Learn-it: Adhesives

Which adhesive should I use?

Pro Tips
Fabric,
Wood/ Fiberglass Poly- Ceramic/
Metal Rubber PVC* Glass Plastic* Paper, Canvas Plaster Concrete* Check the label before you do anything
Plywood (FRP) carbonate Brick “I want to adhere two different to make sure it works on your materials in your environment - each
Leather adhesive has different variations.
Epoxy Epoxy Epoxy Epoxy Epoxy Epoxy Epoxy Epoxy Epoxy Epoxy Epoxy Epoxy Epoxy materials!”
Do you need to use an adhesive?
Acrylic Acrylic Acrylic Acrylic Acrylic Acrylic Acrylic Acrylic Acrylic Acrylic Acrylic Acrylic Acrylic
REACTIVE

Answer: Find the adhesive that is compatible Would a mechanical fastener like a nail or bolt work better?
Urethane Urethane Urethane Urethane Urethane Urethane Urethane Urethane Urethane Urethane Urethane Urethane Urethane with both of them Work quickly.
Polyurethane Polyurethane Polyurethane Polyurethane Polyurethane Polyurethane Polyurethane Polyurethane Polyurethane Polyurethane Polyurethane Polyurethane Polyurethane Have all your pieces ready to be adhered before you open the
Example: I want to adhere wood to fabric – polyurethane, adhesive package/bottle.
Cyanoacrylate Cyanoacrylate Cyanoacrylate Cyanoacrylate Cyanoacrylate Cyanoacrylate Cyanoacrylate Cyanoacrylate Cyanoacrylate Cyanoacrylate Cyanoacrylate Cyanoacrylate Cyanoacrylate cyanoacrylate, PVA, contact adhesive, and construction
Silicone Silicone Silicone Silicone Silicone Silicone Silicone Silicone Silicone Silicone Silicone Silicone Silicone adhesive adhere to wood and fabric. I choose one of these Clean all surfaces
depending on my needs.
before you adhere them to ensure the strongest bond.

PVA PVA PVA PVA PVA PVA PVA PVA PVA PVA PVA PVA PVA Sand metal
REACTIVE

and then wipe it clean! Microscopic rust will weaken the bond.
Contact Contact Contact Contact Contact Contact Contact Contact Contact Contact Contact Contact Contact Want more specific
NON-

Adhesive Adhesive Adhesive Adhesive Adhesive Adhesive Adhesive Adhesive Adhesive Adhesive Adhesive Adhesive Adhesive advice? Use in well-ventilated areas.
Hot glue Hot glue Hot glue Hot glue Hot glue Hot glue Hot glue Hot glue Hot glue Hot glue Hot glue Hot glue Hot glue Visit This-To-That Don’t ever inhale adhesive fumes.
Construction Construction Construction Construction Construction Construction Construction Construction Construction Construction Construction Construction Construction Does your adhesive need to be clamped?
adhesive adhesive adhesive adhesive adhesive adhesive adhesive adhesive adhesive adhesive adhesive adhesive adhesive
The industry evaluates adhesives based on two things:
* PVC is best adhered * Most plastic * Concrete itself can
to itself with a adhesives only work act as its adhesive shear strength and peel strength
solvent-based with particular
adhesive that plastics. Confirm that

Reactive adhesives Non-reactive adhesives

chemically “melts” the adhesive will work
the PVC together. with your plastic.

bond through a chemical reaction – often used structurally bond through a physical change – often used non-structurally

