Adhesives, also known as glues or cements, are substances that bond materials together. They are typically organic polymers that can be either synthetic or natural. Adhesives work by penetration and/or wetting actions to form intermolecular bonds at the interface between the adherends. Proper adhesive selection is important for any industrial manufacturing application to guarantee optimum performance.

Types of Industrial Adhesives

There are different types of adhesives used in various manufacturing industries based on their chemical composition and curing mechanism. Some of the main types are:

Epoxy Adhesives

Epoxy adhesives are thermosetting polymers that are cured by heat or chemical hardeners to form exceptionally strong bonds. They offer high shear and peel strength even at elevated temperatures. Epoxies are widely used in applications like automotive and aerospace parts assembly and electronics component bonding.

Cyanoacrylate Adhesives

Also known as super glues or instant adhesives, cyanoacrylates rapidly bond most materials including plastics, rubbers and metals. They cure at room temperature when confined in a thin bond line. Cyanoacrylates find applications in precision assembly, medical device manufacturing and rapid prototyping.

Rubber and Silicone Adhesives

These are high-temperature resistant Industrial Adhesives that remain flexible after curing. Rubber adhesives bond a variety of substrates like plastics, composites and glass. Silicone adhesives have very high dielectric strength and sealant properties. They effectively bond dissimilar materials.

Polyurethane Adhesives

Polyurethane adhesives cure through a reaction of isocyanates with polyols or polyamines. They are highly resistant to moisture, weathering and vibration. Two-part polyurethane adhesives deliver extremely durable bonds for applications like wind turbine blade bonding and automotive exterior trims.

Hot Melt Adhesives

As the name suggests, these are solid adhesives that melt and adhere upon application of heat. They rapidly bond substrates without any solvents. Common examples are ethylene-vinyl acetate and polyolefin hot melts. The solvent-free and instant setting properties of hot melts make them suitable for packaging and assembly operations.

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