MMM-A-121 Federal Specification Adhesive, Bonding Vulcanized Synthetic Rubber to Steel HAP-Free Replacement

The U.S. Army uses numerous adhesives and sealants, among other coating materials, that contain significant amounts of hazardous air pollutants HAPs. This work examines laboratory testing of two of the most highly used adhesives meeting MMM-A-121 specifications throughout the Army. The scope of MMM-A-121 involves adhesives used in bonding vulcanized synthetic rubber to steel. The two most commonly used baseline products meeting the MMM-A-121 specification are 3M-1357 Scotch-Weld and 3M-1300L Scotch-Weld, which contain the following HAPs petroleum distillate, methyl ethyl ketone, and toluene. The Sustainable Painting Operations for the Total Army program has identified 3M Scotch-Weld 847 containing acetone, an exempt solvent as an alternative to current adhesives conforming to MMM-A-121. Other potential materials such as 3M Fast-Bond and 30NF 3M-4491 Scotch-Grip did not have the required adhesive properties. Various testing was done in the laboratory to determine the relative similarity of the baseline products to the potential alternative materials. This testing included solids content, rheology, dry time, and adhesion strength. Overall, this alternative material should reduce the Army HAP emissions by 1300 lbyear and volatile organic compound emissions by 1200 lbyear.