9 minute read
A STICKY SITUATION
Please release me, let me go…. or not
To most of us glue, is well, just glue; we generally look to glue sticks and for more sticking power we turn to clear glue with the final resort being superglue. But there is so much more to this than just the old standbys. There are hundreds of brand name out there and glue for almost all eventualities, we will look at the different glues in this article and their uses with a couple of fun facts and handy tips to keep you glued!
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History
Believe it or not, glue has been produced and used by man for more than 200 000 years! Neanderthals made tar from the dry distillation of birch bark for use in binding stone tools to wooden handles. The ancient Egyptians also used glues but these were derived from milk of all things. Other areas of the world developed glues from different sources as diverse as fish, and various animal products.
From that inauspicious start we arrive in the modern day and the variety of glues available are truly staggering. There are 9 types of glue that form the foundation of all the different adhesives available today: Epoxy, polyurethane, cyanoacrylate, polyvinyl acetate, silicone, rubber cement, solvent cement, UV adhesive and spray adhesives. They are all multipurpose and provide different benefits that make them suitable for solving more specific problems.
We will look at the various glues and their uses and even their ancestry to see where the glue came from and how it evolved into what it is today.
Superglue
Superglue is made from a cyanoacrylate monomer. Due to its strong bond and fast-drying, superglue has many household, medical, and industrial uses. It is one of the fastest bonding and curing glues that polymerise when exposed to moisture and create very strong bonds –just ask anyone that has accidentally managed to glue the lid onto the tube!
Applications and Advantages
Superglue can be used on glass, leather, ceramic, metal, wood, ceramic, and some plastics, it will not bond on some plastics, so you may want to opt for a different glue if you are unsure. Superglue comes in different viscosities and depending on this will have different drying times.
Disadvantages
Super glue won’t bond effectively to smooth plastic. If there are moving parts or impact, superglue has little impact and shear strength and the bond will fail rather quickly.
Rubber cement
Rubber Cement is a fast-acting adhesive, ideal for scrapbooking arts and crafts but is also used for most inflatable repairs. The value for crafters is that it won’t wrinkle or damage delicate materials like newspaper clippings and photos. It works well with inflatable repairs because it remains flexible when dry.
Also known as Contact Cement, it’s made from elastomer polymers like solid rubber that is dissolved in a solvent like a heptane or acetone. When it dries the solvent evaporates. The final product is a gentle glue you can peel off after setting and roll between your fingers like putty.
White Craft Glue
White craft glue is made from Polyvinyl acetate, or PVA, and is used for gluing porous materials, arts & crafts, porous pottery, cloth, paper, and wood. It takes one hour to set but will cure effectively within 24 hours. It works best when the item is clamped down until the glue sets and dries completely – to achieve enough strength. When it dries it is flexible and clear. However, you can mix in pigments, dyes or fine glitter to create a different effect for arts and crafts.
Applications and Advantages
White craft glue is used to bond porous, lightweight materials used in crafts, it is water based and is non-toxic or has low toxicity. It’s easy to clean with water and suitable for use by children.
Disadvantages
The bond is not very strong, so its suitable for small projects that are not heavy. It will not bond smooth, non-porous surfaces together and is not water resistant.
Hot glue
Hot glue is a thermoplastic adhesive that comes in sticks and is applied with a suitable Hot glue gun. This is a very versatile glue; it melts at high temperature and forms a strong bond as it cools and solidifies.
Hot glue comes in different varieties due to different polymers used, it is excellent at filling in gaps and for use on both nonporous and porous surfaces.
Applications and Advantages
Hot glue can be used to bond Styrofoam, glass, fabrics, paper, plastics, ceramic, wood, and paper.
Often used in arts and crafts, to bond books spines, and boxes. In addition to its versatility, hot glue dries and cures fast and is very convenient.
Disadvantages
Unfortunately, it’s not heat resistant and won’t be suitable for areas with extreme temperatures.
Hot glue doesn’t handle pressure and weight well since it isn’t structurally sound.
Wood Glue
This is a water-based glue similar in composition to craft glue since it is made from vinyl acetate polymers, but it’s both water-resistant and heat-resistant. Often used to glue wood, it doesn’t require much securing as it gets tacky fast. Wood glue will set in under one hour but it’ll get its full strength within 24 hours.
a. Type-I – this glue is waterproof b. Type-II – this glue is temperature resistant
You can use both types I & II in outdoor or indoor situations.
c. Type-III – only for use on interior applications, it’s not water-resistant.
Applications and Advantages
This is the aliphatic resin glue, carpenters glue, or yellow glue polyvinyl acetate glue (PVA); but aliphatic resin (modern wood glue) is more water and temperature resistant.