Epoxy Acrylic Silicone Urethane Cyanoacrylate PVA Construction Hot glue Contact
(Super glue) polyvinyl acetate
(wood glue and white glue) adhesive adhesive
Two-part curing Two-part curing Cures with water on the piece Two-part curing Cools to cure
or humidity in the air Cures with water on the piece or Cures by the evaporation of its
Strongest structural adhesive High-strength bonding Highly elastic bond Cures by the evaporation of its Cures by the evaporation of its Works on most materials,
Use when flexibility between
humidity in the air solvent
(vs. urethane and acrylic) – high without the surface Used as a sealant – only has For the best adhesion, dab the pieces to be solvent solvent especially porous surfaces
shear and peel strength preparation (vs. urethane and dissimilar materials glued with a damp cloth before adding the
enough adhesive capabilities super glue
acrylic) Used on porous materials Begin to harden quickly and
Highest temperature resistance to hold onto the two pieces
Hardens in 2 – 120 minutes The reaction is exothermic (it releases heat as it Wood, paper, cloth are best remain flexible when dry Hardens in 5 – 30 min
(vs. urethane and acrylic) Bonds to a wide variety of reacts), so be careful when gluing fabrics such
which it is sealing between Gains full strength in 6 hours to 7 days Hardens in 15 – 60 sec Gains full strength in 24 hours
materials as cotton/wool because they could catch fire Gains full strength in 24 hours
Even hard-to-bond plastics and No need to clamp No need to clamp
Hardens between 2 – 60 min oily metals Impact resistant and durable Not actually used structurally due to Hardens in 5 – 10 min Hardens in 10 – 30 min No need to clamp
Parts harden together instantly
Gains full strength in 24 hours Hardens in 20 – 40 min Use for energy absorption its brittleness (low shear strength) Gains full strength in 24 hours Gains full strength in 12 – 24 hours
Gains full strength in 24 – 72 hours No or low volatile organic
Lower cost (vs. epoxy and acrylic) Apply on both surfaces to
Do NOT clamp (~2mm thickness with moisture in air) Use for small repairs that are not Clamp your pieces together No need to clamp compounds (VOCs – harsh
clamping may actually weaken the bond Hardens within 3-20 min Common brands: Devcon, Loctite, be joined, air dry, and bring
3M Scotch-Weld subject to much stress or A thick mixture of natural or chemicals for the environment) together; stick instantly
Gains full strength in 8 to 48 hrs No need to clamp Most other adhesives do not adhere to
Cures under a wide range of movement synthetic rubber dispersed in a and permanently. Made of a
temperature and humidity Excellent resistance to Use where the fit must be tight PVA after it is cured Good for filling spaces synthetic
No need to clamp solvent or water; the mixture
(vs. all other adhesives) temperature extremes, weather, Capillary action can draw in the glue into where varies depending on the between surfaces rubber (usually neoprene) dispers
there is little space for a thicker glue Common brands/names: carpenter's glue,
Tolerates moisture water, chemicals application ed in a solvent or water.
Excellent resistance to solvents, salt yellow glue (aliphatic resin), school Provide rigid-to-flexible low-
and dirty, unprepared surfaces e.g. Liquid Nails Heavy duty construction
water, UV light, impact Good for filling and sealing spaces glue, Elmer's glue, Titebond III Adheres nicely to large surfaces
adhesive: mixture of acrylic adhesive, strength bonds.
Good for filling spaces between such as plastic/wood laminate
Polyurethane
PVA, limestone, clay
Good for filling spaces between Stays very stretchy in most Hardens in 5 – 30 seconds
surfaces e.g. Liquid Nails Polyurethane They melt when heated and
surfaces conditions Gains full strength in 2 hours construction adhesive: mixture of solidify when cooled
Common brands: 3M Scotch-Weld, polyurethane, limestone, quartz
Common brands: Loctite, Devcon, JB Loctite, Lord Good for vertical and overhead Common superglues may soak into the
Weld, Titebond , 3M Scotch-Weld Cures with water on the piece surfaces Excellent for filling spaces Require special
applications because
they don't run or humidity in the air …especially with wood – leaving little glue on between surfaces dispensing equipment because
the surface, reducing the strength of the bond they come in rods
Speed up the curing process by Swells as it cures Common brands: Liquid Nails
Strongest when in a very thin layer and Common brands: Stanley, 3M
elevating the temperature
clamped
Common brands: Loctite, 3M, Permatex,
Dow Corning Hardens in 20-30 minutes Best on low-porosity materials
Gains full strength in 6 hours Not recommended to use on glass

Main types of reactive adhesives Apply in a thin layer and clamp Superglue can be used as a temporary Main types of non-reactive adhesives
clamp while stronger glue hardens by
Reactive two-part adhesives: base resin + hardener/curing agent  plastic or rubber Good moisture-resistance
adding a small amount to the ends of
Emulsion adhesive: adhesive + evaporative solvent  solvent evaporates and leaves the adhesive
It transforms into a thermoset polymer via a cross-linking process. Sandable and paintable the pieces being joined. behind
The reaction requires mixing. The adhesive is dissolved in solvent (water, other chemicals), so as the solvent evaporates it leaves the adhesive behind.
Works on most porous and non- Added to baking soda, acts as a hard,
Reactive one-part adhesive: needs UV light, heat, or moisture porous surfaces lightweight filler adhesive Hot melt: the adhesive is melted and applied
The one-part adhesive is a pre-mixed two-part adhesive, but the reaction needs UV light, heat, or moisture to begin

D-Lab
These are generally less common. Common brands: Gorilla Glue, Titebond Common brands: Loc-Tite, Permabond,
Eastman, Krazy glue

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