What does a buyer check before trialling a new adhesive?
They check which substrates the product is proven on, the cure and open-time figures against their line speed, and the temperature and chemical exposure it survives in service. An adhesive that cannot be matched to a substrate pair and a process window will not be trialled, because a failed trial costs a production shift.
A process engineer is looking for a replacement bond that will not require the line to be reconfigured.
Reviewed 4 August 2026
Scope and specifications
- Chemistry type
- Epoxy, polyurethane, cyanoacrylate, silicone and hot-melt behave differently in every respect.
- Substrates bonded
- The first thing a buyer matches, and the reason most enquiries fail.
- Open time and cure time
- Determines whether the product fits the line speed.
- Service temperature range
- Decides survival in the application.
- Viscosity and application method
- Brush, bead, spray and film need different equipment.
- Shelf life and storage
- Drives ordering pattern and waste.
- Pack sizes
- Cartridge, pail and drum are different buyers.
Documents buyers may need
| Document | What it proves | Where it belongs |
|---|---|---|
| Technical Data SheetAsked at: first evaluation | Chemistry, substrates, cure profile and service limits | Publish it |
| Safety Data SheetAsked at: before a sample can enter the plant | Hazard classification, handling and transport information | Publish it |
| Lap shear and peel test dataAsked at: technical evaluation | Bond strength on named substrate pairs under a stated method | Publish it |
| Certificate of AnalysisAsked at: each delivery | Batch conformance to the published specification | Per shipment |
| Food contact or medical compliance statementAsked at: regulated applications | Suitability where the bond touches product or patient | Name it, share on request |
| ISO 9001 certificateAsked at: vendor approval | Quality system, with certificate number and issuing body | Publish it |
| Ageing and environmental test dataAsked at: before design-in | Performance after humidity, heat or chemical exposure | Name it, share on request |
Details for a useful enquiry
- Substrates to be bonded
- The single most important field on the form.
- Process and line speed
- Determines whether the cure profile can work.
- Service conditions
- Temperature, humidity and chemical exposure decide the chemistry.
- Volume and pack size
- Drives price and supply format.
- Application equipment
- Existing dispensing gear constrains viscosity.
- Sample requirement
- Adhesive selection is almost always settled by trial.
Questions suppliers ask
Should we publish bond strength figures?
Yes, with the substrate pair, the test method and the cure conditions stated beside each figure. A number on its own cannot be compared with a competitor's and is treated as marketing. A number with its method is the reason an engineer picks up the phone.
How much should we say about applications we have not tested?
Say nothing, and say that you will test. Claiming a substrate you have not qualified produces a failed trial, and a failed trial with a new supplier usually ends the relationship rather than starting a conversation about conditions.
Do buyers expect samples to be free?
For evaluation quantities, usually yes, and the faster route matters more than the cost. What buyers actually judge is how quickly a sample and its data sheet arrive together, because an unlabelled sample cannot be trialled.
Check which documents and standards your buyer needs; requirements vary by market, customer and contract.
Plact Research. Plact's editorial desk for buyer-evidence research. Industry standards, documents and buyer questions are researched and drafted with Plact's AI tools, then reviewed by Praveen Kavuri before publication. Every claim cites the standard, regulation or public source it rests on.
Related buyer questions
- Chemicals and materialsWhat does a chemical buyer check before asking you for a sample?
- Paint and coatingsWhat does a specifier check before approving a coating system?
- Laboratory chemicalsWhat does a laboratory check before ordering a reagent from a new supplier?
- Industrial gasesWhat does a buyer check before switching industrial gas supplier?
Put this to work on your website
See how Plact helps buyers find what you offer and send a useful enquiry.