Description
Plexus MA310 Methacrylate Adhesive – 400ml
Plexus MA310 methacrylate adhesive designed for high-strength bonding of metals, thermoplastics and composite materials.
Positioned as a medium cure system, MA310 offers a significantly longer working time than fast-set MMA adhesives, making it ideal for larger assemblies, precise alignment, and complex bonding applications where accuracy is critical.
Its non-sag formulation allows clean application on vertical surfaces, while delivering outstanding strength, stiffness and durability once cured.
⚙️ Performance & Working Time
When mixed at a 1:1 ratio, Plexus MA310 provides:
- Working time: approx. 15–18 minutes
- Handling strength (500 psi): ~38–40 minutes
- High strength (1000 psi): ~44–50 minutes (at 23°C)
- Tensile strength: up to ~37 MPa
- Gap fill capability: 0.25mm – 3.2mm
- Non-sag gel: ideal for vertical and overhead use
This extended open time makes MA310 perfect for bonding large panels, multi-part assemblies, and detailed composite work.
✅ Key Benefits
- Medium cure structural MMA adhesive
- Extended working time for accurate positioning and assembly
- Bonds metal, plastic and composites with minimal surface prep
- High strength and stiffness for load-bearing applications
- Excellent impact, vibration and fatigue resistance
- Gap filling up to 3.2mm
- Non-sag formulation for clean application
- Replaces welding, rivets and mechanical fixings
🔩 Ideal Applications
- Large panel bonding and fabrication
- Composite assembly (GRP / fibreglass / RTM)
- Automotive and vehicle bodywork
- Trailer, bus and coach construction
- Metal to plastic bonding
- Industrial manufacturing and repair
🧲 Adhesion – Bonds Exceptionally Well To
- Aluminium, stainless steel & coated metals
- ABS, acrylics and PVC
- Polyesters and composite materials
- Fibreglass (GRP) and gelcoats
- Polyurethanes and rubber
⚠️ Surface Preparation
Plexus MA310 typically requires little to no surface preparation, however best results are achieved when surfaces are clean, dry and free from grease or contaminants. For metals, a light solvent wipe or use of a cleaner such as PC120 is recommended.
Bonding Capability: Plastics, metals, rubber, composites
✅ Why Choose Plexus MA310?
Plexus MA310 methacrylate adhesive is the go-to solution when standard adhesives fail. It offers outstanding adhesion to low surface energy plastics, eliminates the need for extensive surface preparation, and provides true structural performance in demanding environments.
✅ Which Adhesive Should I Use? – Quick Selector Guide
Use this simple guide to choose the right adhesive for your application:
🔹 Choose a Methacrylate Adhesive (e.g. Plexus MA310) if you need:
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✅ Structural strength
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✅ Bonding of difficult plastics (ABS, PVC, polycarbonate)
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✅ Metal-to-plastic or composite bonding
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✅ Fast strength build
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✅ High stiffness and load-bearing joints
Best for:
Automotive parts, enclosures, composite panels, housings, structural fabrications.
🔹 Choose a Polyurethane (PU) Adhesive (e.g. Bostik 3206E) if you need:
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✅ Flexible, vibration-resistant bonds
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✅ Foam, fabric, rubber & plastic bonding
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✅ Mixed-material assemblies
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✅ Good heat resistance (with hardener)
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✅ Industrial upholstery & trim bonding
Best for:
Foams, fabrics, PVC, rubber, automotive interiors, industrial lamination.
🔹 Choose a Polyurethane Sealant (e.g. Arbothane 1245) if you need:
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✅ Flexible joint sealing
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✅ Movement accommodation
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✅ Weatherproof & paintable sealing
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✅ Outdoor expansion joints
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✅ Concrete, masonry & façade sealing
Best for:
Expansion joints, floors, walls, doors, windows, façades.
🔹 Choose a Contact Adhesive if you need:
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✅ Fast grab
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✅ Surface-to-surface bonding
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✅ Decorative laminates
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✅ Large sheet materials
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✅ Non-structural bonds
Best for:
Decorative panels, light laminates, non-load-bearing bonds.
