Selecting Adhesives for Strain Gauge Installation Selecting Adhesives for Strain Gauge Installation | HBM

Task and Function of the Bonding Material

The bonding materials have the task of firmly attaching the strain gauge to the measured object’s surface and transferring the object’s deformation without loss to the strain gauge. The various conditions, influences, and application options, require different bonding materials and installation methods. Bonding is the most important factor.

The particular advantages of this connection method, with regard to strain gauge installations, are as follows:

  • The possibility of connecting different materials, even dissimilar ones. The connection is implemented at room temperature or higher temperatures, depending on the type of adhesive.
  • It has no influence on the materials which are to be connected (however, some restrictions may apply for plastics).
  • Chemically-hardening adhesives (these are only still used in strain gauge technology) are characterized by low moisture absorption rates.
  • Control of working speed through the selection of different adhesive types or curing conditions (hot or cold curing).
  • Higher specific electrical resistance contributes to higher insulation resistance between the strain gauge and the component.

Types of Bonding Materials

Both the working conditions at the installation site, and the various requirements for the bonding material performance, particularly in regard to the operating temperature, have led to the availability of various types of bonding materials. Bonding materials can be differentiated as follows regarding the application technology.

1. Cold-curing Adhesive

These can be easily applied and do not require much effort. There are single-component adhesives that start curing with appropriate humidity as well as two-component adhesives that must be mixed before application. Adhesive with very short reaction times are also called “superglues”. They are applied preferably in experimental tests.

2. Hot-curing Adhesives

These adhesives can only be used if the test object can be brought to the required curing temperature. This is generally possible in transducers manufacturing, but also where strain gauges can be installed before machine assembly, or where parts can be dismounted for strain gauge installation. In contrast to a cold-curing adhesive, the hot-curing adhesive offers a wider application range at higher temperatures, and is suitable for meeting the generally higher accuracy requirements in transducer production.

Select the Correct Glue for Your Strain Gauge

Important Information

It is essential not to use any adhesive other than the recommended one. Strain gauge adhesives must fulfill different requirements than general adhesives. This is why they are generally based on special developments or modifications of commercial adhesives. The simple adherence of a strain gauge to an object is not a sufficient criterion to evaluate the adhesive’s suitability for measurement purposes, it must also ensure the object’s strain’s faultless transmission. This requires more in-depth investigations (strain gauge tests according to VDI/VDE 2635 or comparable standards automatically include the adhesive).

Useful Temperature Range for Bonding Materials

Bonding material (adhesive)
Main application areas
Material
Useful temperature range (approx.) for zero-point related1) and for non zero-point2) related measurements3)
No. of components
X60, cold-curing (superglue)Experimental testMethacrylate1) -200°C …+60°C
[-328°F …+140°F]
2
2)-200°C …+60°C
[-328°F …+140°F]
Z70, cold-curing (superglue)Experimental test, transducer manufacturing with lower accuracy requirementsCyanoacrylate1)-55°C …+100°C
[-67°F …+212°F]
1
2)-70°C …+120°C
[-94°F …+248°F]
X280, cold-curing Experimental test Epoxy resin 1)-200°C …+200°C
[-328°F …+392°F]
2
2)-200°C …+280°C
[-328°F …+536°F]
EP70, hot-curing Experimental tests at elevated temperature range Epoxy resin 1)-40°C …+70°C
[-104°F …+158°F]
2
2)-40°C …+70°C
[-104°F …+158°F]
EP310N, hot-curing Experimental tests at elevated temperature range, transducer manufacturing Epoxy resin 1)-269°C …+260°C
[-454°F …+500°F]
2
2)-269°C …+310°C
[-454°F …+590°F]
P250/P250-R, hot-curingTransducer manufacturingPhenolic resin1)-196°C …+250°C
[-320°F …+482°F]
1
2) -196°C …+250°C
[-320°F …+482°F]
P250 Stick-on, hot-curingTransducer manufacturingPhenolic resin1)-196°C …+250°C
[-320°F …+482°F]
-  
2) -196°C …+250°C
[-320°F …+482°F]
DP490, cold-curingExperimental TestEpoxy resin 1)-55°C …+120°C
[-131°F …+248°F]
2  
2) -55°C …+120°C
[-131°F …+248°F]

1)With zero-point related measurement, the measured values are referenced to the zero point (usually static measurements).

2) With non zero-point related measurement, the zero point can fluctuate, only the dynamic part is important (dynamic measurement).

3) The specified temperature limits are fluid and depend on strain gauges being used, on the expected measurement accuracy and on the curing process.

 

Bonding material (adhesive)
Pot Life
Curing conditions
Suitable for strain gauges in series
Temp. 
Time 
Contact pressure
Y, C, M, D
G
A, U
E
X60,
cold-curing (superglue)
3 … 5 min0°C [32°F]
20°C [68°F]
35°C [95°F]
60 min
10 min
2 min
Thumb pressureooo
Z70,
cold-curing (superglue)
-5°C [41°F]
20°C [68°F]
30°C [86°F]
10 min
1 min
0.5 min
Thumb pressureoooo
X280,
cold-curing
30 min20°C [68°F]
65°C [149°F]
95°C [203°F]
8 h
2 h
1 h
0.05 … 2 N/mm2

o

o

EP70,
hot-curing
2 hours60°C [320°F]3 hcontact pressureB Series
EP310N,
hot-curing
4 weeks150°C [302°F]
180°C [356°F]
200°C [392°F]
3 h
1 h
0.5 h
0.1 … 0.5 N/mm2

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P250/P250-R,
hot-curing
Unlimited140°C [284°F]
160°C [320°F]
190°C [374°F] 
4 h
3 h
1 h
10 – 50 N /cm²
P250 Stick-on,
hot-curing
 -140°C [284°F]
160°C [320°F]
190°C [374°F] 
4 h
3 h
1 h
10 – 50 N /cm²

 •

 •

 • 

DP490,
hot-curing
12 months20°C [68°F] 
30°C [86°F] 
40°C [104°F] 
10 h
20 h
40 h
contact pressure

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•  Optimal combination of strain gauge and bonding material

o  Suitable, but sacrificing a part of the strain gauge or bonding material temperature range

–  Unsuitable combination