What are the different types of adhesive?

Adhesive is a term that covers a large number of products such as glue, cement and paste. It is any non-metal substance that is used or applied to separate surfaces to bind them together and prevent separation. Adhesives, like Soudal, are commonly employed throughout the industry for enduring, semi-permanent, and short-term attachment functions in an assortment of domestic, commercial, and industrial purposes. Certain characteristics of adhesives available that can be grouped and categorized include load-carrying capacity, form, reactivity or inertness as well as chemical composition.

At BC Profiles, we stock a large range of adhesives that can solve a variety of problems however it is important to know that certain glues and pastes are required for different purposes. Should you neglect to do any research on adhesives then you could find yourself purchasing the wrong type and this could delay or even worse ruin your project. It is, for this reason, will have written this article to provide some insight into adhesives and the different types you may wish to buy.

What type of adhesives are there?

Wet Adhesives

Wet adhesives can only be used to one surface that needs to be bound. Therefore don’t apply both surfaces with wet adhesive. Once the adhesive has been applied you should immediately glue it to its coupled surface. Once the moisture has evaporated then adhesion will be complete. Wet based adhesives have water as the key carrier substance and this glue is used for a huge range of tasks. For jobs involving non-porous materials or when the user is attempting to avoid paper curling, wet adhesives tend to be the best option.

Contact Adhesives

Contact adhesives are elastomeric – this refers to the rubber-like properties of a polymer, which is a material that is capable of regaining its original shape when a load is taken away from it. These adhesives are added to both items which are going to be bonded together. You will often find this type of adhesive in rubber comment or countertop laminates. The benefit of contact adhesives is that it allows for instant bonds to be created which are strong but also long-lasting meaning any project you undertake will be a long-term success. Some domestic uses for contact adhesives include repairing shoe soles and belts.

Reactive Adhesives

There are a few different types of reactive adhesives. Reactive adhesives are adhesives that activate and set via a chemical, physical or catalytic reaction. They are generally used when a high level of strength is required.

Single-Component Adhesives

These are products that react with UV light, air humidity and even atmospheric oxygen. There is also the option that reacts with the exclusion of air. Single component adhesives are applied to one surface when gluing is necessary.

Two-component adhesives

Often found in adhesives that consist of liquid, paste and powder form there must be precisely mixed in proportions in order to work effectively. The administering time is reduced, with the setting commencing instantly. The joint must be installed in place until completely set, with the setting time depending upon the adhesive type and the temperature.

Holt melt adhesives

Hot melt adhesives react differently to other adhesives in that they require heat to be brought to a liquid form. The benefit of this adhesive is that it can be used to cover large areas when hot before cooling into a solid polymer. These adhesives are more environmentally friendly, safer and have greater longevity therefore they are popular in the industrial sector.

Pressure-Sensitive adhesives

Pressure-sensitive adhesives are products that stay perpetually adhesive. These materials are applied in cases where the adhesion is not meant to be permanent and consequent separation is required. Pressure-sensitive adhesives are generally used on adhesive films and tapes, on double-sided sticky tape and pads. They are often found on self-adhesive labels, films and sticky notes. As a result, pressure-sensitive adhesives tend to be found in homes and domestic settings, as well as schools and offices and, have a huge commercial appeal.

If you have any questions regarding adhesives and the best type for your task please do not hesitate to get in touch with the customer service team here at BC Profiles. They will be able to provide you with insight and answer any of your questions. Furthermore, we are capable of providing advice whether your issue is larger scale, such as an industrial project or smaller such as using adhesives for DIY purposes.