ADHESIVES

2 surfaces can only be joined with the establishment of bonds between them. The exact nature of the bond depends on the adhesive and the surface to be bonded. It is important when joining materials with true adhesives that the surfaces to be completely clean. Even a thin coating of grease or similar material may reduce considerably the effective surface tension of the surface, impairing the bond.

TYPES OF ADHESIVE
Can be divided into 3 types: a) Natural adhesives - can be made from animal, vegetable or mineral sources b) Synthetic Resin i) Thermosetting adhesives ii) Thermoplastic synthetic adhesives

Natural Adhesives
ANIMAL GLUES have been used for centuries in carpentry and joinery Obtained from the skin / bones of cattle and sheep Animal glues usually sold in powder and melted in warm water to give a solution of suitable viscosity. Cooling of the liquid after application results in rapid gelling, producing some strength and drying finally produces a tough and rigid product. Removal of the water from glue during curing is essential; the wood assist in this process, due to absorption.

 Glued joints in wood should be as strong as the wood. Damp condition will reduce strength of glue. Animal glue is not suitable for external use unless adequately protected from moisture. The glue will harden gradually in the pot but can be softened by reheating with water. If a failure occurs in such items it is easy to carry out repairs by softening the glue with water.

Animal Glues

CASEIN GLUES It is derived as a precipitate from skimmed milk by the action of acids. Glues are obtained in powder form that also contain alkaline solvent, necessary to dissolve the glue on addition of water. Mixing is carried out in cold and setting is partly by evaporation or absorption of water and partly by a natural gelation process. Its adhesion to porous material is good Its moisture resistance is superior than animal glue

Casein Glue A Dry Glue Derived From Milk

VEGETABLE GLUE Made from starches or dextrin low cost limited strength and limited moisture resistance Gum Arabic is a water soluble vegetable adhesive often used on stamps and gummed paper envelopes.

 Cellulose Powder A Type of Vegetable Adhesive

Wheat Paste A Type of Vegetable Adhesive

THERMOSETTING ADHESIVES
UREA FORMALDEHYDE One of the commonest adhesives in joinery for general purposes, producing a strong rigid joint if the glue-line is thin. It provides a strong adhesion in a permanently dry environment, cures fast, and is relatively cheap.

To make the adhesive, formaldehyde and urea in aqueous solution are allowed to react together to a certain stage and the reaction is then stopped while the resin is still liquid. They are best suited for joining porous material such as wood. It is used for fabrication of flush colours, laminated timber and decorative laminates. It has a good water resistance but if very hot water or prolonged wetting it could breaks the resin down.

MELAMINE FORMALDEHYDE RESIN ADHESIVES Supplied in powder form & mixed with water to give a colourless resin. Set on heating to 100C Give good weather resistance & expensive than urea formaldehyde adhesive

PHENOL FORMALDEHYDE available as liquids that polymerise on heating to temperature over 100C. Used for assembly of plywood sheets The resin is applied,the sheets formed and the laminates is then subjected to a hot press that causes hardening in a period of about 5 min. Cold-curing phenolic adhesives are also available. Can be applied for Plywood, block boards, flush doors

EPOXY RESINS It form a good bond with almost any material. It is widely used for structural joints between many types of material including glass, metal, thermosetting plastics and concrete. Have excellent mechanical strength Have excellent creep resistance Resistant to weather, acids, alkalis and most hydrocarbon.

Epoxy Resin

Epoxy Resin

Alkyl Cyanoacrylate Adhesives Have advantage of polymerising very rapidly when spread in thin films. The reaction being catalysed by water which, in the very small quantities required, is present on most surfaces. Expensive so uses are confined to bonding of small objects having surfaces that closely conform to one another. They form the basis of Superglues. Must be handled with care to avoid bonding of skin tissues.

THERMOPLASTIC ADHESIVES
Setting action of these may due to cooling, solvent evaporation or emulsion coalescence. This adhesive is more flexible but weaker amd more prone to creep than thermosetting adhesives. So, they are normally not used for structural purposes.

POLYVINYL ACETATE Most important thermoplastic adhesive in building. Chief application being as a wood adhesive for internal use and as a bonding agent for concrete. Most commonly used in emulsion form This polymer is obtained from acetylene & acetic acid. The adhesive sets when the solid particles, on evaporation or absorption of the moisture, cohere to form a tough, clear film which is no longer water soluble.

Polyvinyl Acetate Used For Book Binding

BITUMINOUS ADHESIVES Form good bonds with a number of materials Moisture resistant Flexible Natural or Synthetic rubber & solvents may be included to give the desired combination of elasticity and strength. Can be obtained in 3 form that is a) Water Based Emulsion b) Solvent Types c) Hot-Applied Varieties

Water Based Emulsions - Form an effective bond between porous materials in situations where long term tensile stresses are not present. - Also used for laying wood-block flooring and PVC or thermoplastic tiles Hot-Applied Varieties - Used for wood-block flooring and in built-up felt roofing. - Application temperature in the region of 150C 200C

Solvent Types - Used in laying linoleum and for PVC and thermoplastic tiles though test should be carried out to ensure that staining doesnt occur. - Both solvent and emulsion types rely on some degree of absorbency in the substrate to allow absorption / evaporation of the water or solvent.

RUBBER BASED ADHESIVES The most important rubber based adhesives in the construction industry are contact adhesives The adhesive is applied to both surfaces and after solvent evaporation, the surfaces are carefully brought together, giving immediate auto-adhesion. Latexes such as styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) are widely used for floor coverings. Latex-modified cements are used for bonding ceramic tiles to a variety of backgrounds, including metal.

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