A Look at the Types of Contact Adhesives
Contact adhesives offer the advantage of very high initial strength, which is possessed by no other method of wood working. They are usually based on synthetic polymers which exhibit the capability to bond chemically with themselves as liquid nails (nail glue). These adhesives have a very wide range of applications in woodworking. Both wood and metal can be adhered to them and once dry, they remain solid and do not crumble or split.
These adhesives are basically a type of glue plus a liquid glue plus a carrier. These three ingredients are combined to form a glue like substance which is able to adhere itself to another surface. The glue is composed mainly of a carrier which is water, an acrylic resin or sometimes a binder plus a curing agent such as urethane.
The main article of this type of adhesives are the pigments that aid in its bonding properties. This main article of contact adhesives are available as liquid or powder form. These pigments are usually in liquid form and they are capable of changing color when applied. There are also types of adhesives that can be shaped and these include cigar, round, square and triangular. These adhesives are suitable for most woodworking projects and most projects will require only standard adhesives to ensure they adhere properly.
Solvents are one of the biggest disadvantages associated with contact adhesives and this is because they do not provide a strong bond to a wooden surface. how to use contact adhesive They are unable to penetrate the wood and they do not stand up to the normal wearing and tearing. In the process of bonding, they are able to evaporate leaving an oily residue. The problem with evaporated solvents is that they take quite a long time to cure and after a while, you will have to replace them. On the contrary, solvents such as urethane can stay on a surface for a long time, thus ensuring that there is no evaporation and the bonding is successful.
Another problem is related to the drying time of the product. Contact adhesives are generally used for short term projects and they will have to dry out. You need to make sure that before you spray the glue on the surface, it has completely dried out and the material has not been exposed to water for a long period of time. Solvent based adhesives dry out fast.
With synthetic adhesives such as PVD and urethane, there is much less concern about drying time. It is also possible to use these types of contact adhesives in greater amounts as they react to air and water much faster than solvents do. They have a more uniform and smooth feel when applied to surfaces and they will often bond heavier materials together. However, they are more expensive and they are not appropriate for applications where the material being bonded is light in nature.
Vinyl contact adhesives are widely used as a surface binding agent and they have excellent stability properties. They do not dry out, they bond together smoothly and they do not respond to heat or light. They are commonly used in flooring applications as they offer great resistance to moisture. They are also commonly used in automobile floor sealers because of their ability to adhere to various materials.
Depending on the type of material to be bonded, you will need a different set of contact adhesives. If you are looking for a strong adhesion then opt for acrylics, epoxy, polyurethane and thermoset resins. If you are looking for a low-visibility, low-drying product then choose polyurethane, vinyl, gloss enhancers, UV curing urethane, Methylene Chloride, Phenolic resin, Methylene Chloride tints, Zeta Glomerate, and PVD. When applying these types of additives you should use the appropriate equipment. Adhesive guns are widely used and are available from most suppliers.