Glues
Glues
Expert knowledge - Adhesives
Here you will find information on superglues, epoxy adhesives, construction adhesives and leather adhesives. These adhesives have special properties that make them particularly suitable for certain tasks:
Superglue - fast, strong and versatile
Superglue, also known as cyanoacrylate adhesive, is the best known and most commonly used adhesive. As the name suggests, this adhesive hardens within seconds and creates a quick bond between the joined surfaces. Superglue is used for a variety of applications, including household, electronics, jewellery making and even medicine. The viscosity of superglue is usually around 20 to 150 mPas, making it a low viscosity adhesive that can penetrate well into small gaps and crevices. Low viscosity adhesives can penetrate gaps of only a few mm, but allow better dispensing.
Properties of superglue:
- Fast curing: one of the biggest advantages of superglue is its very fast drying time. As a rule, the adhesive is fully cured within 10 to 30 seconds. This fast reaction is particularly useful when bonding complex parts that cannot be mechanically clamped or can only be clamped with great effort.
- Strong adhesion: The adhesive forms a very strong bond with high final strength, holding together many materials including plastic, metal, glass, ceramic and rubber.
- Transparent: Superglue usually dries clear
Disadvantages and limitations:
- Sensitivity to humidity and temperature: superglue can lose bond strength under extreme conditions, such as high humidity or very high or very low temperatures.
- Visible residues and fingerprints: Rapid drying can leave residue or unsightly stains on surfaces if the adhesive is applied improperly.
- Limited flexibility: This type of adhesive offers little flexibility and is not suitable for applications involving movement or constant stress.
Tip: An activator for instant adhesives speeds up the curing process and is used for highly absorbent and porous surfaces, low humidity and temperature or thick layers of adhesive to ensure fast and effective adhesion.
Epoxy adhesive - two-component system with strong bond
Epoxy adhesive is a two-component adhesive consisting of a resin and a hardener. These two components are only mixed together shortly before use, which activates the adhesive. Curing does not take place through evaporation, but through a chemical reaction between the resin and hardener, which creates a very strong and permanent bond.
Properties of epoxy adhesive:
- Excellent strength: epoxy adhesive is characterised by exceptionally strong adhesion, effectively bonding materials such as metal, wood, plastic, stone and glass.
- High resistance: Once cured, epoxy adhesive is resistant to water, chemicals and high temperatures. These properties make it ideal for use in more demanding environments, for example in the construction industry (liquid anchors).
- Long curing time: Compared to superglue, epoxy adhesive has a longer working time, which allows it to bond larger or more complex surfaces. This is advantageous when precise positioning is required.
Whilst epoxy adhesive generally has a longer curing time compared to other adhesives, there are also special variants that allow faster curing to speed up processing without compromising strength.
Ber-Fix epoxy adhesive is available with an open time of 5 and 30 minutes. Bonds metals, wood, glass, hard plastics, porcelain, ivory and precious stones, among others.
Disadvantages and limitations:
- Two-component system: the need to mix resin and hardener before application can make the process a little more laborious. Systems with mixing nozzles and a tip for dispensing simplify processing considerably.
- Insensitive to moisture: Even though epoxy adhesive is water-resistant, it can lose strength over time if exposed to moisture permanently.
Areas of application: As an industrial adhesive, epoxy adhesive is often used in the automotive industry, in mechanical engineering and in shipbuilding. It is particularly useful for repairing metal parts, bonding wood or plastic and joining components in demanding environments. The adhesive is also used in knife making or in the manufacture of jewellery or sculptures.
Construction adhesives - Strong adhesives for construction sites and DIY enthusiasts
Construction adhesive is a versatile type of adhesive that has been specially developed for use in the construction industry. This adhesive is characterised by its ability to bond large surfaces quickly and effectively. It is often referred to as an all-purpose adhesive or assembly adhesive as it holds a wide range of materials together.
Properties of construction adhesive:
- High load bearing capacity: construction adhesive provides a strong bond that is suitable for heavier materials, such as wood, stone, concrete, metal, and more.
- Easy application: The adhesive is usually offered in cartridges that can be easily applied to the surfaces to be bonded using a special gun.
- Versatility: Construction adhesive can be used on different surfaces, making it a practical solution for DIY enthusiasts and construction professionals.
Disadvantages and limitations:
- Long drying time: the drying time of construction adhesive can vary depending on the product, generally it is longer than epoxy adhesives.
- Limited flexibility: Some construction adhesives are not flexible and can become brittle when the bonded materials move.
Areas of application: A construction adhesive is particularly suitable for interior work, bonding carpets, attaching panels, fixing skirting boards and joining wall and floor coverings. It is also frequently used for renovation work and in furniture construction.
Recommendation: Titebond GREENchoice construction adhesive with environmentally friendly composition for high bonding forces indoors and outdoors. Ideal for wood, metal, plastics, foams and ceramics.
Advantages:
- Non-flammable
- Adheres to wet and frozen surfaces
- Waterproof
- Permanently flexible
- Resistant to frost and dew
- No harmful solvents
- Moist adhesive residue can be wiped off with water
- Cartridge and cardboard are made from recycled materials
Leather adhesive - Special adhesive for processing Leather
Leather adhesive has been specially developed to bond Leather and synthetic leather to each other or to other plastics. Leather is a particularly demanding material as it is both flexible and porous, therefore it requires special adhesives that are adapted to these unique properties of the material.
Properties of leather adhesive:
- Flexible bond: Leather adhesive provides a flexible bond with strong holding power that goes along with the natural flexibility of Leather.
- Durable adhesion: Once dry, the adhesive holds without loosening, even under stress and constant movement.
Disadvantages and limitations:
- Not suitable for all Materials: Leather adhesive is specifically designed for Leather and can only be used to a limited extent on other materials such as wood.
Areas of application: Leather glue is often used in the Manufacturer of leather sheaths, wallets, Belts and other leather accessories as it provides a flexible, strong bond that matches the natural properties of Leather and creates a long-lasting, resistant bond.
Adhesive for paper - especially shoji paper
Starch-based liquid glue is particularly suitable for delicate materials such as shoji paper, as it provides a gentle but strong adhesion without damaging the paper. The glue stick from UHU, for example, is ideal for general craft work on paper and cardboard, but should not be used for sensitive materials such as shoji paper.
Old glue loses its adhesive strength over time and often becomes brittle - once it has lost its effectiveness, it should be disposed of properly.
We offer a wide range of adhesives to suit the exact requirements of your project - from fast-setting instant adhesives to strong epoxy and construction adhesives for demanding applications.
