Best Practices for Evaluating GSA-Listed Adhesives and Sealants for Aerospace Compliance
Continuing our series on aerospace and aviation-grade adhesives and sealants, today we're focusing on best practices for evaluating those procured through GSA Advantage. GSA Advantage is an excellent tool for military and federal procurement, letting you get the exact products you need at a price you know is locked in, with no haggling and severely reduced red tape.
Compliance in sealants and adhesives is an absolutely non-negotiable; they have to be approved for the task at hand. Not all sealants and adhesives are created equally, so it's a dilemma of sorts.
1. You have to procure them in a method that your procurement officers and regulations approve of.
2. They have to be the right ones.
3. You need them in a quantity that works for your mission.
Why Aerospace Adhesive and Sealant Evaluation Is a Compliance Issue
Aerospace maintenance relies on dozens, maybe even hundreds, of different consumable products, from specialized hydraulic fluids like MIL-PRF-5606 legacy lubricants to advanced sealants and adhesives:
• Greases
• Oils
• Coolants
• Sealants
• Gasket makers
• Adhesives
Each of these plays a role, and we're not overstating this when we say that they are all of close to equal importance. The technology behind these has improved substantially over the years. There are numerous benefits that impact everything up to national security if you think about it, but definitely flight safety and readiness.
Aviation materials must perform under extreme temperatures, high levels of vibration, and enormous mechanical stresses. Think about the shock that occurs on the airframe of a Navy jet that is trapped on a carrier deck. The materials used to repair and maintain those aircraft must be up to the task to survive in those conditions.
We are here for the procurement teams, the aircraft maintenance units, the engineers, QA personnel, and military maintenance ops planners who manage defense and military aerospace contracting.
What It Means for Consumables to Be Listed on GSA Advantage
What exactly does it mean for consumables to be listed on GSA Advantage? It's no different from being listed anywhere else, except that GSA Advantage is a gate-kept service available exclusively to military members and federal procurement professionals. In some cases, it is also available for state employees for emergency procurement of life-saving items. But, generally speaking, as for federal procurement and for military members.
The big advantage is that it confirms contract eligibility, so you know that any contract obligations you must fulfill will be listed there, provided you meet certain conditions. This does not, though, mean that it guarantees engineering approval or regulatory compliance. GSA Advantage is simply a contracting vehicle for procuring your items, not a guarantee that they will fit.
There is an inherent risk in assuming that "approved for purchase" means "approved for use," and this is not the case. Again, this is an interface for approved contractors on the GSA schedule to submit their products, including all contract stipulations. This can be a third-party vendor or the manufacturer.
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Aerospace Compliance Begins With Specifications, Not Product Names
Now that we have a basic understanding of what GSA Advantage is and is not, we can focus on compliance with the specifications rather than product names. When it comes to aircraft maintenance, it's all in the specifications. It doesn't matter what the product name is or really the brand. It has to be approved. Through the technical specifications, which are then handled through a Military Performance (MIL-PRF) or a Military Specification (MIL-SPEC).
GSA Advantage will list whatever you want to list once you're approved to list it there. It is not broken down by specification; instead, it's broken down by manufacturers and basic product types. i.e., oils and lubricants would be one very broad product type. There's no way to cover all the different MIL-PRF and MIL-SPECs that go into choosing one type over another, especially since so many manufacturers produce items with the same MIL-PRF or MIL-SPEC.
The Role of Mil-SPEC and Aerospace Standards
The role of MIL-SPEC in aerospace standards is quite simple: to define the performance expectations and test standards for any given product. All sealants that are used in aircraft maintenance are graded to some sort of performance standard or an adhesive standard. For military aircraft, these are generally issued as MIL-PRF or MIL-SPEC, although other standards don't use that exact nomenclature. But it will have to meet criteria proving it is usable for military operations.
The military aircraft fleet is generally fairly old, actually, with some aircraft well over 50 or 60 years old. That means many of the products used when those aircraft were produced are legacy standards that are no longer used or have long since been rescinded. You will have to make sure that the MIL-PRF, MIL-SPEC, or any other military standard is the categorical progression that includes the previous legacy standards.
One more very important thing is revision control and the current specification status. Most military specifications have been around for years, sometimes even decades, and they undergo numerous revisions. If the product your aircraft or component calls for is to a previous standard, the current specification is fine; it supersedes and exceeds it. However, if your product use profile is for the current standard, you cannot use products that were only graded to a previous criterion, and supporting materials such as MIL-SPEC packaging standards must also align with those requirements.
Application-Driven Specification Selection
When it comes to selecting sealants and adhesives for aircraft and structural maintenance, you need to determine which are structural applications and which are known to be structural applications.
• Structural applications would be adhesives that are going to be used for load-bearing parts of the job and might actually replace mechanical fasteners.
• Non-structural would be for filling divots and voids. They would be sandable and paintable, but not for structural integrity.
Regarding sealants, there are a number of different factors, but you need to know whether these are for:
• Fuel tanks or fuel cell sealing
• Corrosion protection
Environmental sealing (around avionics bays and other highly sensitive areas that require controlled humidity and temperature).
