Storing adhesives and tapes correctly
Temperature, humidity and shelf life directly affect the quality of adhesives and tapes when they go into production; improper storage can cause materials to cure prematurely, lose adhesion or trigger mass defects on the line.
Many quality incidents that appear to be caused by poor materials actually originate in the warehouse: adhesive cartons placed right under a hot metal roof, tape rolls stacked too high, or adhesives requiring cold storage left at room temperature for several days while awaiting incoming inspection.
Storage conditions by material group
| Material group | Recommended temperature | Key notes |
|---|---|---|
| One-component epoxy adhesive | -40 to 5 °C depending on grade | Thaw for the correct time before opening |
| Cyanoacrylate adhesive | 2 – 8 °C | Allow to reach room temperature to avoid moisture condensation |
| UV adhesives, anaerobic adhesives | 8 – 28 °C | Keep away from light; do not pour excess adhesive back into the bottle |
| One-component silicone, PU | Below 30 °C | Keep tightly sealed, protect from moisture |
| Tapes | 15 – 25 °C, 40 – 60% humidity | Store rolls upright, away from direct sunlight |
| Thermal greases | Below 25 °C | Stir or mix before use if oil separation occurs |
Shelf life management
Adhesive shelf life is typically 6 to 24 months from the date of manufacture and is valid only when the material is stored under the correct conditions. Warehouses should apply the first-expired, first-out principle and label the receipt date and opening date so workers can easily identify them.
- Track inventory with software that issues expiration alerts 60 days in advance.
- Designate separate areas for goods awaiting inspection and goods on hold.
- Install recording thermometers in refrigerators and air-conditioned storage.
Thawing and bringing materials to the line
Refrigerated adhesives should be left in their sealed packaging after removal until they reach room temperature. Opening too early lets moisture condense into the adhesive, causing air bubbles or changing the cure time. Thawing time depends on package size, from about 30 minutes for a 10 ml syringe to several hours for large containers.
How AMS stores materials before delivery
The AMS warehouse is divided into zones by storage condition, with freezers and refrigerators for specialty adhesives. Cold-chain goods are delivered in insulated boxes with dry ice or gel packs, with the temperature recorded at dispatch.
The humid season in Northern Vietnam is a time to be especially careful. Humidity can exceed 90%, causing one-component PU and silicone to skin over prematurely and tape to absorb moisture at the roll edges. Dehumidifiers and keeping packaging sealed until just before use are simple but effective measures.
Contact AMS Vietnam for detailed storage guidelines for each material code your plant uses.
