Usage of Adhesive Compounds Since Ancient Times

In the early days of the production of adhesive masses, the terms cement, glue, glue, mortar, resin, slime, pastes as well as adhesives and sealants were used interchangeably. In modern times we have tried to distinguish between sealants and adhesives. This was a difficult task as most sealants can be adhesives and most adhesives can be sealants. For example, polyurethane sealants often have similar strength properties to structural adhesives. Adhesive manufacturers have worked to create better definitions for these terms to help customers make purchases.

Vulcanized rubber has been used as an adhesive since Thomas Hancock first discovered that the vulcanization process invented by Charles Goodyear created a bond between rubber and metal in 1843. It was used for years as the only practical means of bonding metal to rubber, despite its severe limitations as a thermoplastic.

What we call rubber cement was first used in early rubber-to-metal joints. This was usually a simple dispersion of gum slabs in benzene, later changed to toluene or some other solvent. You can learn more here electronics assembly adhesives. The rubber putty was applied to the metal with a brush and allowed to dry before being brought into contact with the rubber to be bonded to the metal.

Polyvinyl acetate was first used as a solvent-based adhesive in the 1930s. It proved economically viable in the 1940s when it was introduced as a method of joining paper and wood. It is currently the most commonly used "white glue" in the world.

In 1937, acrylic adhesives appeared on the scene for the first time. These are now used in both pressure sensitive and non-pressure sensitive formulations in both emulsion forms and as organic solvents, as monomer and polymer cements, as cyanoacrylates and for many engineering adhesive applications. Manufactured as adhesives in the 1920s, these began to be useful in the late 1930s, but it was in 1958 when the first acrylic sealant hit the market. This is where some confusion began about what is a sealant and what is an adhesive.

Silicone-based adhesives became commercially available in 1944. In the 1960s they were expanded to include use as sealants in the construction industry. They are useful at both low and high temperatures and can be purchased as solvent-based moisture-curing adhesives, one-part moisture-curing adhesives and sealants, two-part curing adhesives and sealants, and pressure-sensitive adhesives.

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Most of this confusion between adhesives and sealants dates back to the late 1950's and early 1960's. At that time, marketing programs for raw material manufacturers specifically geared to the adhesives industry were established. The formulators had to have an extensive knowledge of all possible chemical types in order to sort through all these advertisements. Because of this broad knowledge, most of the formulators had a background in the coatings and rubber industries. This has not changed over time, since almost all synthetic resins used today were used in the paint and rubber technology industry. This has caused, and will continue to cause, the confusion and reuse of sealants and adhesives.