In the high-speed, high-stress world of the America’s Cup, keeping the beast in one piece is clearly a big challenge. Structural attachments that require an adhesive bond need a strong yet also toughened epoxy adhesive to transmit loads between components. Achieving both strength and toughness can be tricky. The Pro-Set ADV- 176/276 super-toughened epoxy adhesive, from Wessex Resins and Adhesives, delivers just this.
‘It might be good to have a very strong bond but you don’t want one which just lets go without any warning,’ says Ineos Team UK’s manufacturing manager Michel Marie.
Over the years, as resins have been developed to be tougher, they have also needed to be more flexible so they can withstand a certain amount of displacement without breaking the bond. Read on.
