Gain Technical Insights into Advanced Adhesive Formulations
We specialize in analyzing adhesive products across various industries—identifying every component, quantifying key ingredients, and assisting in independent development, optimisation, or compliant reformulation. Whether you’re developing a new product, troubleshooting performance issues, or aiming to surpass market leaders, we’re here to support you.
- Identify all key components — including base polymers, plasticisers, tackifiers, and curing agents — through advanced analytical techniques.
- Understand how the formula works by revealing the role of each ingredient in adhesion strength, flexibility, durability, or curing behavior.
- We specialize in analyzing adhesive products across various industries—identifying every component, quantifying key ingredients, and assisting in independent development, optimisation, or compliant reformulation. Whether you're developing a new product, troubleshooting performance issues, or aiming to surpass market leaders, we're here to support you.
What We Can Analyse
Polymer Base Identification
We identify the fundamental polymer type in your adhesive—whether it’s acrylic, epoxy, polyurethane, silicone, or others. This helps define the adhesive’s core properties such as bonding strength, flexibility, and thermal resistance, and is essential for independent development or reformulation.
Additive Profiling
Our analysis detects and quantifies key additives such as plasticisers (for flexibility), tackifiers (for initial stickiness), fillers (for body or cost reduction), and stabilisers (for long-term durability). Understanding the additive system helps in improving product balance and targeting application-specific needs.
Curing Agents & Accelerators
We determine the types and ratios of curing systems, including amines, isocyanates, peroxides, or UV/thermal initiators. This insight is critical for controlling curing speed, final mechanical properties, and compatibility with different substrates or application methods.
Solvent Systems
Whether the product is solvent-based, waterborne, or solvent-free, we identify the solvents and diluents used — including VOC content, evaporation rate, and environmental impact. This information is essential for reformulation under regulatory limits or improving application performance.
Performance Metrics
We test physical parameters such as viscosity (flow behavior), adhesion strength (shear, peel, tensile), working time, and curing time. These are key for quality control and for ensuring the adhesive performs as expected in real-world conditions.
Degradation Analysis
We assess the adhesive’s resistance to heat, UV light, oxidation, and chemical attack through accelerated ageing tests (e.g., thermal cycling, TGA, UV chamber). This helps predict long-term stability and identify potential failure modes in demanding environments.
Industries We Serve
Our advanced adhesive testing and compositional analysis services support a wide range of industries — from construction to electronics — where bonding strength, curing behavior, and material compatibility are critical to product performance. We assist manufacturers and R&D teams working with:
- Automotive — Structural adhesives, glass bonding, noise/vibration dampening
- Construction — Tile adhesives, sealants, expansion joint fillers, waterproofing
- Electronics — Thermal interface materials, encapsulants, conductive adhesives
- Packaging — Hot-melt adhesives, pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSA), laminating glues
- Medical Devices — Biocompatible adhesives, wound closure, dental bonding
- Consumer Products — DIY glues, craft adhesives, fast-setting repair products
Advanced Compositional Analysis
We provide in-depth compositional analysis services for adhesive products across industries. Our chemists deconstruct complex formulations to identify all key components — from the polymer base and curing system to fillers, plasticisers, tackifiers, and specialty additives.
By combining multiple analytical techniques, we not only determine what’s inside, but also how each component contributes to the product’s bonding strength, flexibility, cure profile, and durability. Whether you want to validate your R&D benchmark or address cost and performance challenges while ensuring regulatory compliance and managing technical risk.
- Comprehensive Deconstruction：Identify and quantify all components
- Functional Analysis：Understand the role of each ingredient
- Performance Benchmarking: Compare Against Industry and Efficacy Standards
- Optimisation Strategies：Enhance performance, reduce costs
- Regulatory Compliance：Ensure formulations meet industry standards
- Formulation Innovation: R&D Support for Novel Product Development
Typical Testing Scenarios
Our adhesive analysis and formulation services address real-world challenges across production, R&D, and quality control. Whether you’re optimising a product’s performance or solving a failure issue, here are some common scenarios where Labsure can help:
Product Performance Benchmarking: Need to achieve specific high-performance metrics? We perform Advanced Compositional Analysis to establish key technical parameters and inform the development of an optimized formula.
Adhesion Failure or Weak Bonding: Experiencing low peel or shear strength, or failure under load? We investigate the root cause — including improper curing, substrate incompatibility, or formulation imbalance.
Curing Issues (Too Fast, Too Slow, Incomplete): If your product isn’t curing as expected, we analyse initiators, catalysts, and environmental factors to fine-tune the formulation for consistent setting behavior.
Cost Reduction Through Formulation Optimization: Looking to reduce costs without compromising performance? We identify expensive or over-specified ingredients and suggest substitutes to optimize the formula.
Regulatory Compliance or Ingredient Replacement: Facing restrictions on hazardous solvents, VOCs, or heavy metals? We help you identify and replace banned or high-risk components with safer, compliant alternatives.
New Supplier Qualification: Switched suppliers or raw materials? We verify chemical consistency, performance compatibility, and potential impacts on adhesion and curing.
Batch Inconsistency or Quality Fluctuation: Experiencing unstable product quality across batches? We help you trace ingredient variability, contamination, or production issues affecting end performance.
Custom Adhesive Development Support: Have unique bonding needs for a niche application? We work with your team to develop and validate tailored adhesive systems from lab to pilot scale.
Our Expertise
Adhesive Innovation Unlocked — Real-World Formulation Breakthroughs from Australian SMEs
Facing pressure from global competitors and demanding end-users, many Australian adhesive manufacturers are seeking ways to elevate their formulation performance and meet modern production standards.
From improving delamination resistance in high-temperature environments and reformulating to meet VOC requirements, to achieving faster cure times, Labsure supports local producers. We do this by delivering scientific formulation assessment, analytical insight, and data-driven development strategies to boost both product performance and market competitiveness.
Heat-Resistant Flooring Adhesive Reformulation (WA)
A Perth-based adhesive company producing flooring glue for commercial buildings received repeated complaints of adhesive softening and joint failure in high-temperature summer months. The original supplier of their base resin had changed formulation without notice.
- Formulation Analysis: Identified missing high-Tg resin component and elevated plasticizer levels.
- Reformulated Base: Replaced incompatible polymer with an alternative resin (Tg > 90°C).
- Thermal & Shear Testing: Validated improved heat stability and peel strength.
- Failure Rate Reduction: Product complaints dropped by >75% within 3 months.
VOC-Compliant Wood Glue for Export (VIC)
A Melbourne-based workshop adhesive supplier failed VOC compliance for a new wood glue line destined for the EU. Their in-house R&D team lacked the tools to quantify volatile solvents accurately or suggest safer substitutes.
- VOC Profile Analysis: Used GC-MS to map all volatile components.
- Green Solvent Substitution: Proposed acetone-free alternatives with similar flash points.
- Viscosity Stabilization: Reformulated with rheology modifiers to match original handling.
- Export Approval: Product passed EU emission tests and resumed exports, saving $160K/year in lost sales.
Fast-Cure Epoxy Packaging Failure (QLD)
A Brisbane-based epoxy glue manufacturer had packaging failures due to unexpected curing inside tubes, resulting in customer loss and wasted product. They suspected a raw material problem but lacked means to verify.
- Root Cause Analysis: Detected trace amine contaminant in hardener via LC-MS.
- Supplier Audit: Identified contamination source from bulk storage tank.
- Stabilizer Additive System: Introduced delayed-activation inhibitor to extend shelf life.
- Waste Reduction: Reduced returned product>60%, saving ~$30K quarterly.