| For just about every possible surface man can find or | | | | remove oxidation, zinc galvanizing, oils or other |
| create there is an adhesive that will stick to it. | | | | treatments. |
| However, the reasons to use industrial engineering | | | | Plastics and Rubbers |
| adhesives are for the consistency in the properties of | | | | The versatile forms of plastic and rubber yield an |
| strength and temperature resistance that they bring to | | | | astonishing number of different adhesive applications |
| the production of finished goods. | | | | with a wide range of requirements. Plastic changes |
| The tricky part to choosing the most effective | | | | shape over time. Some designs are improved with a |
| adhesive is matching the conditions that your design | | | | flexible grade of a cyanoacrylate. Nothing is better |
| requires with the properties of the adhesive. | | | | than cyanoacrylate for bonding rubber. For many |
| If a design has failure built as a safeguard to another | | | | plastics an epoxy or toughened acrylic will be the |
| component the wrong adhesive would be the one that | | | | answer. Start with a review of the adhesive’s |
| was stronger than the failure point. Conversely, the | | | | temperature resistance, chemical and environmental |
| design that keeps the bench bonded to the wall | | | | resistance from the technical data sheets. |
| requires an adhesive that is strong enough for the | | | | Wood |
| anticipated passenger load. | | | | There are many wood adhesives and each is |
| Industrial advances in manufacturing have paralleled the | | | | designed to handle a particular requirement. Water |
| changes in the development of engineering adhesives, | | | | resistance is often a first factor in choosing the right |
| and widened the range of structural applications. It is | | | | adhesive. Joint design and stresses, chemical |
| therefore important to understand joint design as well | | | | exposure, existing finishes are all necessary to |
| as the stresses the bond area will undergo in all stages | | | | consider when choosing and applying any adhesive. |
| of production. | | | | The type, thickness and age of the wood being |
| Fabrics | | | | bonded may also have an effect on the adhesive |
| Fabric adhesives are used in the fashion industry, auto | | | | selection. |
| and home furnishings. Items such as handbags, lamp | | | | Glass |
| shades, blinds and the sequins on dress shoes are all | | | | UV curable adhesives provide invisible structural |
| bonded with adhesives. Cyanoacrylates, water | | | | strength bonds that absorb the stresses between the |
| based adhesives and rubber cement have little long | | | | bonded pieces. Within the working range of |
| term resistance to water exposure, but can offer fast | | | | temperature and environmental conditions, UV is an |
| and flexible bonds to a wide variety of surfaces. | | | | excellent choice. Epoxy and acrylic adhesives bond |
| Metals | | | | glass in conditions of extreme conditions in |
| At least four adhesive types will bond metals very well | | | | temperature or environment. |
| - Anaerobics, Cyanoacrylates, Epoxies and Acrylics - | | | | Choosing the Right Glue |
| and each has its own set of special features. Metals | | | | The manufacturer is your best source of more |
| can be bonded to other metals or to other substrates | | | | information and will likely have Technical Support staff |
| like plastic or glass. Does your design need fast | | | | to assist with recommendations and samples. Have |
| bonding? Cyanoacrylates might be the answer. Are | | | | your notes ready about the substrates to be bonded, |
| there mated surfaces requiring a strong flexible seal? | | | | the joint design and the stresses or temperature |
| Liquid gasket materials are a type of anaerobic | | | | considerations. Without that information, it is inadvisable |
| adhesive. Toughened acrylics and epoxies each offer | | | | to suggest a product. There are some materials or |
| high strength solutions for joint integrity and shear | | | | conditions for which other methods of bonding are |
| resistance. | | | | recommended. |
| Some metals will need some surface preparation to | | | | |