Adhesives and/or Glue compounds that are in a semi-liquid or liquid state, the compound has the properties to bond or adhere items together. Adhesives and Glues may come form synthetic or natural sources. Some adhesives of the present have become very important to the modern world and industries such as construction; this is because they are extremely strong. I would list the types of materials that can be bonded together using Adhesives and Glue however this would be a very hard task as the list is virtually limitless, saying that tho Adhesives and Glues are extremely useful (effective) for the bonding of thin materials. Adhesives and Glue can be thermally and electrically conductive or non conductive and they usually require a controlled temperature, different temperatures will also affect the way in which it sets, and different temperatures may be required for different types of Adhesives.

Different Types of Adhesives and Glues

Drying Adhesives

Drying Adhesives contain a mixture of different ingredients; these ingredients are typically polymers are dissolved in a solvent. A few examples of members of the Drying Adhesive family are rubber cements and white glues. Drying Adhesives work quite simply like this: The Adhesive hardens as the solvent evaporates. Drying Adhesives can adhere to many different materials and at different strengths; this all depends of the Adhesives chemical composition. Although different strengths of this Adhesive can be made they are typically weak and commonly used for household appliances.

Synthetic Adhesives

A few examples of Synthetic Adhesives are:

• Thermosetting Adhesives


• Thermoplastic Adhesives


• Elastomers

Contact Adhesives

Contact Adhesives work in a different way and require quite a lot of time to dry, both surfaces of the item you wish to bond must have this adhesive applied to them, before the two surfaces may be pushed together, you must allow a period of time for the Adhesive to dry. Some types of contact adhesives can even require as long as 24hours before you can even attempt to press the two surfaces together. Ones the correct amount of time has been given for the Adhesive to dry the two materials may be pushed together. Contact Adhesives ones ready do not take much time to set at all, you may not even need to put much pressure on the two parts being joined, a clamp is certainly not required for this type of Adhesive.

Hot Adhesives

Hot Adhesives are also widely known as Hot Melt Adhesives, these Adhesives have to be applied hot and as they cool off they harden, Hot Adhesives are simply Thermoplastics. They can bond a very wide range of materials and are very easy to use, because of this they have become very popular for crafts. One method that Hot Adhesives may be applied is by using a Glue Gun. The solid Adhesive is melted by the glue gun, the glue gun is then used to push the melted adhesive through the barrel of the gun and onto the material that it is needed, at this point it solidifies and creates a bond.