At a Glance
Adhesives play an important role in our day-to-day living, from construction, and packaging to leather as its glue-like texture helps hold things together. It helps bind two things together and restricts separation. There are different types of adhesives made with different components that serve the purpose of different kinds of projects. Thus, through this blog, you will learn everything about adhesives and how they can serve a specific purpose.
Different Types of Adhesive
Some of the major adhesives according to chemical composition are as follows:
Polyvinyl Acetate
Polyvinyl acetate is a white or transparent glue in the form of a paste or liquid that is formed by mixing water and a polymer. It settles quickly into a hard coating. It is used in school projects, cardboard, fabric, wood, the construction industry, arts and crafts, and woodworking. It is flexible and durable which is why it is used in binding books. It is also used in the lamination of foil.
Epoxy Adhesive
Epoxy being a structural adhesive is durable and resistant to high temperatures and moisture. You can find epoxy adhesives with different formulations such as one component, two components, and three components. Before choosing, investigate the formulation of the epoxy adhesives because epoxy adhesive with two components requires to be hardened by mixing raisins before application whereas epoxy adhesives with one or three components come as ready to use.
For industrial use, it is generally recommended to use epoxy adhesives because of their resistance feature in the presence of heat, water, and chemicals. They create undetachable bonding between metals, plastic, ceramic, and glass. Ensure that the surface of the application is clean before applying epoxy adhesive and it may take different settling times depending on the surface of the application.
The best thing about epoxy adhesives is that they can be found in different colors in the market, which is one of the reasons why They are also used in repairing broken furniture and jewelry or making jewelry and sculpture.
Read more: Epoxy resin vs phenolic resin
Polyurethane Adhesive
Polyurethane adhesive has the appearance of black, white, or clear. It is safe to use and takes time to settle. They are strong, flexible, and resistant to moisture and chemical which is why it is generally used in automobile industries and construction. Polyurethane adhesive is formed by mixing hardener with polyurethane resin.
Cyanoacrylate Industrial Adhesives
Cyanoacrylate industrial adhesive is recommended for use in repairs and crafts. Because of their strong and durable nature, they are used to bond different materials such as metal, plastic, fabric, and wood. While using, one must be careful as They are harmful and react badly when in contact with eyes and skin. Cyanoacrylate industrial adhesive needs to be stored in a cool and dry place.
They create strong minds when in reaction with moisture which is because of a chemical It is made of known as cyanoacrylate. Because of its strong bonding ability and fast drying feature, it is known as superglue. In the market, it is available in clear and colored form so you can choose according to your project.
Pressure Sensitive Adhesives
Pressure-sensitive adhesives are used in tapes, sticky notes, labels, stickers, and bandages which require pressure to bond together. It is used for light usage and can easily be detached. They can be used on materials with thinner and lighter surfaces that do not require heavy adhesives. It can also be used on wet surfaces. These kinds of pressure-sensitive adhesives are known as low-modulus elastomers. Pressure-sensitive adhesives are affordable and accessible.
Hot Melt Adhesives
These are white, in clear form, and solid at room temperature as it is a type of thermoplastic polymer adhesive. During application, they are heated to liquefy. Hot melt adhesive is known for its bonding strength, settling time, and versatility which is why it is generally used in industries for packaging and manufacturing purposes. There are different kinds of hold melt adhesives such as EVA hot melt, metallocene, polythene, and polyurethane, each one of them differs based on different hardening and softening points according to their use and application.
Industries mainly choose reactive hot melt adhesives rather than simple adhesives because of their high resistance to moisture and chemicals with high thermal ability. Also reactive hot melt adhesive does not melt once applied on a surface and cooled because they tend to form some extra bonds during the settling process.
Hot melt adhesive is also used in arts and crafts, and woodworking. A hot glue gun is used for materials such as plastics, ceramics, and fabrics. They are safe to use, take less settling time which is why used for repairing, and are affordable.
Difference Between Hot Melt and Reactive Hot Melt Adhesive
| Hot melt adhesive | Reactive hot melt adhesive |
| It is applied in liquid form which we get by heating the solid adhesive. Given its settling time, it cools and transforms into a solid polymer. | After the solidification process, it results in extra chemical bondings. This leads to stronger bonding and, the ability to withstand moisture, chemical, and heat. |
| Less expensive | Comparably expensive |
Polyimide Adhesive
Polyimide adhesive is highly effective in withstanding heat as high as 500 degrees Celsius and certain chemicals. It is known for its high strength which comes from one part synthetic polymer that contains solvent. Polyimide adhesives are found in formulations such as thermoplastic and thermoset and are used for electronic insulation and coating.
Acrylic Adhesive
Pick out acrylic adhesives for outdoor use as they are resistant to ultraviolet exposure. While using acrylic-based adhesive on acrylic, wood, stone, and plastic, always wear face masks and gloves for protection and check that the area of application is well-ventilated.
Different Types of Adhesives Based on Load Bear Capacity
Adhesives can be differentiated based on load-bearing capacity such as structural, non-structural, and semi-structural.
| Structural | Non-structural | Semi-structural |
| High strength glue which supports application with heavy load. | Used for light loads, crafts, and arts which required long-term attachment. | Used for less heavy application |
| Examples of structural adhesives are epoxies, urethane, acrylics, and cyanoacrylates industrial adhesives. | Examples of non-structural adhesives are pressure-sensitive, hot melt, elastomers, etc. | Some examples of semi-structural adhesives are pressure-sensitive, other polymers, hot melt, etc. |
Types of Adhesives Based on Their Physical Form
The different forms of adhesives based on physicality are :
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- Paste: it is usually difficult to spread the adhesive paste during the process of curing because of its high thickness. Thus tool such as a caulking gun is used to fill gaps with adhesive paste.
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- Liquid: most of the adhesives we get in the market are available in the form of liquid. Although it is easy to apply, sometimes it can leak or sag during the curing process which is why this type of adhesive should be applied in thin layers. This can take a long time to cure but can help with the problems.
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- Film: films are adhesive strips that are available in pre-cut lengths, shapes, or rolls with thicknesses between 2-8mm. You can choose the right thickness of the strips according to your project.
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- Pellet: thermosetting or hot melt adhesive generally comes in the form of pellets. These kinds of adhesives are required to be applied through a hot melt gun or melted and sprayed.
Conclusion
It can be challenging to choose the right type of adhesive for your project from a wide range of adhesives available in the market. You will find adhesives of various types based on load-bearing capabilities, form, composition, and other properties. Elchemy runs with the intention of providing you with a comprehensive guide while choosing the right adhesive for your project.
While choosing the right kind of adhesive, some of the factors that must be kept in mind are the targeted strength required, the type of materials bonded, the pressure that should be applied, proper application of the adhesive. By understanding the different types of adhesives available and their application, you can easily select the right kind of adhesive for your project.
If you need more information, feel free to reach out to Elchemy.
