INORGANIC ADHESIVES

&
ANIMAL GLUES
INORGANIC ADHESIVES

 Durable, fire resistant & inexpensive in comparison to organic adhesives.

 Usually applied as water based adhesives.
 These form strong bonds where at least one substrate is porous.
 Advent of synthetic organic polymer adhesive has lead to reduction in application
of these adhesives, only used in speciality application.
 These are based on compounds such as sodium silicate, magnesium oxy-chloride,
lead oxide (litharge), sulphur, and various metallic phosphates
Soluble Silicates

 Commonly known as water-glass.

 Colourless low cost inorganic material supplied as viscous water solution.
 SiO2 : Na2O ratio varies from 2 to 3.5
 Show little tack, so pressure must be applied to hold the substrates.
 Withstand temperature up to 1,100°C.
 Dry adhesive is brittle and water sensitive until atmospheric CO2 forms an insoluble
material.
 Water resistance improved by applying suitable aluminium salts to substrates.
 Resistant to mould growth and bacterial attack.
Applications :
 Bonding glass to glass, porcelain, leather, textiles, stoneware, glass-fibre
assemblies,
 Optical glass applications, shatter-proof glass manufacturing
 Fabrication of foundry moulds.
 Bonding paper and manufacturing of corrugated boards
 Wood bonding for low grade plywood.
Phosphate Cements

 Based on reaction products of Phosphoric acid H3PO4 With other materials like
metal oxides and hydroxide of Al , Mg , Zn , Cr , Zr etc.
 Zinc phosphate : Dental adhesive. Modified with silicates to produce permanent
filler material. Copper-phosphate: short use life filler.
 Good resistance to water.
 Heat stability up to 300°C
 Used for bonding of refractory materials
Sorel Cements (Basic Salts)

 Basic salts of heavy metals, usually Mg or Mn cement or magnesium oxychloride.

 These materials set within 2-8 hours giving strength in the range of 48-70 MPa.
 Give resilient bonds to refractory materials, ceramics and glass.
 Resist oils and greases and biodeterioration.
 Copper is added to overcome the tendency to dissolve in water and gives
weathering resistance.
 Zinc oxychloride is used as dental cement.
Litharge Cements

 Mixture of glycerine and litharge ( Lead Oxide ,PbO) .

 1 part Glycol or glycerine with 2-3 part PbO .
 Set in 24 hours.
 Resist weak acids and nitric acid , but reacts with sulphuric acid.
 Adhesives in the repair of tubs and sinks, pipe valves, glass, stoneware, and
ceramics.
 Sulphur Cements

 Liquid sulphur with melting point of 110°C is an inorganic hot-melt adhesive.

 Service temperature can not exceed 93°C due to thermal expansion at 96°C.
 Polysulfides and Carbon black is added to improve physical properties.
 Adhesion to metals like Copper is good.
 Principal use is Acid tank construction for nitric and hydrofluoric acid mixtures at 70°C.
 Animal glues

 These glues are derived directly and indirectly from animals, including mammals,
insects, and fish as well as milk products.
 Common animal based glues are derived from casein, blood, bone, hide and fish
biproducts.
Casein glue:
 Casein glue is the protein of skim milk.
 Dry mix casein glues are simply mixed with water before use.
 Used at room temperature and setting happens by loss of water through porous
substrate and conversion of protein to insoluble calcium derivatives.
 Can tolerate up to 70°C .
 Lose strength under damp condition.
 Prone to biodeterioration.
 Resistance to organic solvents is generally good.
 Applications include packaging : Paper on glass. In woodworking : laminating large
structural timbers for interior applications. General interior woodworking
applications, including furniture.
 Casein glues are used to bond high voltage paper insulation.
 They cannot be used out-doors.
Blood glue :
 Sold as powders , mixed with water before application.
 Setting takes 10-30 minutes at 70-230°C .
 Bonding porous materials, such as cork, leather, textiles, paper, packaging.
 Limited use in softwood plywood.
Bone & Hide glue :
 Bone glues are made from animal bones, while hide glues are made from tannery
waste.
 Supplied as liquid, jelly, or solid in the form of flake, cube, granule, powder, slab,
etc.
 Hide glues are stronger than bone glues. The bond strengths of these glues usually
exceed the strengths of wood and fibrous adherends.
 High-strength joints are obtained where the bonds are kept under dry conditions.
 They are used primarily for furniture woodworking, but also for leather, paper, and
textiles, and as adhesive binders for abrasive paper.
Fish glues:
 By-products of desalted fish skins, usually cod, and have properties similar to
animal skin and hide glues.
 Service temperature –1°C to 260°C.
 Available in cold setting liquid form that does not gel at room temperature.
 Woodworking applications.
 Fish glues bond well to glass, ceramics, metals, wood, cork, paper, and leather.
THE END