IPS Adhesives (IPSA) (Durham, N.C., U.S) has acquired a range of adhesives based on acrylate and methyl methacrylate (MMA) technology from L&L Products (Bruce Township, Mich., U.S.). This acquisition complements IPSA’s specialist MMA-based product offering, which enhances its ability to deliver solutions that facilitate lightweighting and the bonding of dissimilar materials.

MMA adhesives are highly versatile and are widely used due to their high strength, durability and quick curing times. According to IPSA, they provide strong adhesion to a variety of substrates, including metals, plastics and composite materials, making them ideal for applications where dissimilar materials need to be bonded.

In composite applications, MMAs are said to be particularly valued for their flexibility and impact resistance. This enables them to absorb stress without compromising the integrity of the bond. MMAs also have good resistance to environmental factors such as moisture, temperature variations and chemicals, ensuring long-term stability in challenging conditions.

MMA-based adhesives cure quickly at room temperature, enabling rapid bonding and reduced production times. They are said to be high strength, versatile and in-demand for transportation, construction, automotive, marine and various other industrial applications that have critical technical specifications. They are also suited for applications that benefit from more versatile alternatives to mechanical fasteners, welding and other traditional bonding solutions.

“This acquisition accelerates our ability to create and deliver more high-performance solutions to our customers across Europe and North America,” says IPSA president, Scott McDowell “We’re passionate about enabling customers to bond in new ways, as demonstrated by our recent launch of a low-surface energy adhesive. The combination of our technical expertise with L&L’s current MMA portfolio and pipeline products further enhances our ability to solve problems and innovate for customers,”

While L&L Products demonstrated technical success in developing advanced acrylate/MMA formulations, this transition enables L&L to focus on the development and commercialization of custom adhesives, sealants, reinforcements and acoustic technologies that provide solutions for the automotive and transportation markets, as well as diversifying its business to enter new markets.

“We are fortunate to have found IPSA, a company devoted to MMA technology and one that has already invested in the infrastructure needed to support it,” says Jean-Michel Hollaender, president of L&L Products Europe.

IPSA is rebranding the former L&L product numbers A-K321 and A-K322 as SciGrip products. These products will continue to be available in Europe, with reduced lead times in the coming months as IPSA brings the products into its existing MMA operations.