Fuel tanks have their own demands, and the sealants used must be highly specialized and impervious to prolonged exposure to AVGAS or jet fuel, just as aircraft ground support equipment for mission readiness must withstand harsh operational environments.
Also, you need to be able to determine whether it's suitable for composite bonding vs. bonding metals like aluminum, steel, and titanium. You also need to know whether you can bond to unlike substrates or only under one-to-one conditions (i.e., aluminum to aluminum, steel to steel, and so on).
One important thing to bear in mind is that“similar products” are rarely interchangeable in aerospace systems. There are lots of different Class B sealants, for instance, and they mostly look alike. The packaging is similar, and the mixed products look similar. But that is often where the similarities end.
This is why it's important for you to understand the MIL-PRF or MIL-SPEC that applies to the airframe in question, as well as the task at hand. This is why it's important for you to understand the MIL-PRF or MIL-SPEC that applies to the airframe in question, as well as the task at hand.
Evaluating Adhesive and Sealant Performance Characteristics
Alright, how do you evaluate the performance characteristics of adhesives and sealants? The simplest way to do this is to review the aircraft's technical data and compare it with MIL-PRF, MIL-SPEC, or other established standards, then put those side by side with the product's technical data sheets.
Mechanical and Structural Properties
The technical data sheets for all chemicals, sealants, and adhesives used on an aircraft will list out the important mechanical properties of the consumables. These will be:
• Tensile strength
• Shear strength
• Peel resistance
• Flexibility
• Temperature restrictions
Not all adhesives are made equally. There are many different epoxies on the market. Some are fine for industrial maintenance, but that doesn't mean that they're okay for aerospace maintenance and repairs. Aerospace epoxies are specifically formulated for use on aircraft. They have to be flexible, resist heat and cold, handle thermal cycling well (the aircraft is exposed to significant thermal cycling every single time it operates), and perform well under sustained mechanical stress and vibration.
Environmental and Chemical Resistance
One of the most important mechanical characteristics of sealants and adhesives is their environmental and chemical resistance. Depending on what you're using them for, they must be compatible with aviation fuels, hydraulic fluids, turbine engine oils, and other petroleum-based systems.
They still have to show a resistance to corrosion, moisture intrusion (especially important for sealants), and chemical exposure. Also, this is very important for performance stability across operational temperature ranges, which can be very wide, from as cold as -65°F to 250 to 300°F.
That is just an example. There is no set number for the temperature ranges, and they depend heavily on what the sealant or adhesive is used for. Each chemical will have its own range, along with flexibility and mechanical properties, all listed on the technical data sheet, which is usually available on the manufacturer's website.
Reviewing Technical Data Sheets (TDS) and Safety
All chemical manufacturers are required to create data sheets for their products. Some of these are safety data sheets, which are required by law to be posted in all industrial environments (at least federal industrial environments). The other is the technical data sheet. The technical data sheet does not have to be posted in public as the safety data sheet does, but it is equally useful.
When you are researching which products to purchase or procure, the technical data sheet tells you exactly which military or manufacturer specifications they meet. It provides the product's salient characteristics and an overview of how to use it.
There are certain key data points that the TDS documents validate. These include:
• Approved substrates (metals, plastics, and composites)
• Surface preparation requirements
• Cure times, work-life, and application limits
This will tell you whether it is a replacement for mechanical fasteners, whether it is suitable for body repair work, and so on, which is critical for programs such as SEMA aircraft sustainment and support. It is important to understand that this is not marketing material. Although it is sometimes viewed as such, it gives you the exact technical details of the product. Whether it is for bonding metals, composite materials, or fuel tank sealing, all of these will be in the technical data sheets.
The safety data sheets, on the other hand, are the formal means of explaining how to handle the product safely. This will tell you how to store it, what it can be stored with, what temperatures it needs to be stored at, how to respond if it's ingested or gets in the eyes, and any other actions.
These are required in all federal maintenance workstations and for every applicable product kept in the area, especially in operations that use many different types of chemicals. They will all be kept in one binder. It will tell you what personal protective equipment to use, whether it needs to be kept separate from other items, transportation considerations, and so on.
Shelf Life, Storage, and Inventory Control
Let's talk about inventory control and shelf life. Shelf life is a compliance issue, not just a logistics one. Once these items have reached the end of their shelf life, they must be disposed of. So there is a logistical strain to ensure that an adequate number of products are procured, but only enough to be used in a timely manner before their shelf life expires. All of these products have different shelf lives, and they're all listed in the technical data sheets.
The storage conditions for chemicals, adhesive sealants, and lubricants are listed in the safety data sheets. They will explain what they can and cannot be stored with. Generally speaking, standard hazmat lockers are adequate for these, but you do have to check the safety data sheets for all of the products that you intend to store.
Aerospace sealant specifications include shelf life, and there are inventory risks for deployed and austere defense facilities because the kit needs to carry enough for the mission, but not so much that it gets thrown out, a balance that also applies to parts for Priority Air Transport missions. This is an inherent problem everywhere, and unfortunately, many chemicals have been wasted over the years because they were not used promptly.
