Araldite AV 138 M-1 HV Epoxy & Hardener HV998-1 1.4KG ( 49.4 OZ) EXP 2027

KOEED · Industrial Adhesives · Structural Epoxy · In stock

What Is the Araldite AV 138 M-1 / HV 998-1 Epoxy System?

The Araldite AV 138 M-1 paired with HV 998-1 hardener is a two-component, room-temperature-curing structural epoxy adhesive system manufactured by Huntsman Advanced Materials. This is a high-viscosity (HV) formulation — the "M-1" designation indicates a filled, thixotropic paste consistency that resists sag and slump on vertical or overhead surfaces during application. The cured joint delivers high lap shear strength on prepared metals (aluminum, steel, titanium), excellent environmental resistance, and reliable performance across a broad service temperature window from -40 degrees C to approximately +120 degrees C, depending on the specific cure schedule.

In short: This is a 1.4KG industrial structural adhesive kit — Araldite AV 138 M-1 resin plus HV 998-1 hardener — designed for high-load metal and composite bonding where a non-sag paste and room-temperature cure are both critical. Fresh stock with a 2027 expiration date, available now at KOEED.

Key Characteristics and Engineering Implications

1. Thixotropic Paste Rheology

What it means: The AV 138 M-1 mixed adhesive is a non-flowing paste — it stays where you apply it, even on overhead or vertical bond lines, until clamping pressure is applied.
Why it matters: In assembly jigs where parts are oriented at awkward angles, a liquid epoxy would drip out of the joint before cure begins. The paste consistency eliminates the need to reposition work horizontally and reduces adhesive waste from runoff.
Result: Cleaner application, less rework from starved joints, and the ability to bond complex 3D geometries without rotating the workpiece.

2. Room-Temperature Cure with Optional Heat Acceleration

What it means: The AV 138 / HV 998-1 system cures at ambient temperature (typically 18-25 degrees C) to handling strength within several hours, and achieves full mechanical properties within 24-72 hours depending on ambient conditions. Elevated-temperature post-cure (e.g., 60-80 degrees C for 1-2 hours) accelerates the process and can boost high-temperature performance.
Why it matters: Large assemblies that cannot fit in an oven — or bond lines on installed equipment that cannot be heated — still achieve structural strength without thermal input. When a heat source is available, throughput increases dramatically.
Result: Flexibility in production scheduling: cure overnight at room temperature for low-volume work, or heat-cure for rapid turnaround in a production cell.

3. Gap-Filling Capability

What it means: Unlike low-viscosity laminating epoxies that require tight-tolerance mating surfaces, the filled AV 138 formulation can bridge gaps up to several millimeters while retaining structural integrity.
Why it matters: In repair scenarios — cracked pump housings, worn shaft fits, scored hydraulic cylinder bores — machined surface flatness is often compromised. A gap-filling adhesive compensates for surface irregularity without requiring full re-machining before bonding.
Result: Faster repairs on worn equipment where perfect surface preparation is impractical, reducing downtime on critical machinery.

4. Chemical and Environmental Resistance

What it means: Once fully cured, the AV 138 system resists common industrial fluids — hydraulic oils, cutting fluids, fuels, mild acids and alkalis, salt spray, and humid environments.
Why it matters: Bonded joints inside machinery housings, engine compartments, and outdoor structures face constant chemical and moisture exposure. An adhesive that softens or debonds in service creates a latent failure mode that visual inspection cannot catch.
Result: Long-term joint durability in chemically aggressive environments without degradation of bond strength over the equipment's service life.

Key Specifications

Always consult the official Huntsman Araldite AV 138 / HV 998-1 technical datasheet for the exact mixing ratio (by weight and by volume), gel time vs. temperature curve, and full mechanical property tables. Contact us if you need the datasheet — we can provide available documentation digitally.

