Adhesives are used to join or seal materials together. Depending on what material is used, or where the product will be used and the conditions it faces, various types of adhesives are available to suit each job for a DIY person. Certain jobs however may require more experienced hands. An example of this in the household could be plumbing. If this is done by an inexperienced pair of hands, then there is a risk that flooding could occur. Doing DIY is widely encouraged but as plumbing is a professional trade, you should use a professional plumber. If you need plumbing work done on your house, you may wish to consider a Cheltenham plumber such as https://actdirect.co.uk/services/emergency-plumber-cheltenham/
Adhesive Types
Adhesives can be classified in several ways. This could be based on its chemistry, such as epoxies or polyurethanes, its type, including hot metal, reactive hot metal, contact or pressure sensitive, or its load-carrying capacity, which could be structural, non-structural or semi-structural. Adhesives are also segmented according to their form, and you can find them as a paste, film, liquid, tape or pellet.
According to the BBC, the main forms of adhesive are synthetic resin, PVA (polyvinyl acetate), epoxy resin, contact adhesive, synthetic resin and acrylic cement.
Adhesive Uses
Before you use an adhesive, read the label or seek expert advice to ensure you’re using the right product for the job. This can influence the effectiveness and tightness of the join.
PVA
Also known as polyvinyl acetate, this type of general-purpose adhesive is very popular and boasts versatile use. It is commonly used for bonding wood together. Look for those with water-resistant properties if you need a waterproof PVA.
Epoxy Resin
Typically used to join metals and plastics, this type of adhesive needs to be mixed up immediately prior to use. It is also waterproof.
Synthetic Resin
Another popular glue commonly used for woodwork or industrial flooring, this is a strong and waterproof adhesive. Synthetic resins can be thermoplastic, which means they can be softened and reformed through heat and pressure, or they can be thermosetting, where they’re softened and set into their final shape.
Contact Adhesive
If you need to join fabrics or polystyrene, or fix plastic laminates to a wooden base, contact adhesive is a worthy choice. A contact adhesive adheres to itself and can be easily applied using coats of the adhesive, allowing this to dry before sticking the items together. Contact adhesives are ideal for large surface areas.
Acrylic Cement
With this adhesive, it melts the surface and fuses the materials together. It is especially suitable for joining acrylic and certain kinds of plastics.
