For those of us (like myself) who look blankly when an adhesive specialist describes a particular adhesive, I’m going to attempt to put some clarity on the types of adhesives we offer and how they can be used.
First off, here’s the difference between adhesives and sealants: for the most part they are chemically similar but adhesives are used to create a bond between two materials while sealants create a barrier. Now that I got that out of the way, let’s begin.
• Anaerobics – An unusual liquid adhesive that is used to hold nuts and bolts firmly in place. Anaerobics come in various strengths based on the amount of torque resistance required to break the bond. These liquid adhesives are perfect for machinery that is under constant vibration or movement.
• Cyanoacrylates – Known as instant adhesives (like Super Glue), they are an acrylic resin that hardens in seconds to bond rigid plastic, glass, metal, rubber and other low porosity materials. Cyanoacrylate adhesives work great for product assembly and are widely used in the automotive, medical, electronics and aerospace industries where fast curing and high tensile and sheer strengths are needed.
• One-Part and Two-Part Epoxies – These are liquid or paste adhesives used for a variety of construction, repair and moldsfrom vehicles to fiber optics to dentistry. Epoxies bond to a variety of metals, high temperature plastics, wood, glass and stone offering superior bond strength and high temperature and impact resistance perfect for all weather use.
• Polyvinyl Acetates – Otherwise known as white glues (like school glue, padding compound and Quickpad), these adhesives are used for anything dealing with paper or other porous substrates. They cure upon evaporation, are water miscible and environmentally friendly.
• Liquid Polyurethanes – These are moister reactive cold liquid glues namely used for constructing building panels made of fiberglass, wood or structural foam but also can be used for filling, sealing or waterproofing. Generally applied as a laminating adhesive, liquid Polyurethanes provide high heat, cold, moisture and solvent resistance to form durable, resilient, long-lasting bonds perfect for any environment.
• Natural Rubber Adhesives - Solvent- or water-based based, these adhesives can be rolled, brushed or sprayed on two surfaces and bond almost instantly when the surfaces are pressed together. They are self-sealing adhesives used to make countertops and cabinets or as “press seal” on paper to stick to itself. Rubber adhesives are designed to adhere to various materials, including difficult-to-bond ones, and for environment resistance where some flexibility is needed.
Finally, there are Hot Melt Glues – Pretty much in a class all their own, these adhesives bond quickly upon cooling and can be used for sealing, bonding and product assembly on a variety of substrates including paper, foam, wood, nonwoven fabrics and some plastics. They are key in the product packaging and in the case and carton sealing industries but are often used in virtually every other industry in some way, not to mention those crafters at home. There are four types of hot melts available: EVAs (ethylene vinyl acetates), Polyethylene, Polyurethane Reactives (PURs), and Polyamides (see our blog on hot melt glue for more details on each type).
If you are looking to find the best adhesive solutions for your needs that meet your production requirements and minimize your overall production costs, contact us today at 440-786-7185.