Where This Epoxy System Is Used

• Aerospace Structural Bonding: AV 138 is widely referenced in composite-to-metal and metal-to-metal airframe bonding applications where room-temperature fixturing is required and autoclave access is unavailable. Typical substrates include aluminum 2024-T3, titanium 6Al-4V, and CFRP laminates.
• Industrial Machinery Repair: Cracked cast-iron machine tool bases, scored hydraulic ram surfaces, and worn bearing housing bores are restored using the gap-filling properties of AV 138, often in combination with metal shimming or stitching pins.
• Automotive and Motorsport: Bonding of chassis brackets, suspension pickup point reinforcements, and composite body panel mounts where welding would distort thin-gauge steel or heat-treatable aluminum alloys.
• Electronic Encapsulation and Potting: The high-viscosity formulation is used for edge-bonding and filleting of PCB-mounted components subjected to vibration, particularly in avionics and military electronics where MIL-spec environmental resistance is required.
• Tooling and Fixture Assembly: Bonding of drill bushings, location pins, and wear plates into jig plates and inspection fixtures — replacing mechanical fasteners that can shift under repeated use.
• Marine and Offshore: Above-waterline structural bonding on aluminum-hull vessels, deck hardware mounting, and composite patch repairs on FRP structures where moisture resistance is critical.

Frequently Asked Questions

"What's the difference between AV 138 M-1 and AV 138 M?"

Both are the same base epoxy chemistry from Huntsman. The "M-1" suffix typically designates a specific filled formulation with optimized thixotropy and sag resistance for vertical and overhead application. Standard AV 138 M may have slightly different filler content or rheology. In practice, M-1 is the preferred grade for structural bonding where joint gap control and non-slump behavior are critical. Always cross-reference the full part number including suffix when qualifying adhesives for a controlled process — substituting M for M-1 (or vice versa) without requalification is not recommended in certified aerospace or defense bonding procedures.

"Does this kit include both the resin and the hardener?"

Yes. This listing is for a complete 1.4KG kit containing both the Araldite AV 138 M-1 resin component and the HV 998-1 hardener component. The two parts are packaged in separate containers within the kit. You must mix them at the correct ratio immediately before use — the components are not pre-combined. The mixed adhesive has a limited pot life that depends on ambient temperature and mixed quantity; refer to the datasheet for the pot-life-versus-temperature curve.

"What surface preparation is required before bonding with this epoxy?"

For structural bonds, the minimum preparation is: (1) degrease with a suitable solvent (acetone, MEK, or isopropyl alcohol) to remove oils and contaminants, (2) abrade the surface with 120-220 grit abrasive to create mechanical key — grit-blasting with clean alumina is preferred for production environments, and (3) final solvent wipe with lint-free cloth immediately before adhesive application. For aluminum and titanium, chemical anodizing or etch (chromic acid anodize, Pasa-Jell, etc.) further improves durability under hot-wet conditions. Do not bond over paint, anodize seal, or mill scale — the adhesive must contact bare, activated substrate.

"The expiration date says 2027 — can I still use it if stored properly?"

Yes, this kit carries a 2027 expiration date, giving you substantial shelf life remaining provided it is stored per manufacturer guidelines — cool (ideally 2-8 degrees C for long-term storage, though 18-25 degrees C is acceptable for active-use stock), dry, and sealed when not in use. Epoxy resins and amine hardeners do not suddenly stop working on the expiry date; however, aged hardener may darken, increase in viscosity, or lose reactivity. If you notice the hardener has crystallized or become granular, gentle warming (per datasheet guidelines) can often reverse this. For critical structural applications, perform a lap-shear test coupon before committing production parts if the material is more than 6 months past its expiry date.

"Can I use AV 138 to bond stainless steel to carbon fiber?"

Yes — AV 138 is commonly specified for dissimilar-material joints including stainless steel to CFRP. The key considerations are: stainless steel requires more aggressive surface preparation than mild steel (grit-blast + immediate bonding or priming), and the difference in thermal expansion between steel and carbon fiber means the adhesive bond line must accommodate shear strain during temperature cycling. The gap-filling nature of AV 138 provides some compliance for this. For marine or high-humidity exposure, consider a corrosion-inhibiting primer on the stainless side to prevent under-film corrosion at the bond periphery. Always validate with representative test coupons under your actual service conditions.

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