Adhesion Matters

How do you seal the most elusive molecule in the universe? In this episode of Adhesion Matters, we explore the unique role adhesives and sealants play in the hydrogen economy. From membrane–electrode assemblies (MEAs) in fuel cells to valves, pipelines, and high-pressure tanks, hydrogen’s small size creates extraordinary challenges: permeation, embrittlement, and cyclic fatigue.
We highlight sealant chemistries that can stand ...

Why must a medical adhesive stick—and then let go—without harming the skin?
 In this episode of Adhesion Matters, we dig into the science—and the sticky business—behind pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) designed for everything from surgical dressings and wearables to wound care patches. We compare key chemistries—silicones, acrylics, and hydrogels—and show how each serves specific medical purposes like temperature resistance,...

Welcome back to the Adhesion Matters podcast. How do adhesives survive salt spray, constant shock, and the world’s toughest fire standards?
In this episode, we dive into the unique challenges of marine and shipbuilding applications. From composite superstructures and deck bonding to corrosion-resistant sealing, adhesives are now replacing welds and rivets in some of the harshest environments on earth.

We highlight some epoxy ad...

Welcome back to Adhesion Matters. Adhesives have quietly evolved from simple bonders into indispensable, high-performance materials in PCB manufacturing—critical for thermal management, electrical performance, and environmental resilience.  In this episode, we explore how adhesives empower modern electronics: enabling miniaturization, supporting flexible and high-density circuits (think HDI and flex PCBs), and meeting rising demand...

In this episode of Adhesion Matters, we shine a light on one of aviation’s unsung heroes: adhesives. These advanced chemical formulations are increasingly replacing rivets and bolts in aircraft and spacecraft—but only when handled with meticulous quality control.

We explore why AS 9120 / EN 9120—a specialized quality management standard tailored for aerospace distributors—is critical to maintaining the integrity, traceability, and r...

In this episode of Adhesion Matters, we power up to explore adhesive bonding in wind turbine blades—unpacking the engineering breakthroughs, production hurdles, and future trends that are shaping blades for a sustainable energy future.

What You'll Learn:

• The Invisible Backbone of Blades
  Adhesives do far more than just ‘stick’—they bond complex components like shell halves and shear webs in massive blades (50–80 meters l...

In this episode of Adhesion Matters, we explore the urgent transition toward PFAS-free adhesives—a shift driven by environmental concerns, strict regulations, and growing public awareness.

What You’ll Learn:

• PFAS: The 'Forever Chemicals' You Don’t Want in Your Glue
  Once valued for exceptional resistance to water, heat, and chemicals, PFAS compounds are now under intense scrutiny for their persistence in the environ...

What if the future of electric vehicles, green buildings, even everyday packaging rested on something as deceptively simple as glue? In this episode of Adhesion Matters, we dive into the world of the Adhesive and Sealant Council (ASC)—the influential North American trade association quietly driving innovation, education, advocacy, and sustainability across the adhesives industry.

What You’ll Discover:

• The Industry Backbone
  F...

Welcome back to Adhesion Matters.  Ever stop to think what’s really holding your smartphone, car, or skyscraper together? This episode reveals the unsung heroes behind the adhesives that empower our modern world. We spotlight the top ten industry visionaries whose leadership is driving innovation, sustainability, and evolutionary change in adhesive technology.

What’s Inside:

• Meet the Movers & Shakers – From Henkel’s CEO, who’...

Ever watch a movie scene where a character rips off another face and thought, “How did they make that look so real?” In this episode, Adhesion Matters pulls back the curtain on the dazzling world of hyper-realistic silicone masks—think Mission: Impossible-level disguise magic.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Silicone: The Star of Cinematic Makeup
  Discover why silicone—thanks to its flexibility, strength, skin-like translu...

Have you ever paused to think about what holds those tiny, life-saving gadgets in place—like the adhesive on your wearable monitor or the seal inside a stent? In this episode, Adhesion Matters unpacks the quietly powerful role that adhesives play in medical device innovation.

Why This Episode Is Essential Listening

• Beyond “Just Glue”
  Modern medical-grade adhesives are highly engineered polymers—not just sticky substances. Th...

Welcome back to Adhesion Matters. Ever wondered if we could engineer glue so powerful it works underwater and endures tides? This episode dives into a wild, near-futuristic breakthrough that merges big data, bio-inspired chemistry, and machine learning to create a glue that’s practically unstoppable.

What you’ll discover:

• Evolution as a data source
  Imagine using sequences from adhesive proteins found in bacteria, fungi—even ...

You might not think about what holds our world together—but that invisible hero is adhesives. In this insightful episode, Adhesion Matters dives into how mergers and acquisitions have quietly transformed this foundational—and surprisingly dynamic—industry over the past fifty years.

What You’ll Discover:

• An Invisible Powerhouse in Plain Sight
  Learn why adhesives aren’t just sticky—they’re a multi-billion-dollar, fast-growing ...

Ever thought that hot glue sticks are just for crafts? Think again. In this episode of Adhesion Matters, we go beyond the DIY trope to uncover the industrial powerhouse behind Henkel’s TECHNOMELT® hot melt adhesives—and how they’re quietly revolutionizing modern manufacturing.

What You’ll Uncover:

• Beyond the Glue Stick
  Whether you're patching at the craft table or making millions of products, hot melt adhesives (HMAs) a...

What if one tiny cell could tip a whole EV battery into an uncontrollable blaze? In this high-voltage episode of Adhesion Matters, we expose the silent, high-stakes role adhesives play in preventing—and even containing—thermal runaway.

Inside the Episode:

• The Hidden Danger of EV Batteries
  Thermal runaway isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a real, rapid chain reaction where one cell overheats and ignites its neighbors. Learn just how...

What if I told you that something as seemingly simple as adhesive is reshaping the future of electric vehicles and sustainable manufacturing? In this episode of Adhesion Matters, we take a deep dive into how DuPont’s BETAFORCE™ adhesive line is quietly powering the next generation of ultra-light, high-performance, and eco-conscious vehicles.

What’s Inside:

• Not Just Sticky, Strategic
  BETAFORCE™ isn’t your average glue—it’s a ...

Can you imagine a luxury timepiece—sleek, precise, elegant—held together not just by screws or lugs, but by invisible champions: adhesives? In this episode of Adhesion Matters, we turn the spotlight on how modern adhesives have quietly become indispensable in both walk-your-line mechanical watches and cutting-edge smartwatches.

What’s Inside:

• From Shellac to Synthetics
  Explore how traditional binding agents like shellac once...

Imagine the most stunning zombie makeup, miniature spaceship models, or dramatic set pieces—and think about what actually keeps them together. In this Adhesion Matters episode, we dive into the secret art form of adhesives in Hollywood—where chemistry meets cinematic spectacle.

What You’ll Discover:

• From Ancient Bonding to Hollywood Innovation
  Learn how adhesives have evolved from basic organic glues used in ancient Egypt to...

What if the invisible gear behind your smartphone, EV battery, or medical patch was not software—but the precision adhesives that hold it all together? In this episode of Adhesion Matters, we explore the quietly powerful world of adhesive dispensing technology—a high-stakes, high-growth mechanical art form that’s reshaping modern manufacturing.

What You’ll Discover:

• An $37 Billion Market You Didn’t See Coming
  From 2024’s val...