Product Types:
Contact Adhesives
Contact adhesives, also known as contact cement.
Product Types:
Contact Adhesives
Contact adhesives, also known as contact cement.
These are adhesives that are applied to both surfaces that require bonding, and once dry, the two surfaces can be bonded together almost instantly. This type of adhesive works for a wide range of materials and creates a permanent bond.
Top Benefits
Versatile
Works on various substrates
■
Range of environmental conditions
■
Creates a flexible bond
Ease of Use
No specialist knowledge required
■
Results in very little mess
■
Creates a near instant bond
Durable
Creates a permanent bond
■
Excellent heat and water resistance
■
Good peel and shear strengths
Substrates
Wood ■ Metal ■ Plastics ■ Leather ■ Cork ■ Felt ■ Canvas ■ Fabrics ■ Vinyl ■ Cardboard ■ Rubber
Contact adhesives are very popular adhesives, being very easy to use. They may not have such a strong tensile strength as some other adhesives, but they are extremely multifunctional, allowing the bonding of a wide range of materials.
Contact adhesives should be applied to both surfaces that require bonding. Once the adhesive is dry the two surfaces can be brought together for bonding. The initial drying period of the adhesive may take from as little as 15 minutes up to 24 hours, depending on the specific formulation of adhesive, substrate, and environmental conditions. But once this drying period is complete, the bond formed when the two surfaces are joined is almost instant.
With contact adhesives it’s important to position the surfaces carefully the first time, because repositioning can be difficult with some formulations due to the speed with which it bonds. Clamping is not usually required.
Generally, solvent based adhesives have faster drying and curing times but some have toxic or flammable fumes which require adequate ventilation to prevent accidental ignition. These glues usually have a higher viscosity, which enables some degree of repositioning after bonding, and they are more suitable for precision work. As there is no requirement for air flow over the bonding surfaces, these adhesives are useful for postforming and countertops.
Water based adhesives require air flow around the bonding surface so that the water can evaporate. With water based adhesives it’s important to ensure that the adhesive is properly dry before bonding, but these glues are generally more environmentally friendly.
Most Common Industries & Applications
Contact adhesives require time to dry before they can be bonded. This drying time allows for some flexibility in timing between applying and bonding, for example, they are suitable for large surface areas which require time to coat before they can be bonded.
The fact that they need to be dried before bonding is also useful for situations where drying may be difficult, for example, in tight spaces where there is little air flow during bonding. They are also useful for objects that cannot be clamped, eg fabrics or flexible materials.
Due to their versatility, contact adhesives can be used in a wide range of applications including:
FAQs & Troubleshooting
Please ensure that you are following the instructions for your specific formulation of adhesive. The most common reasons why contact adhesives do not form a good bond are:
- Surfaces are not clean and dry before applying the adhesive
- Too much or too little adhesive is applied
- Drying time is too short
- Drying time is too long
It’s also useful to know that some semi porous materials may require a priming coat of adhesive to preseal the material and avoid the material absorbing so much adhesive that a bond cannot be formed.