Is the word adhesive new to you? Have you ever used adhesives before? Can you recall the time you used it and what you used it for? If the answer is yes to the first question, do not worry. The case may be that you might be familiar with tapes but not adhesives. However, before diving into the conversation about the types of adhesives, it is essential first to know your knowledge about adhesives. So, what do you think are adhesives, and what are they used for? Take a moment to think about these questions before reading ahead.
What is an Adhesive?
In simple words, an adhesive is a substance that glues or holds two materials together.
Types of Adhesives
There are various types of adhesives. For example, there are polymer dispersion and solvent-based adhesives. Further, they can be categorized into Polyurethane, epoxy, acrylic, polyimide adhesives, liquid, pellets, pastes, and more. There are many basic and advanced types of adhesives, too, such as the RFID tape (Radio frequency identification). This tape is used to block the RFID waves and protect materials from them.
Epoxy Resin
These polyepoxides are polymeric thermoset substances containing epoxide groups formed from a reaction between chemical compounds. They are considered the strongest adhesives. Even epoxy resins are divided into different types, including Epoxy Resin Diluents, Glycidylamine Epoxy Resins, Aliphatic Epoxy Resins, and more. Some of the examples of epoxy resins are diglycidyl ether bisphenol F and the diglycidyl ether bisphenol-A.
Polyurethane Adhesive
They are adhesives formed by the reaction of isocyanates and polyols. The urethane groups give them the property of adhesion. An example of them is the Gorilla Glue. These adhesives are used to glue together building materials. The materials can include glass, concrete, and wood.
The adhesives play a significant role in our daily lives; they are used in homes, offices, industries, and overall buildings. Besides the adhesive tapes, there are also weather strips used to prevent rainwater from flowing inside the buildings or the surface it is used on.
With the advancing and evolving world, new developments are being made, and the chemical industry can be seen advancing too. As a result of these advancements, new reactions occur between polymers resulting in stronger and better adhesives. The above information only mentions a few of the types and examples of adhesives, The world of adhesives is, in fact, relatively larger.