🛠 Still Unsure?
If you’re unsure which adhesive is right for your application, our technical team can advise you on the best bonding system for strength, flexibility, temperature resistance and material compatibility.
👉 Contact us for adhesive selection advice.
Read our blog Plexus MA300 vs MA310: Which Structural Adhesive Is Right for Your Project?
Plexus MA310 FAQ
What is Plexus MA310 used for?
Plexus MA310 is a two-part methacrylate structural adhesive used for high-strength bonding of plastics, metals, rubber, GRP and composite materials. It is widely used in industrial fabrication, automotive assemblies, composite panel bonding, enclosures, housings and structural manufacturing where strong, permanent joints are required.
How strong is Plexus MA310?
Plexus MA310 provides very high structural bond strength and excellent stiffness, making it suitable for load-bearing joints. It offers strong adhesion to metals, thermoplastics, composites and low surface energy plastics, with excellent resistance to vibration, impact and fatigue.
What is the working time of Plexus MA310?
Plexus MA310 has a working time of approximately 15–18 minutes at room temperature (23°C). It reaches around 75% of its ultimate strength in approximately 30–35 minutes, allowing fast handling and assembly in production environments.
What materials can Plexus MA310 bond?
Plexus MA310 is designed for bonding difficult substrates, including:
- ABS, PVC and polycarbonate
- GRP / fibreglass / composites
- Rubber and elastomers
- Aluminium and steel
- Powder-coated and painted metals
- Mixed material assemblies
It is particularly effective on low surface energy plastics where epoxy adhesives may fail.
Do I need a dispensing gun for Plexus MA310?
Yes. Plexus MA310 is supplied in a 50ml dual cartridge and requires a compatible 50ml dispensing gun and static mixing nozzle to correctly mix the two components during application.
Using the correct gun ensures proper mix ratio and full structural strength.
What is the difference between Plexus MA300 and MA310?
Plexus MA310 methacrylate adhesive has a longer working time and higher stiffness compared to MA300, making it better suited for larger assemblies and difficult-to-bond plastics. MA300 cures faster, while MA310 provides more positioning time and excellent performance on thermoplastics and composites.
For more details, see our guide:
Plexus MA300 vs MA310 – Which Structural Adhesive Is Right for Your Project?
Is Plexus MA310 better than epoxy?
In many structural bonding applications, Plexus MA310 can outperform epoxy adhesives because it bonds difficult plastics without extensive surface preparation, cures faster, and provides better impact and fatigue resistance. Methacrylate adhesives like MA310 are often preferred for composites, thermoplastics and mixed material joints.
Is Plexus MA310 waterproof and chemical resistant?
Yes. Once fully cured, Plexus MA310 offers excellent resistance to moisture, fuels, oils and many industrial chemicals, making it suitable for marine, automotive and outdoor applications where durability is required.
What temperature can Plexus MA310 withstand?
Plexus MA310 typically has an operating temperature range of approximately −55°C to +120°C once cured, making it suitable for environments exposed to heat, cold and thermal cycling.
Is Plexus MA310 a structural adhesive?
Yes. Plexus MA310 is a true structural methacrylate adhesive designed for high-strength, load-bearing bonding applications. It is commonly used where mechanical fasteners or welding would normally be required.
When should I use MA310 instead of polyurethane or sealant?
Use Plexus MA310 when you need:
- Structural strength
- Bonding of plastics, composites or metals
- High stiffness joints
- Fast strength build
- Permanent bonding
Use polyurethane or sealant when flexibility or movement is required rather than structural strength.
Can Plexus MA310 bond plastic to metal?
Yes. Plexus MA310 is specifically designed for bonding dissimilar materials such as plastic to metal, composite to metal, or rubber to plastic, with minimal surface preparation.
Is Plexus MA310 suitable for low surface energy plastics?
Yes. Plexus MA310 methacrylate adhesive is formulated to bond difficult plastics such as ABS, PVC and polycarbonate, which can be hard to bond with epoxy or polyurethane adhesives.
