Soft reactive adhesives (SRAs) are polymer-based materials (e.g., polyurethanes, polysiloxanes, polydienes) designed to be further vulcanized or slightly cross-linked through external activation (heat, moisture, oxygen, UV–visible irradiation, etc.), either at the time of their application or within a subsequent predefined period. They are used mainly as mastics, or sealing compounds, in a wide range of industrial and commercial fields such as construction, footwear, and the automotive industry. Generally deposited as thick films, SRAs behave as structural adhesives; their low elastic moduli accommodate large strains between the bonded parts without incurring permanent damage. Other outstanding attributes of SRAs are their resistance to solvents, their ability to withstand aggressive environments, and their ease of use. This article discusses examples of SRAs and, more specifically, shows how the cross-linking chemistry, mainly through step-growth polymerization, provides their primary advantages.
