Resistant Materials

Adhesives

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Learning objectives
Learning objectives

To understand that different adhesives are

used with different materials and for different
purposes.

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Joining components

There are two basic ways of joining materials:

1. temporary, using nuts and bolts, etc.

2. permanent, using adhesives.

In this section we are going to look at adhesives.

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Early adhesives

Early adhesives were made from animal bones.

They were strong but limited: they had to be heated to
melt in small pots in the workshop and were damaged by
heat, water and fungus.

Modern glues are made from synthetic polymers instead!

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Adhesives

When adhesives fail to stick things together it is usually

because of poor surface preparation. Dust and grease
are particular hazards. Grease from your hands may also
make the surface unsuitable for joining.
Prepare the surface before applying any adhesive, ensuring
there is no dust, grease or water on the surface. A smooth
surface is needed for PVA while a rough surface is required
for epoxy resin.

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PVA

PVA is a white, ready-mixed liquid, used for

joining porous materials including wood.
It is:
safe to use
not effective in damp conditions, although a
waterproof PVA is available
quick drying (it takes 2–4 hours to dry).
PVA will not fill gaps – you must make sure that the
pieces fit together well and use a clamp to join the two
pieces. Excess glue can be removed with a damp cloth.

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Using PVA

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Synthetic resins

Waterproof synthetic resin wood glues, such as Cascamite,

are used for building boats or making outdoor furniture.
Cascamite:
is a powder which has to be mixed with water
needs to be clamped while setting
is stronger than PVA
can be used as a filler.

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Contact adhesive

Contact adhesives can be used to join dissimilar

materials, such as plastic laminate and MDF.
Apply an even layer to both
surfaces to be joined.
Wait for 10–15 minutes until the
surfaces are touch dry. They do
not need clamping.
The surfaces will stick as soon as
they touch each other.
The pieces need to be lined up
carefully as they can not be repositioned.

Caution!
Use contact adhesives in a well ventilated area
because of fumes.
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Epoxy resin adhesive

Epoxy resin adhesives, such as Araldite, come in two parts:

the resin and the catalyst (hardener).

The two parts are mixed

together.
The hardening process
starts immediately and cures
to full strength within 24
hours.

Epoxy resin can be used to join a wide range of dissimilar

materials, but works best on a slightly rough surface.
It is expensive but very strong.

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Tensol cement

Tensol cement is used solely for joining acrylic. It is a

solvent-based adhesive which dissolves the surfaces being
joined.

Surfaces must be in contact before the

adhesive is applied.
Reacts with the surface of the acrylic.
Needs a large gluing area to work effectively.

Caution!
Tensol is harmful if used incorrectly.
It evaporates quickly and must be used in a well ventilated
area because of fumes.

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Dichloromethane adhesive for plastics

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Hot glue

Hot melt glue is:

quick
convenient
messy
useful for modelling – its quality
is too poor for production work.

Caution!
Care needs to be taken with the hot glue – it can burn!

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Double sided tape

A very simple adhesive is double sided tape.

It is:
quick to use
easy to use
inexpensive.

Double sided tape is widely used in the construction and

assembly of road signs.
It is ideal for joining clean, large, flat surfaces.

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Non-sticky adhesives

An unusual technological problem was to find an

application for an adhesive that was just not very sticky.

The solution?
Post-it notes!

The adhesive used in post-it notes does not damage

books or other surfaces it is attached to.
The note is held securely in place until you want to
remove/reposition it.

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Difficult to join materials

Adhesives work by adhering (sticking) to the surfaces

being joined.
Some materials have surfaces that are difficult for
adhesives to stick to.
Polythene and polypropylene are difficult to glue.
Nylon cannot easily be glued so nuts, bolts, screws or
rivets are usually used instead.
Because its surface is not sticky, nylon is used as a
bearing material.

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Health and safety

If you are using adhesives, be aware of the

possibility of fumes.
Wipe up any spillages.
Some adhesives are skin irritants, so
wear gloves when working with them.
Reading the instructions on the tins is a
useful starting point for finding out about each adhesive.
All adhesives need to be stored and used appropriately.
COSHH regulations cover the storage and use of these
substances.

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Adhesives game

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Key points

Adhesives are used to permanently join

materials.
Key points

PVA and cascamite are used to join wood.

Contact adhesives and epoxy resins can be
used to glue dissimilar materials.
Tensol cement is used for joining acrylic.
When using adhesives be sure to follow the
storage and usage instructions.

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