation steps. The new technology increases throughput and can save manufacturers considerable time and expense, said R.D. Abbott.
The technology is best suited for cell phone cases, wearable technology, consumer products, handles and grips, electrical connectors, and critical automotive and aerospace components.
“Throughout our 68-year partnership with Lord Corp., R.D. Abbott has remained a collaborative ally grounded in reliable materials, quality service and operational excellence,” Scott Kearns, RDA’s chief operating officer, said in a statement. “We are grateful for this new opportunity and are confident in our ability to advance their market share and to discover innovative applications for their IMB adhesives.”
R.D. Abbott is a full-service distributor that has been serving the rubber industry since 1948 with elastomeric polymers, rubber chemicals, fillers, bonding agents and testing equipment.
Lord Corp. produces adhesives, coatings, motion management devices and sensing technologies. It has a presence in 26 countries, including 19 manufacturing facilities and 10 research and development centers.