Characteristics of reactive synthetic glues
|
Cyanoacrylate
|
Epoxy
|
Polyurethane
|
Urea resin glue
(1 part) |
Urea resin glue
(2 part) |
|
| Applications | 
best used for rapidly bonding small wood and nonwood workpieces.
not as effective when bonding highly porous materials or large surface areas.
sensitive to joint surface conditions like pH, moisture and grime. |
waterproof exterior timber;
marine wood bonding;
bent laminating and veneering;
sealing;
topcoating;
casting;
embedding.
|
water-resistant exterior wood bonding;
laminating and veneering;
bonding nonwood materials;
develops full strength only in well-fit, tightly clamped joints;
modern formulas cure faster than the older ones. |
exterior wood bonding;
bent laminating and veneering;
pressing plastic laminate;
one-part ureas tend to be easier and less hazardous to use than two-part ureas.
|
exterior wood bonding;
bent laminating and veneering;
pressing plastic laminate;
two-part ureas have better performance and cured properties than one part.
|
| Availability/ using |
Ready to use
|
2 part (resin and hardener);
can be coloured with specialty epoxy tints. |
ready to use;
work can be moistened before applications to speed hardening;
to prolong shelf life, squeeze air out of bottle, keep tightly capped and keep
away from moisture and humidity.
|
mix powder with water;
can be coloured with dyes etc;
can be mixed with PVA. |
two parts (liquid resin and powdered catalyst);
can be coloured with dyes etc;
can be mixed with PVA. |
| Typical
working time
# |
30 sec to 5 mins,
depending on volume of glue applied |
2 mins to 2 hrs plus | 10 to 40 mins | 15 to 35 mins | 15 to 35 mins |
| Clamp
time #
|
2 sec to 4 hrs
|
4 mins to 48 hrs | 45 mins to 10 hrs | 4 to 10 hrs | 4 to 10 hrs |
| Cured
working properties
|
hard to very hard;
can be brittle;
machines and sands well;
resists some stains and finishes. |
hard;
can be cut with hand tools if warmed;
machines and sands well; doesn't dull cutting edges as quickly as urea resin glue;
resists stains and finishes
|
cured foamout is soft and cuts easily with hand tools;
machines and sands well;
compatible with most stains and finishes |
very hard;
machines and sands well but dulls cutting edges quickly;
resists stains and finishes |
very hard;
machines and sands well but dulls cutting edges quickly;
resists stains and finishes |
|
Cured properties
|
very strong and rigid;
fair durability (when used to bond small surface areas). |
excellent combination of strength, rigidity, creep resistance and durability.
|
good strength, rigidity, creep resistance and durability;
fills gaps but only with foamed glue (which has no structural strength). |
very strong, rigid and creep resistant;
good durability. |
very strong, rigid and creep resistant;
good durability;
moderate gap-filling ability.
|
|
Longterm properties
|
good moisture and heat resistance;
poor solvent resistance and shock resistance;
yellows and may degrade with exposure to UV light. |
waterproof;
can be weakened, broken down by some solvents;
fair to adequate heat resistance;
superior shock resistance;
may gradually degrade if exposed to UV light. |
excellent moisture, solvent and shock resistance;
superior heat resistance;
not completely waterproof. |
fair to good shock resistance;
good heat resistance;
can have excellent solvent resistance, depending on formula;
low-grade formulas may craze, become brittle with age.
|
fair to good shock resistance;
good heat resistance;
excellent solvent resistance, depending on formula;
low-grade formulas may craze, become brittle with age (especially in thick bond
layers)
|
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