Which Glues to Choose

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Definition
W H AT A D H E S I V E W O R K S B E S T F O R YO U R A P P L I C AT I O N Glue/Adhesive [gloo]/[ad-hee-siv, -ziv] noun:
1. A material used to stick two substrates or parts together.
Types of Adhesives 2. A substance capable of holding materials together by surface attachment.

Acrylic: WORKS BEST Anaerobic: WORKS BEST

SYMBOL KEY A structural adhesive capable of bonding a BONDING One-part adhesive that cures only in the BONDING CYLINDRICAL JOINT
broad range of substrates with good flexibility. absence of air. Designed for locking screws,
Substrates (what’s getting glued)
nuts, bolts and/or retaining bearings.
CHARAC TERIS TIC S C HARAC TE RI S TI C S

STRESSES
Fabric Glass Metal Paper One of the primary benefits of an adhesive is
Cyanoacrylate: WORKS BEST Epoxy: WORKS BEST that it holds something together resisting the
stress trying to pull it apart.
One-part adhesive that cures instantly on BONDING Epoxies provide high strength bonds on a BONDING
Shear stress
contact with matted surfaces. Excellent wide variety of substrates. Tensile stress is
is across the
adhesion to a variety of substrates. exerted equally
Plastic Rubber Wood adhesive bond.
over the entire
CHARAC TERIS TIC S C HARAC TE RI S TI C S The bonded
joint straight and
materials are
Characteristics (features of the adhesive) away from the
forced to slide
adhesive bond.
over each other.

Hot Melt: WORKS BEST Polyurethane: WORKS BEST Cleavage stress Peel stress is
A thermal plastic material melted and applied BONDING Superior bonds with minimal surface prep for BONDING is concentrated concentrated
Fast Medium Slow Water-like at one edge and along a thin line
Cure Cure Cure Consistency
in a molten state, wetting the surface. As it high performance thermoplastics. Cures via a exerts a prying at the bond’s
cools, it solidifies forming a bond. catalyst, heat or air evaporation. force on the edge. One
CHARAC TERIS TIC S C HARAC TE RI S TI C S bond. surface is flexible.

Robots available
Honey-like Holds Holds in Weak Bond
for adhesive
Consistency Outdoors Varied Temps Strength Silicone: WORKS BEST Solvent-based: WORKS BEST
application
One component adhesive that cures to BONDING One-part solvent evaporation system with BONDING
automation.
a tough, rubbery solid upon exposure to a rubber or plastic base. Good product for
Beep.
moisture in the air. laminating or covering a large surface.
CO Boop.
Strong Bond Can be Can be Thermal & CHARAC TERIS TIC S C HARAC TE RI S TI C S RN T
ER IN
Strength Exposed to Exposed to Electrical
Chemicals Water Properties
Available / JO

Water-based: WORKS BEST

5 STEPS TO ENSURE OPTIMUM PERFORMANCE
One-part evaporation system. Water-based BONDING
I. Joint Design - proper design can maximize adhesive performance.
DID YOU KNOW? adhesives can be used in a wide variety of
non-structural bonding applications.
II. Surface Preparation - amount of preparation should be consistent with your requirements.
III. Application Methods - manual, pneumatic, automated, metering and mixing.
The term “off to the glue factory” C HARAC TERIS TIC S
IV. Heat Curing Equipment - many methods available.
refers to before the 20th century when
/
BUTT

deceased horses were made into glue by V. Pressure Equipment - must provide uniform pressure over the entire bonded area.
boiling down their hooves and hides. Many
other animals were used to make glue Infographic created by
including fish and rabbits. Synthetic glues LAP
JOINT

have replaced the use of animal glues, JOINT

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except in extremely rare cases.
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