Mixing Adhesive

What do you need most from your adhesive? Perhaps cost-effectiveness, the ability to stick to a range of materials, or long-lasting hold? Depending on the needs of your application, either a synthetic or a natural adhesive will be best for you. But which is it?

We’ll outline the pros and cons of natural and synthetic adhesives to help you understand which provides the best characteristics for your applications.

Natural Adhesives

Natural adhesives are made from naturally occurring products such as vegetable starches and animal products. When we combine these natural products with additives and resins, they become the strong natural adhesives we all rely on.

The natural base of these glues gives them many advantages and some disadvantages.

Pros of Natural Adhesives 

  • Cost effective: At Bond Tech, we don’t have to produce synthetic bases for these glues, so they are more cost-effective. We pass on the savings to you.
  • Great tack and shear properties: The natural glues we produce tack on right away and resist shear forces quite well.
  • Range of materials: Natural adhesives can bond with a wide range of materials to suit your needs.

Cons of Natural Adhesives 

  • Weaker: Natural adhesives can’t compete with the hold synthetic adhesives can produce.
  • Short life: Natural adhesives are better for applications that don’t need to last too long. They may, for example, be best for general packaging.
  • Application: Natural glues should be applied to both surfaces to achieve a strong bond.

Synthetic Adhesives 

The adhesive industry has been hard at work to create synthetic adhesives that outshine natural glues. At Bond Tech, we have the latest in adhesive technologies and create proprietary adhesive solutions to give you the exact glue characteristics you need.

Synthetic adhesives can have a wide range of properties, and not all will have every benefit listed below. However, we can give you an idea of the possible characteristics of a synthetic glue.

Pros of Synthetic Adhesives

  • Efficient: Synthetic glues may only need to be applied to one of your surfaces, saving you time during manufacturing.
  • Hypo-allergenic: While natural glues may contain allergens, synthetic glues can be produced without exposing your customer, or staff, to allergens.
  • Odourless: Synthetic glues can be odourless, both during application and to the end consumer.
  • Flexibility: You can choose a synthetic glue that remains tacky, or one that dries thoroughly.

Cons of Synthetic Adhesives

The primary disadvantage of synthetic glues is that they are more costly to design and produce. However, depending on your needs, a synthetic glue could save you on operating costs, which may make up for their larger cost.

In the end, which type of adhesive is right for you depends on your application and your priorities. At Bond Tech, our expert staff can help you decide which glue meets all of your needs. Reach out to us for more information today.