Facts about Adhesives: Types, Applications, and Safety
For making a sky-touching aircraft or children’s toys, we need the assistance of an adhesive. It is remarkable to see that both the heavy load materials and lightweight materials work on the same principle of adhesion, which means bonding.
It is ideal to say that Adhesives are used in all walks of life. Its application is not limited to any special arena, but the way it is used and the form in which it is used differ according to the nature of the work field.
Adhesives are essential components that are used equally in small households and large industries. Some are found in the form of glue, some are granular in nature, and some in the form of lubricants and sprays.
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It is not just about its physical appearance, each has a different function also. Some are used for permanent bonding and some for temporary bonding. So, it is necessary to understand the nature of the adhesives before you buy one.
What are Adhesives?
Adhesive is an umbrella term. It includes everything from the casual glues that we use for household purposes to the inorganic portland cement that are used for high-street constructional purposes. In either way, Adhesives must be considered a prominent component needed for everyday use.
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Criteria for Selecting Adhesives
- Know the nature of the material to be bonded
- Focus on environment condition and cleaning ability
- Understand production and service requirements
- Look at the safety requirements and durability
- Consider mechanical and chemical challenges
Different Types of Adhesives
For binding your kid’s craftwork, joining the broken flower vase, and mending wooden artworks you need adhesives. Adhesives are generally classified according to their origin, physical form, chemical nature, area of application, source, and most importantly depending upon its shelf life, that is durability.
It is always ideal to choose adhesives depending upon the purpose and the area of application. Now, let’s take a look at some of the adhesives, their respective properties, and the fields in which they are highly preferred.
Organic Adhesives and Synthetic Adhesives
According to the origin, Adhesives are grouped as organic and synthetic adhesives. Organic adhesives are the best choice for household works and biomedical applications. As the name suggests, they are bioadhesives that are made of resins and dextrin (vegetable starch and animal-based adhesives).
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It is powerful to bond furniture, toys, papers, and other household materials, but it is not ideal to use in heavy load materials. Birch-bar-tar, Liquid animal glue, Natural rubber-based sticky adhesives are some organic adhesives. They are highly preferred in the wood industry, food industry, and biomedical sectors.
Organic Adhesives have their own limitations. When the needs and development progressed, man-made adhesives found a rapid expansion. Today in almost all the arena synthetic adhesives have found an imperative stature. They are mostly preferred in the biomedical field, paper, plastic, shoe industry, cosmetic packaging, electronic and engineering industry.
Based on the chemical composition synthetic adhesives are classified as Thermosetting adhesives, Thermoplastic adhesives, Elastomeric adhesives, and Polymer alloys.
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Some of the commonly used synthetic adhesives are:
- Epoxies
- Polyurethanes
- Polyimides
- Nitrile
- Acrylics
- Neoprene
- Hot Melts
Structural and non-structural Adhesives
Based on the function, adhesives are classified into two
- Structural
- Non-structural adhesives.
Structural adhesives are glues that have a robust bonding property, which means it can bear heavy loads. They are mostly used in the aerospace industry, workstation configuration, engineering sectors, and to bond other heavy load materials.
The structural adhesives make the substances strong enough to hold the load, and it also resists heat by giving excellent finishing. They are suitable to operate in the absence of air.
Epoxies, methacrylates, Contact bond adhesives, cyanoacrylate, UV curing adhesives, pressure-sensitive adhesives, and anaerobic adhesives are commonly used structural adhesives.
Now in the case of non -structural adhesives, it is generally used to bond lightweight materials like fiberglass, cushion, gaskets, wood, decorative items, rubber, metals, and plastics. Usually, non-structural adhesives show high resistance to heat, water, and plasticizers. Gums, rubber-based adhesives, wood glue, and white glue are highly preferred among non-structural adhesives.
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Liquid and Other forms of Adhesives
Based on the physical formations, adhesives are classified as:
- Liquid adhesives
- Paste adhesives,
- Granular adhesives
- Sticky tape adhesives
The liquid, powder, or paste adhesives are easy to apply, and it can be used to fill a large area since it is highly malleable. They are used in the lamination process, and flooring works. Also, liquid adhesives like gum and other paste-like glues are used for decorative art and stationery works.
In the case of adhesive tapes, they are highly preferred in industrial usage to even out uneven surfaces. It is clean and doesn’t include any hazardous components. Moreover, tapes are considered as pressure-sensitive adhesives.
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Focus on Storage and Safety
The shelf life and safety preference of adhesives are devised by categorizing them as solvent-based, water-based, hot-melt, and reactive. When you choose an adhesive it is important to understand the general principles and storage preference that is explained through the safety data sheet and technical datasheet.
Let us see some user-friendly guidelines you need to follow while handling an adhesive.
- Preserve it in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated area, not above 120०F and not below 50०F.
- Avoid water contact using a tight lid or dry air.
- Never use expired adhesives as it can have an adverse effect
- Provide awareness on health risks and protection equipment in workplaces
- Be aware of consumer protection and related terms and conditions.
Bottomline
Adhesives are an essential part of life hack equipment. So, it is mandatory to understand the nature and working principle of adhesives by following the responsible guidelines issued by Adhesive Sealant Council and FEICA.
Choosing an adhesive by understanding your work area should be the prime concern. Also, storage and safety should be equally considered while using adhesives. If you are looking for a wide array of adhesives, then you are in the right place, at Gokimico, you will find a plethora of choices that are suitable for households as well as industrial applications.
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