Six Types of Glue and Their Uses
There are many different types of glue, and each one has its distinctive uses. It is important to find the right glue for your bonding needs. Read on to discover six different types of glue and how to use them for the best results.
When gluing household items or crafts you can often use a basic glue, while for industry use such as the automotive industry and other commercial trades, a high-performance glue will be necessary.
Water-Based Glues
Water-based glues such as PVA or white glues are common and great for basic glue jobs, such as crafts, paper, school lessons and household items. This glue is sometimes called carpenter’s glue or wood glue because it is good for bonding wood or paper and other porous materials. These glues include vegetable glues, resin cements and protein glues.
Super Glues
Super glues are high-performance glues with stronger effects than water-based glue, so you only need to use a small amount. This glue sets very quickly so is ideal for difficult surfaces which are hard to hold together while they bond. Perfect for hard surfaces, super glue or cyanoacrylate is good for low-temperature applications. Super glue is so effective that one square inch of super glue can lift one tonne.
Two-Part Glues
Adhesives in two parts are strong glues ideal for technical and industrial work, such as boat building and roofing. These glues come in two parts that mix together to start a chemical reaction that creates the bonding power. This makes them safer than super glue because they only work when mixed together. Two-part glues include polyurethanes, epoxies and acrylics.
Silicone Sealant
Silicone, such as CT1, is ideal for gluing many different materials, including metals. A metal bonding adhesive needs to be strong and able to fix two smooth metal surfaces together. Silicon sealant is also resistant to weather, so it is good for jobs where waterproofing is needed.
Anaerobic Glue
Anaerobic adhesive is ideal for industrial applications, as it is very strong. This is ideal for use in the automotive industry and for gluing farming equipment and mechanical parts.
Contact Adhesive
Contact adhesives are synthetic rubber-based resins which can be used to bond textiles, leather, glass and other materials. The bond created from this adhesive is very strong and also flexible, so it is a useful choice.