Quality Management, Traceability, and ITAR Considerations
Lot traceability for aerospace consumables is extremely important. If any part of the batch fails and is deemed a mechanical issue, it is not the fault of the technicians or the application methods; it is, in fact, the fault of the product itself. The lots have to be traceable so that they can be thrown out. And inspected by the manufacturer. Documentation is needed for audits, inspections, and regulatory compliance for some of these materials. You will need to consult your governing documentation and regulations to determine which ones.
Lot traceability allows maintenance organizations to isolate product-related failures, whether due to workmanship or application issues. If the consumable is found to have a formulation defect, contamination, or a shelf-life deviation, traceability for these batches proves effective in identifying, quarantining, or removing affected lots. This protects the aircraft, its safety, and maintenance teams, and provides total accountability.
From a quality standpoint, traceability enables:
- Targeted recalls instead of fleet-wide removals
- Manufacturer root-cause investigations
- Compliance with AS9100 / AS9120 quality management systems
- Protection against repeat failures using the same lot
Without lot traceability, organizations risk widespread grounding actions, failed audits, and increased liability exposure.
Some aerospace materials, components, and technical data are subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), which group export-controlled items into defined categories of ITAR-regulated defense articles. When items are ITAR-controlled, strict controls apply to who may access them, how they are stored, and how information related to them is shared, often requiring operations within an ITAR-controlled facility environment.
Within supply chains, ITAR compliance affects:
- Supplier qualification and onboarding
- Segregation of ITAR and non-ITAR inventory
- Controlled access to technical data and documentation
- Export restrictions and shipping processes
Even when a product itself is not ITAR-controlled, associated technical data, drawings, or specifications may be. This makes supplier compliance programs just as important as the products they deliver.
Common Mistakes When Selecting GSA-Listed Adhesives and Sealants
Alright, what are some common mistakes when sourcing adhesives and sealants from GSA Advantage?
One of the biggest is treating consumables as low-risk items; they are not. A lot is riding on these adhesives, sealants, oils, hydraulic fluids, coolants, and so on.
Thinking that there is a one-size-fits-all application material, cure profile, or equipment limitations is downright dangerous.
Another common problem is overlooking waste management and recycling requirements. It's fairly inevitable that some of these consumables will be thrown out because they've exceeded their shelf life. It's all but impossible to predict that with complete accuracy. They do not all have the same disposition instructions. Make sure that the disposal requirements are adequately met.
Finally, and this is a big one: assuming commercial solutions, epoxies, and sealants are suitable for aerospace/aviation use.
Generally speaking, they are not. An industrial application, or even one built for vehicles, is not subjected to anywhere near the same thermal cycling, shock, and flexion that aviation-grade consumables are exposed to daily. They may look the same. They may be made by the same manufacturer, but that does not mean that they are made to the same grade.
Frequently Asked Questions
Let's talk about some of the most common questions about sealants and procuring consumables from GSA Advantage.
What Are the Six General Types of Adhesives?
Aerospace-grade adhesives are broadly categorized by their chemistry and performance standards. Here are the six most common types.
What Types of Sealants Are Used in Aerospace Applications?
Aviation-grade sealants are used based on environmental exposure, chemical resistance, and some functional requirements. The most common sealant categories are as follows.
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What Are P100 Facility Standards?
“P100 facility standards” refers to high-control aerospace manufacturing and maintenance environments that manage contamination, material handling, and process discipline. Not a single regulation, but a term used to describe facilities that operate with higher cleanliness, access control, and procedural requirements.
These environments typically have:
- Controlled storage and handling of sensitive materials
- Segregation of certified and non-certified areas
- Strict documentation and traceability
- Compliance with customer, OEM, and regulatory quality requirements
P100-level controls are most relevant for aerospace manufacturing, MRO, and defense programs, where material integrity and process consistency are critical.
Final Thoughts: A Compliance-First Approach to Aerospace Consumables.
Your approach to purchasing aerospace consumables really needs to be compliance-first. This is one area where there is no margin for error.
Hardware is another one, but that's a different article for a different time.
Discipline in evaluating consumable products protects aircraft systems and, in turn, protects personnel and even mission integrity. Compliance-driven sourcing will always improve your long-term operational performance, and GSA Advantage is the best place to get what you need for it, guaranteed.
Once you've done the legwork to determine which products you need, all you have to do is search for them and source them. We carry over 800 consumable items on GSA Advantage, and if we don't have them there, we can probably source them for you.
Greenwood Aerospace partners with prime defense contractors to support military and government export programs, backed by an experienced aerospace procurement and contracting team. We are an ITAR-registered military aircraft parts supplier, AS9120B certified, and an approved GSA Schedule contractor.
GSA MAS Contract Number: 47QSMS25D00B8
Compliance & Registration
ITAR DDTC Export Compliant
Cage Code: 2Y735
UEI: KVSUYYSJS174
DUNS: 604006874
NAICS: 488190, 336413, 332722, 336411, 481212, 532411
For large orders or expedited delivery, contact 580-865-6000, 833-GSA-EBUY (833-472-3289), or gsasales@greenwood.aero.
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