TABLE OF CONTENTS This chapter discusses individual adhesive types in detail. As a matter of convenience, the adhesives have been arranged in alphabetical order without regard to classification. See Chapter 4 for classification of adhesives.
Certain general categories are also listed, such as alloys, aromatic polymer, conductive, delayed-tack, elastomeric adhesives, anaerobic, film and tape adhesives, hot-melt adhesives, inorganic glues, microencapsulated adhesives, rubber-based adhesives, solvent-based systems, thermoplastic resin adhesives, thermosetting-resin adhesives, and water-based adhesives.
We begin with a brief overview of the modern history of adhesive compounds. Practically all adhesives were derived from plant or animal sources prior to the twentieth century. The main classes included glue from animal bones, fish glue, and vegetable adhesives. Progress in organic chemistry and an increase in demand for adhesives led to the development of synthetic compounds beginning with phenol-formaldehydes and casein adhesives. Developments in polymerization and adhesive chemistry proceeded in a near parallel fashion. An approximate chronological list of adhesive development is given below:
| 1920s: | Cellulose ester, alkyd resin, cyclized rubber in adhesives, polychloroprene (neoprene), soybean adhesives |
| 1930s: | Urea-formaldehyde, pressure-sensitive tapes, phenolic resin adhesive films, polyvinyl acetate wood glues |
| 1940s: | Nitrile-phenolic, chlorinated rubber, melamine-formaldehyde, vinyl-phenolic, acrylic polyurethanes |
| 1950s: | Epoxies, cyanoacrylates, anaerobics, epoxy alloys |
| 1960s: | Polyimide, polybenzimidazole, polyquinoxaline |
| 1970s: | Second-generation acrylic, acrylic pressure-sensitive, structural polyurethanes |
| 1980s: | Tougheners for thermoset resins, water-borne epoxies, water-borne contact adhesives, formable and foamed hot melts |
| 1990s: | Polyurethane-modified epoxy, curable hot melts, UV and light cure systems |
| 2000s: | Water-borne adhesives, reduced volatile organic compounds, solvent-free one- and two-part adhesives |
