Dow Polyurethane Adhesives vs Top Competitors: Which Structural Adhesive Performs Best for Multi-Substrate Bonding?

In today’s construction, automotive, aerospace, and industrial sectors, multi-substrate bonding is a major challenge. Whether you're joining metal to plastic, composite to metal, or glass to wood, the adhesive must offer mechanical strength, chemical resistance, and durability under stress.

Dow’s polyurethane adhesives have become increasingly popular as flexible, high-performance bonding solutions. But how do they compare to other major players like Henkel Loctite, 3M, H.B. Fuller, Sika, and Araldite?

This blog provides an expert comparison of Dow’s polyurethane adhesives with their leading competitors, focusing on structural bonding, surface compatibility, and industrial performance in North America.

Overview: Dow Polyurethane Adhesives

Dow offers a full portfolio of one-component and two-component polyurethane adhesives developed for structural bonding in automotive, construction, appliances, and industrial assembly.

Key Benefits:

• Excellent adhesion to metals, plastics, and composites

• High flexibility and peel strength

• Fast curing and adjustable open times

• Superior elongation for dynamic applications

• Good performance at low and high temperatures

Dow’s polyurethane adhesives are used in:

• Automotive panel bonding

• Appliance assembly

• Construction (including façade and curtain wall applications)

• General industrial assembly

Notable product lines include BETAMATE™, BETAFORCE™, and HYPERLAST™ for structural applications and flexible bonding.

1. Henkel Loctite EA/AA Series (Epoxy and Acrylic Structural Adhesives)

Overview:

Henkel’s Loctite EA (epoxy adhesives) and AA (acrylic adhesives) are widely used for high-performance metal, plastic, and composite bonding.

Advantages:

• Epoxy (EA): High mechanical strength, long-term durability, and high thermal resistance.

• Acrylic (AA): Excellent adhesion to oily or unprepared metals; fast cure time.

Best for: Aerospace, automotive, and electronics assembly
Notable Products:

• Loctite EA 9460 – Toughened epoxy for dynamic loads

• Loctite EA E-04 – All-around epoxy for composites

• Loctite AA 330 – Fast acrylic adhesive for metal and composite

Comparison to Dow:

• Dow offers greater flexibility and higher peel strength via polyurethane chemistry.

• Henkel epoxy systems provide better rigidity and higher glass transition temperatures (Tg), suitable for structural aerospace or high-heat environments.

• For applications requiring impact resistance and substrate movement, Dow PU adhesives are better.

2. 3M™ Scotch-Weld™ Epoxy Adhesives

Overview:

3M offers a wide range of epoxy structural adhesives under its Scotch-Weld™ brand, targeting transportation, electronics, and general industrial applications.

Advantages:

• Excellent shear and peel strength

• Broad range of cure times and viscosities

• User-friendly packaging (cartridges, dual tubes)

• Proven reliability for metal bonding

Popular Grades:

• DP420 – Toughened epoxy for metal and composite bonding

• DP460 – High-strength structural adhesive with thermal stability

• DP110 – Flexible epoxy with good impact resistance

Comparison to Dow:

• 3M excels in epoxy rigidity and long-term load-bearing applications.

• Dow PU adhesives outperform in peel strength, flexibility, and bonding dissimilar materials with movement.

• For bonding parts that undergo vibration or thermal expansion (e.g., automotive panels), Dow polyurethane may be a better option.

3. H.B. Fuller Structural Adhesives

Overview:

H.B. Fuller provides polyurethane, epoxy, acrylic, and cyanoacrylate adhesives, often tailored for transportation, electronics, packaging, and energy markets.

Advantages:

• Custom solutions for high-volume manufacturing

• Good environmental resistance

• High flexibility and gap-filling properties

Notable Products:

• UR series (polyurethane)

• HL series (hot melt/thermoset hybrids)

Comparison to Dow:

• H.B. Fuller and Dow compete directly in polyurethane adhesive offerings.

• Dow’s formulations often offer higher elongation, broader temperature performance, and more advanced automotive certifications (OEM approvals).

• H.B. Fuller is strong in tailored solutions and OEM integration, while Dow has a wider global supply chain and track record in large-scale structural bonding.

4. Sika® Structural Adhesives

Overview:

SikaPower® and SikaForce® are polyurethane and epoxy-based adhesives widely used in automotive, transportation, renewable energy, and construction.

Advantages:

• High impact and fatigue resistance

• Formulated for crash durability (in automotive)

• Good adhesion to pretreated metals and composites

• Strong OEM partnerships and European certifications

Popular Grades:

• SikaPower-4720 – Crash durable PU adhesive

• SikaForce-7710 – Structural PU for composite bonding

Comparison to Dow:

• Both offer structural polyurethane adhesives for similar markets.

• Sika excels in vehicle crash performance and automated dispensing systems.

• Dow offers faster curing, better peel strength, and is often more flexible under dynamic stress.

5. Huntsman Araldite® Structural Epoxies

Overview:

Araldite® is Huntsman’s brand of high-performance epoxy adhesives used in aerospace, marine, wind, and electronics.

Advantages:

• Outstanding shear and peel strength

• High thermal and chemical resistance

• Broad range of film, paste, and liquid adhesives

Popular Grades:

• Araldite 2015 – Composite bonding, marine applications

• Araldite 420 A/B – Aerospace-grade epoxy

• Araldite AV 138M – Electrically insulating adhesive

Comparison to Dow:

• Araldite adhesives are high-rigidity, high-strength systems best suited for aerospace or static bonding of composites and metals.

• Dow’s polyurethane adhesives provide greater flexibility, faster application, and better performance in dynamic, gap-filling, or impact conditions.

Dow’s polyurethane adhesives offer a unique combination of flexibility, strength, and multi-substrate compatibility, making them ideal for structural bonding across automotive, construction, and general industry. While competitors like Loctite, 3M, and Araldite offer exceptional rigid epoxies, Dow's PU adhesives shine where movement, peel strength, and shock resistance are essential.

For manufacturers, engineers, and project managers in the US and Canada, the choice depends on:

• Substrate types (metal, plastic, composite)

• Load and environmental conditions

• Cure speed and application method

• Compliance and industry certifications

If your project demands flexibility and strength across dissimilar substrates, Dow polyurethane adhesives remain one of the most competitive options in 2025.