Structural adhesives are capable of handling high tensile, shear, cleavage, and peel strength in between the substrates and provide excellent mechanical performance while enabling weight reduction and improving the aesthetic appeal of end products without any visible bolts, rivets, and welds. They offer excellent strength, load-bearing capability, durability, and resistance against impact, heat, fatigue, and solvents. All structural adhesives provide at least 1,000 psi of overlap shear strength to substrates. Structural adhesives come in many forms, including low viscosity liquids and non-sag pastes, one- and two-component formulations, and short and long work lives, among others.

The global structural adhesives market is projected to reach 2,024.67 kilotons by 2022, by volume. In terms of value, the market size for structural adhesives is estimated at USD 11.17 Billion in 2017, and is projected to reach USD 15.72 Billion by 2022, at a CAGR of 7.1%. The demand for structural adhesives has been increasing in applications such as building & construction, bus & truck, automotive, wind energy, marine, rail, aerospace, and others. Currently, key structural adhesives players are undertaking R&D to develop sustainable adhesives and overcome the limitations of traditional fastening methods.

The structural adhesives market is segmented on the basis of resin, such as epoxy, polyurethane, acrylic, methyl methacrylate, cyanoacrylate, and others. The cyanoacrylate resin segment in the structural adhesives market is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period, 2017 to 2022. Cyanoacrylate resins provide exceptional bonding strength to various substrates including plastics, and rubber. Cyanoacrylate resins are solvent-free, one-part products that cure instantly at room temperature, and reduce assembly time.

The structural adhesives market is segmented on the basis of substrate into metals, plastics, wood, composites, and others. The composite substrate segment in the structural adhesives market is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period, 2017 to 2022. The increasing use of composites to reduce weight and increase fuel efficiency in the automobile, bus & truck, rail, wind energy, and marine applications is expected to drive the structural adhesives market in the coming future.

The structural adhesives market is segmented on the basis of application into building & construction, bus & truck, automotive, wind energy, marine, rail, aerospace, and others. The wind energy application in the structural adhesives market is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period, 2017 to 2022. The increasing use of renewable energy and installation of wind mills, is expected to drive the structural adhesives market in the coming future.

The Asia Pacific structural adhesives market is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period, which can be attributed to the rising demand for structural adhesives due to building & construction activities, mainly from the emerging economies of China and India. Technological advancements such as the penetration of composites in various applications in Korea and Japan has also boosted the growth of the structural adhesives market in this region.

The growth of the structural adhesives market is affected due to environmental regulations in the North American and European countries. Characteristic shortcomings of various structural adhesives limit their usage in various applications.

Key players operating in the structural adhesives market include Henkel AG & Co. KGaA (Germany), 3M Company (US), Sika AG (Switzerland), Huntsman International LLC (US), Illinois Tool Works Inc. (US), H.B. Fuller (US), Ashland (US), The Dow Chemical Company (US), Bostik (France), and LORD Corporation (US), among others.