Construction Adhesives

An adhesive can be defined as a compound either organic or inorganic that binds two components together. It can be in the form of a liquid, paste or film. Original adhesives were natural made from plants, resins or animals. Synthetic adhesives later came into the picture. Modern adhesives are being increasingly used in constructions and industries, as they are extremely strong. Adhesives comprise of various characteristics like flexibility, toughness and chemical and temperature resistance. These characteristics have been improved with time.

Construction adhesives are used to bind concrete, cement, plastic mortar and tiles. On a smaller scale they are used on wood, dry walls, concrete, subfloors, molding, mirrors, showers and tubs, etc. While applying the adhesives to the surface, make sure the surfaces are clean and dry. Sanding of the surface should be done if necessary.

Types of construction adhesives: There are various types of adhesives used for construction purposes. Some of them are:

1) Epoxy Adhesives: It forms a major part of structural adhesives. It is available in the form of 100% solids, activator formulas and epoxy resins. It shows high resistance to chemicals, heat and water. It is observed that these adhesives when cured with heat, they show more resistance to chemicals and heat than when cured at room temperature. They are tough, cohesive, durable and tensile. Epoxy adhesives provide great results when used on glass, metal, some type of plastics, stone and wood. It can be used to bond and re-bond new concrete to old surfaces or weld structural units together. They can be also be mixed with sand to patch-up, fill or grout surfaces. These can be either fast setting or slow setting. As per ones needs, these adhesives can be flexible or rigid; translucent, transparent, opaque or even colored.

2) Rubber cement: It is from the drying adhesives family. It is made out of polymers (especially latex) that are mixed in acetone, benzene and other such solvents to retain fluidity. They are mixed in a certain composition so that the rubber cement is fluid enough to be used. The adhesive hardens when the solvents evaporate. The adhesives are weak and are mostly used for household purpose.

4) TACC: It is a waterproof material. TACC is used to bind a variety of wall panels to solid surface. They are to be preferably used on FRP panels, wallboards, hardboards, tileboards, OSB boards and other such panes. It can glue these boards and panes to plywood, concrete, new plaster and other similar surfaces. It grabs onto the surfaces quickly, but the surfaces need to be positioned after a long time.

3) Thio-poxy Adhesives: It is found through laboratory experiments that these adhesives make stronger bonds than concrete. It was used basically for patching, permanent bonding old concrete slabs or old concrete slabs to new ones. It is also used to solve the problems of structural adhesion. They show various characteristics of resisting moisture, water, shocks, contraction and expansion and vibration. It is a new tool in the hands to contractors and engineers for construction and maintenance of concrete.