different types of adhesives

activation methods

• pressure-sensitive
• two-part epoxies that are chemically activated
• adhesives that require a chemical activator or initiator
• UV-activated
• heat-activated [1] [2] [3]
  • examples — iron-on fabric adhesive, iron-on edge banding, and hot glue guns
• moisture-activated adhesive
  • Cyanoacrylate glue is a moisture-activated glue. (though it requires very little moisture to begin curing) ⇒ Curing info at bottom of first page here.
  • Some polyurethane glues are water-activated. Gorilla Glue is one of them.
• contact cement (TODO: is this actually a separate type of glue, with a different method of activation?) ⇒ doesn't cure much, rather it relies on solvent evaporation
• (TODO)
• TODO — how do threadlocker adhesives cure? They seem to only cure when exposed to shear forces?

chemistries

• epoxy, which may be one-part or two-part
• urethane
• acrylic [2]
• silicone
• rubber

TODO

"Adhesives are typically organized by the method of adhesion. These are then organized into reactive and non-reactive adhesives, which refers to whether the adhesive chemically reacts in order to harden. Alternatively they can be organized by whether the raw stock is of natural, or synthetic origin, or by their starting physical phase. ... Alternatively, they can be organized either by their starting physical phase"

• adhesion
• reactive vs nonreactive
• synthetic or natural origin

reading material

• 3M's "Bonding and Assembly" section
• Adhesive Products' documentation