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Promising future: the use of adhesives is increasing rapidly as manufacturers look to new greener resins.

Article Excerpt
Although adhesives of various types have been in widespread use for centuries, the science of adhesion is still relatively young and the number of adhesives is rapidly increasing.

Adhesion is only one branch of zygology, the science of joining things together--other branches include welding, riveting and all forms of mechanical joining. Chemical welding, another name for the science of adhesion, is a many faceted subject requiring an understanding of interatomic forces, chemical composition and physical properties of materials, and the forces to which a final structure will be subjected.

Up to the beginning of the 20th century the only materials of importance were of vegetable or animal origin, such as casein and shellac. Subsequently, various synthetic materials made an appearance, the first being based on phenol-formaldehyde. The main advantages of synthetic adhesives is their ability to resist moisture and fungal mould, as well as the ability to adhere in extreme temperatures and when structures are continually flexed or bent.

The 1950s saw the introduction of epoxy resin-based adhesives that were at least as strong as traditional adhesives. Because they are solid, they tend to be safer to handle and easier to apply than solvent systems. There is no wastage through evaporation. Such factors often make them more cost effective than liquid materials. Subsequently, a large and increasing number of...

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