Glues and adhesives allow different elements to be joined together securely without the need for soldering, welding, mechanical fastening, etc.
Although often used interchangeably, glues and adhesives are not the same thing. Whilst all glues are adhesives, not all adhesives are glues. The key difference is that adhesives are synthetic, whilst glues are made from natural materials/sources
What are the main types of glues/adhesives?
There are actually quite a number of different types, and many of them have a specific purpose, in-terms of what they should be used for. The main types you are likely to see are outlined below.
– Wood glue: also known as polyvinyl acetate (PVA) adhesives, these glues are able to bond wood, paper, and some other non-porous materials. These are not suitable for metal, glass or plastic.
– Glue sticks: these are the ‘child-friendly’ glues such as Pritt Stick, which are fairly mild and are primarily for use with paper. These are sometimes also referred to as ‘Craft’ glues.
– Polyurethane glue: these polymer-based glues are able to bond wood, stone, metals, and plastics. Some have one component and some have two. Once cured, they can be painted or sanded.
– Epoxy adhesive: these involve mixing two components which react together, and there are versions for use on metals, plastics, wood, and concrete.
– Superglues: also known as cyanoacrylate adhesives, these are fast-acting and can be used to bond ceramics, glass, metals, woods, and more. Only a small amount of this is needed to create a strong bond.
– Construction adhesive: usually dispensed via a caulk gun, these adhesives can bond woods, concrete, metals, plastics, and more. As the name suggests, these are widely-used in the construction sphere.
Metal bonding adhesive
There are a number of firms who specialise in metal bonding adhesive solutions. Many of these companies also have useful online resources such as the examples seen here: ct1.com/product-applications/metal-to-metal-adhesive.
Whatever project you’re starting, it’s always worthwhile checking what type of adhesive is right for the job, to ensure everything goes smoothly.