For medical devices such as catheters, syringes, vials, test tubes and injector pens, many manufacturers are turning to plastics that are formulated to resist harsh chemical and environmental conditions.

Several years ago, researchers from QSS Group Inc. and the Ohio Aerospace Institute were interested in finding a commercially available adhesive that bonds titanium pipes to carbon-carbon composite (CCC) sheets. The reason: Doing so would lower the cost of assembling spacecraft heat-rejection systems made of these joined materials.

Eliminating waste is a key part of lean manufacturing initiatives. It's also important when it comes to using adhesive.

Manufacturers today are trapped in a perennial race to get products assembled and out the door in less time and at lower cost while maintaining high quality. They must also adjust to constant change in the materials they use.

Engineers at NASA recently earmarked a couple of emerging technologies that may alter the way aircraft are designed and built in the coming decades. If successful, each could lead to planes that are quieter, more energy efficient and produce fewer emissions.

As a senior research scientist at Sauder Woodworking Co. in Archbold, OH, John Beck has dealt with many surface treatment challenges.

Manufacturers in many industries like to build with composites because they are lightweight and have high strength-to-weight ratios that often exceed steel and aluminum. At the same time, though, these materials can be hard to properly bond to thermoplastic, metal and other composites.

Medical device manufacturers value silicone adhesives for their ability to bond various substrates when assembling devices such as catheters, pacemakers, cochlear implants, aesthetic implants and gastric balloons.

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN—Oysters build extensive reef communities by cementing to one another early in their lives. Scientists have known they secrete an adhesive for this purpose, but new research shows the glue they make as larvae and the glue they make as juveniles are different substances.

When buying a car, consumers place great importance on the aesthetics and quality of its interior. The dashboard, in particular, must have an attractive look and feel. But it's not just the beauty that matters; it's the quality as well.