Glues and Adhesives
Adhesive, also known as glue, cement, mucilage, or paste, is any non-metallic substance applied to one or both surfaces of two separate items that binds them together and resists their separation. Glues are derived from natural sources (plant and animal byproducts), while adhesives are synthetic. But in everyday usage, the words are practically synonymous. Manufacturers use them interchangeably, and so do we.
What Is Adhesive Made Of?
Animal-based adhesives are made from components such as albumin, beeswax, casein, gelatin rendered from hides, hooves, or bones, and shellac. Plant-based adhesives are made from components such as dextrin, natural resins (e.g., gum arabic, balsam, etc.), oils and waxes (e.g., linseed oil), soybean protein, and starch.
Adhesive Glue Usage
Adhesive, any substance that is capable of holding materials together in a functional manner by surface attachment that resists separation. “Adhesive” as a general term includes cement, mucilage, glue, and paste—terms that are often used interchangeably for any organic material that forms an adhesive bond. There are two types of adhesives that harden by drying: solvent-based adhesives and polymer dispersion adhesives, also known as emulsion adhesives. Solvent-based adhesives are a mixture of ingredients (typically polymers) dissolved in a solvent.
