Classifications of Synthetic Organic Adhesives
Classifications of Synthetic Organic Adhesives
Classifications of Synthetic Organic Adhesives
Vinyls
The vinyl ester family is one of the more polymers not only for the coating industry but also the
adhesive industry. Some members are produced either as an emulsion or as a solvent soluble
type.
Polyvinyl acetate - paper converting, packaging, wood, leather, tile and home handyman
adhesives.
Polyvinyl alcohol - paper applications, textiles.
Polyvinyl butyral - laminated safety glass.
Polyvinyl formal - adhesives wire enamel.
Polyvinyl chloride - pipe adhesives.
Polyvinyl ether - pressure sensitive tapes.
Acrylics
They can be produced either as an emulsion or solvent soluble form. They are used as pressure
sensitive adhesives, and for flooring, paper lamination, textiles, flocking adhesives etc.
Reactive acrylic bases
These adhesives differ from the standard acrylics which are final polymers in that they are
mixtures of acrylic monomers usually with a synthetic rubber. They are catalysed during the
bond formation by means of a peroxide or amine using a free radical mechanism
Second generation acrylics - two component adhesives with part A being a rubber dissolved in
acrylic monomers and part B the peroxide catalyst. Used for metal to metal, metal to plastic etc.
Anaerobic - single component type that remains stable in the presence of oxygen and only
crosslinks in its absence. Used in thread locking applications.
Cyanoacrylate - single component that polymerises very rapidly at room temperature. Used
where fast bonds are required.
Synthetic rubbers
Natural rubber is polyisoprene and has good tack properties but normally not very high strength.
With all rubber adhesives it is usual to add various resins and other compounding ingredients to
give specific properties. These include:
Polychloroprene - most important type used for contact adhesives. Bonds a wide variety of
substances such as wood, laminates, leather etc.
Styrene - butadiene - pressure sensitive tapes, tile adhesives, floor adhesives etc.
Syyrene-diene-styrene - pressure sensitive tapes, hot melt adhesives
Polyisobutylene - electrical tapes, sealing tapes.
Acrylonitrile-butadiene - leather, rubber, vinyl adhesives.
Polyurethane - often cross linked with an isocyanaate, used in vinyl laminations.
Polysulfide - minly as sealants but also with epoxy resins for concrete adhesives.
Silicone - used as an adhesive-sealant in glass to glass, glass to metal bonds.
Aldehyde condensation resins
These are condensation polymers of aldehydes with amino compounds and phenolics forming
methylol derivatives.
Phenolic - abrasive discs, brake linings, foundry industry, fibre bonding, plywood.
Resorcinol - plywood manufacture
Urea - particleboard, plywood
Melamine - particle board.
Epoxide Resins
The reaction between epichlorohydrin and bisphenol A yields a large class of resins known as
epoxy. These resins can be cross linked to hard strong adhesives.
Epoxy - This is the main group and is characterised by having the epoxide group ideally at each
end of the molecule. The grouse can be cross linked with amines and amides. The resultant
adhesive is used in bonding metal, concrete, ceramics etc.
Phenoxy - These are high molecular polyethers also derived from epichlorohydrin and
bisphenol A (in an equimolar ratio). They are used in ceramic and metal bonding.
Ethylene-vinyl acetate - here the polyethylene chain has vinyl acetate groups attached.
Commonly between 25 and 30% vinyl acetate is used. Main use is in hot melt adhesives for
packaging, labelling, bookbinding.
Ethylene-ethyl acrylate - an ethyl acrylate group is substituted for the vinyl acetate. Have better
adhesion to polyolefin.
Ionomers - These polymers contain carboxyl groups on the polyethylene chain partially
neutralised with zinc or sodium. Used for bonding polyolefins.
Properties of Adhesives
Viscosity: Viscosity is the measure of an adhesives thickness and the magnitude of internal
friction. All being equal, an adhesive with higher viscosity will appear thicker and wont flow as
easily. For example, honey is more viscous than water. Viscosity can be measured, depending on
test method, through the use of a viscometer or rheometer. For adhesive application, it is
important to understand that viscosity can vary by temperature as well as shear rate.
Density and Specific Gravity: Density represents the degree of compactness of a material
measured in mass per unit of volume. A higher density will mean the end product is heavier.
Specific gravity is closely related to density, but it is dimensionless since it is a ratio of the
density of one material versus the density of a chosen reference material. A material with a
specific gravity >1 will be more dense and heavier than the reference material. Density is
important because an understanding of density will help you understand what volume or
thickness of adhesive you are applying.
Melting Point: Melting point refers to the temperature at which a material distinctly changes state
from a solid to a liquid under normal atmospheric pressure. At a temperature below the melting
point, the material is a solid. Beyond the melting point, the material is a liquid. Highly crystalline
materials, like ice, will have a distinct melting point; however, many adhesives are semicrystalline or amorphous in nature and do not have a distinct change point.
Softening Point: Another measure used to use to determine when an adhesive will begin to flow,
especially those adhesives without a distinct melting point, is the softening point In the Ring and
Ball test, a common method for determining softening point of an adhesive, a weighted ball is
placed on top of a disc of adhesive and the temperature at which the ball falls through adhesive is
measured. All being equal, this test can relate to the temperature resistance of the adhesive but it
is most effectively used when compared relatively to other physical and rheological properties of
the adhesive.
3IE1
IE081
September 1, 2015