Aliphatic resin is excellent for bonding wood (the porous type) giving great bond strength – but may bond other porous
Disadvantages
Despite having the advantage of being both water-resistant (but not fully waterproof) and heat-resistant, this yellow wood glue won’t bond with any nonporous materials.
Epoxy
Epoxy adhesive is a glue created for high performance, these are durable and hard adhesives that bond on different substrates even in extreme conditions.
Epoxy (two-component epoxy) offers high cohesive strength and attractive gap-filling capability. It has a high curing speed. The adhesive comes in two parts; which are the resin and the curing agent.
Applications and Advantages
Epoxy will bond to both the non-porous and porous materials so it’s multi-purpose glue; like lightweight glass, metal, plastic, and paper.
In addition to being resistant to extreme heat, epoxy is fully waterproof, handles weight well. It is also solvent-resistant.
Disadvantages
To achieve a quality that is desirable you must carefully mix 2 components in the right proportions evenly, this can be fiddly. If the two components are not equal, the epoxy won’t work well. It can also be quite messy.
Polyurethane
Much like epoxy, polyurethane can be bought in one or two-part systems. It is a marine grade, completely waterproof adhesive that can withstand extremely high tensile strength. If you need to bond plastics, concrete, aluminium, steel, wood or any other material for a lifetime, the polyurethane is the ultimate way to go about it.
Spray Glue
Spray glue is a multi-purpose adhesive that is intended for use on various surfaces with a large area. The durability and strength of the glue can vary according to the material it is produced for. Spray glue can be used for ordinary crafts, household repairs and even office uses. Simply spray one or both the surfaces to be joined directly with the can to create a thin and uniform adhesive layer.
Glue Stick
You must have used these in childhood and are probably still. Glue sticks contain a cylindrical roll of soft adhesive inside a plastic tube that can be directly applied to the required surface by rubbing. It dries rapidly once applied and is very userfriendly in terms of both handling and cleaning. Good quality glue sticks offer durable adhesion but, in some instances, especially with lower quality brands, the adhesion fades.
Glitter Glue
Glitter glue is a fancy crafting glue that is quite popular among kids. Ideal for arts and crafts. These come in a selection of bright colours that sometimes have a metallic finish as well. This glue comes in slender plastic tubes for easy handling. Plus, it dries quickly and can be removed by simply peeling it off of the surface or by applying common solvents in case of fabric stains.
Glue Pen
Glue pens usually contain a clear liquid adhesive that dries quickly and provides a neat, transparent finish. They are available with differently shaped tips and are suitable for creating thin lines to fill in small cracks and finely join small objects. Use it on small items for a precise and accurate fastening. Make sure that the tip is appropriate for the task at hand.
Glue Dots
Glue dots are a form of solidified adhesives that are normally sold in rolls, sheets, or dispensers specially designed for this purpose, facilitating easy application. These sticky dots can be conveniently put anywhere, and the best part is that they are removable. These have substantially long-lasting bonds for lightweight objects.
Fabric Adhesives
Fabric adhesives is similar to polyvinyl acetate (PVA).
This adhesive will bond either heavyweight or lightweight fabric, but ensure to use a fabric glue that fits the drape and hang of the project.
These glues can be washed and sometimes, dry-cleaned. They are useful for mending hems and the like without needing to sew the garment.
Which type of adhesive should I use?
So now that you have a good understanding of the different types of adhesives you should be able to pick the correct glue for your project. If not, here is a quick guide to choosing the right type of glue:
• Wood – PVA Glue or Wood Glue
• Metal – Epoxy Resin
• Glass – Silicone Adhesive
• Plastic – Polyurethane Glue
• Paper – Rubber Cement or PVA Glue
• Card – Spray Adhesive
• Leather – PVA glue
• Rubber – Rubber Cement
• PVC – Solvent Cement
• Ceramic – Silicone Adhesive
Clean your items
Before you start, ensure that the surface you are going to work on is clean, with no moisture, dust, or grease, as this will affect the bonding properties of the glue.
Keep some clean cloths and a piece of scrap cardboard nearby
• We are all aware that working with glue is a messy job, particularly if you are working with the wrong applicator. So, keep the cardboard and cloth close at hand to clean up any accidental spills you may make straight away.
Make sure your work area is properly ventilated.
• There are certain types of glue that contain some harmful chemicals, which emit toxic fumes. Make sure your workplace is properly ventilated to avoid inhaling any toxic odours.
Sand your material lightly where necessary.
• If you are working with materials like ceramics, wood, or metal, you need to give the surface a light sanding before you apply the glue. This action will assist the adhesive and provide a stronger connection.
Make sure you pre-plan.
• Before you start, envisage the progress of your project, where you will dry it, or how you will secure it. There is nothing worse than when you are halfway with your project, and you are not able to hold it properly, or you have nowhere to hang it to dry and glue is everywhere. �
