List of glues explained

There are many adhesive substances that are considered or commonly referred to as glue. Historically, the term only referred to protein colloids prepared from animal flesh. The meaning has been extended to refer to any fluid adhesive.

Plant- and animal-based adhesives

TypeSubtypesSource(s)ManufactureChemistryVolatilesSafetyPropertiesShelf lifeWorking timeSettingStrengthSolventsUsesDate
Roasted hydrocarbonsTar, pitch, and asphalt/ bitumenMade from plants (especially wood) or fossil hydrocarbonsnatural or artificial destructive distillationHydrocarbon goo of no specific chemical formulaEmits Volatile organic compounds, especially when heatedhealth effects understudied (see Asphalt#Health and safety)dark, viscous, more flexible when heatedIndefinite, may stiffenIndefiniteReversibly becomes more flexible and fluid when heatedwater-repellant,Sealant, haftingprehistoric
Mixed-protein glues[1] align=center Casein gluealign=center Milk, limestone and brineMilk curd is mixed with alkalisnon-toxic (preservatives excepted)Once wet, 6–7 hours.~4 hours for softwood, 8 for hardwood; must be under pressure for >0.5-2 hrstensile strength exceeds most woods, 2,200-3,00 pounds per square inchwater-resistant, depending on alkalis usedWoodworking, paper glue, fireproof laminatesMedieval or earlier
Soybean glueAs for casein glue, but using soy proteinSoy protein is mixed with alkalis
Albumin glues (blood glues and egg albumin adhesive, EAA)blood (serum albumin) or eggsprehistoric
Gelatin glueshide glue, including rabbit-skin glue;bone glue, and fish glue including isinglassAnimal connective tissueand boneshides are acid-treated, neutralized, and repeatedly soaked; the soaking-water is dried into chipshydrolyzed collagenUntil it coolsThermoplastic. Somewhat brittle when setWater-solubleCabinetmaking, bookbinding, lutherie, glue-size
Keratin gluesHoof glue and horn gluehooves of ungulates, animal hornsHooves or horns are fragmented, boiled into goo, and acidifiedpartially- hydrolyzed keratinUntil it coolsThermoplastic. Hardens as it cools, but does not become brittleGluing and stiffening textiles, cabinetmaking, glass sealant
Fibrin gluehuman fibrinogen and human thrombinwhen two parts are mixed, they form fibrin10–60 secondsconverts to fibrinMedicine
WaxesBeeswaxmade by insects
Starch gluespotato starch, rice glue, wheatpastestarches (plant energy-storage chemicals)Starch may be purified before being mixed with water; leaving gluten in makes a more permanent bond
Dextrin gluesBritish gum, Coccoinausually derived from potato starchmid-19th century
Polysaccharide gluesmucilage, agar, algin
Tree gums/resinsBalsam (fir) resins, such as Canada balsam, Dammar gum, Gum Arabic (also called acacia gum), Mastic
Latex rubber cement(cow gum)latex, a coagulating plant fluid, also made syntheticallylatex is dissolved in an organic solventorganic solvent evaporates as it setssolvent may be hazardous; latex is an allergen
Methyl cellulosecellulose, a plant structural material, and methyl chlorideheating cellulose with an alkali and reacting it with methyl chloride

Solvent-type glues

Solvent adhesives temporarily dissolve the substance they are gluing, and bond by solvent-welding material together with the re-solidified material.

TypeSubtypesSource(s)ManufactureChemistryVolatilesSafetyPropertiesShelf lifeWorking timeSettingStrengthSolventsUsesDate
KetonesAcetonedissolves ABS plasticit is volatile
Polystyrene cement/Butanone/methyl ethyl ketone (MEK)dissolves polystyreneit is volatileVapour is heavier-than-air and explosive. Toxic, neuropsychological effects. Rapidly absorbed through undamaged skin and lungs. Produces toxic ozone.[2]
DichloromethaneDissolves: it is volatile, boiling at 39.6°C (103.3°F; 312.8K)Will also glue acrylic to wood.[3] Clear, waterproof, exterior grades exist.[4] 24 hours to set fully.[5]

Synthetic glues

Synthetic monomer glues

TypeSubtypesSource(s)ManufactureChemistryVolatilesSafetyPropertiesShelf lifeWorking timeSettingStrengthSolventsUsesDate
Acrylonitrilesynthetic monomer
Cyanoacrylate ("Superglue", "Krazy Glue")synthetic monomer
Methyl acrylate ("acrylic")synthetic monomer

Synthetic polymer glues

Thermoplastic polymers

See main article: thermoplastic polymer and Hot-melt adhesive. Thermoplastic glues including hot-melt adhesives cure reversibly as they cool, like the gelatin and keratin glues listed above. They frequently don't emit volatiles unless overheated.

TypeSubtypesSource(s)ManufactureChemistryVolatilesSafetyPropertiesShelf lifeSettingStrengthSolventsUsesDate
Ethylene-vinyl acetatesyntheticpolyethylene mixed with about 11% vinyl acetate
Polyolefins(polyethylene, polypropylene, etc.)syntheticthermosetting
Polyamidessynthetic
Polyesterssynthetic
Polyurethanessynthetic
Polycaprolactonesyntheticbiodegradablevery low melting temperature, and heat conductivity means it can be moulded by hand. Can be used to mould itself.

Thermosetting polymers

See main article: thermosetting polymer. Thermosetting glues or thermosets cure irreversibly by polymerization. The polymerization can be triggered by heat or other radiation, or high pressure or a catalyst/hardener may be added.

TypeSubtypesSource(s)ManufactureChemistryVolatilesSafetyPropertiesShelf lifeWorking timeSettingStrengthSolventsUsesDate
Phenol formaldehyde resins (PF), also called phenolic resinsResorcinol glue, Para tertiary butylphenol formaldehyde resinsyntheticresorcinol or similar is mixed with phenol to make a resin; cured by adding formaldehydeoffgasses phenol and formeldehydephenol and formeldehyde are toxic, PTBPF causes contact allergiesTemperature-, UV-, and microbe-resistant. No gap-filling; joint must fit tightly. Brown in colour, sands off.[6] A few years, unmixed.Temperature-dependent. Will not cure at temperatures below 10C.Needs to be clampedStructuralWater-soluble until set, waterproof after.laminating plywood, especially for exterior use; woodworking
Urea-formaldehyde gluesyntheticurea and formaldehydeoffgasses urea and formeldehydeformeldehyde is toxic, urea is an irritantthermosetting
PolysulfidessyntheticWill melt acrylic, polycarbonate, ABS and PVC plastic. Can be used to glue nylon, epoxy, and polyoxymethylene.[7]

By use

Notes and References

  1. Book: Bye . Carolyn N. . Casein and Mixed Protein Adhesives . Handbook of Adhesives . 1990 . 135–152 . 10.1007/978-1-4613-0671-9_7. 978-1-4612-8019-4 .
  2. Simon B.N. Thompson . Winter 2010 . Implications for cognitive rehabilitation and brain injury from exposure to Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK): a review . Journal of Cognitive Rehabilitation . 28(Winter) . 4–14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220121103345/http://www.jofcr.com/jcrarchives/vol28/v28i4thompson.pdf . 2022-01-21.
  3. Web site: Tensol 70 Glue EVO-STIK Two Part Adhesive Silmid . www.silmid.com.
  4. Web site: Chemical Bonding Perspex Fabrication UV & Solvent bonding, Tensol 70 . IPFL.
  5. Web site: Gluing Acrylic Acrylic . www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk . 6 March 2023.
  6. Web site: Boat . Classic . 2011-03-11 . Adhesives for Wooden Boats: Structural Glues . 2022-11-11 . Classic Boat Magazine . en-US.
  7. Web site: Marine Caulking & Adhesives . 2022-11-11 . West Marine . en-US.
  8. Web site: Art & Architecture Thesaurus Full Record Display (Getty Research) . 2024-03-18 . www.getty.edu.