There are many adhesive substances that are considered or commonly referred to as glue. Historically, the term only referred to protein colloids prepared from animal flesh. The meaning has been extended to refer to any fluid adhesive.

Plant- and animal-based adhesives Type Subtypes Source(s)Manufacture Chemistry Volatiles Safety PropertiesShelf lifeWorking timeSettingStrengthSolvents Uses DateRoasted hydrocarbonsTar, pitch, and asphalt/ bitumen Made from plants (especially wood) or fossil hydrocarbonsnatural or artificial destructive distillation Hydrocarbon goo of no specific chemical formula Emits Volatile organic compounds, especially when heated health effects understudied (see Asphalt#Health and safety) dark, viscous, more flexible when heatedIndefinite, may stiffenIndefiniteReversibly becomes more flexible and fluid when heatedwater-repellant, Sealant, hafting prehistoric Mixed-protein glues Casein glue Milk, limestone and brineMilk curd is mixed with alkalis non-toxic (preservatives excepted)Once wet, 6–7 hours.~4 hours for softwood, 8 for hardwood; must be under pressure for >0.5-2 hrstensile strength exceeds most woods, 2,200-3,00 pounds per square inchwater-resistant, depending on alkalis used Woodworking, paper glue, fireproof laminatesMedieval or earlierSoybean glueAs for casein glue, but using soy proteinSoy protein is mixed with alkalisAlbumin glues (blood glues and egg albumin adhesive, EAA)blood (serum albumin) or eggsprehistoricGelatin glues hide glue, including rabbit-skin glue; bone glue, and fish glue including isinglass Animal connective tissue and boneshides are acid-treated, neutralized, and repeatedly soaked; the soaking-water is dried into chipshydrolyzed collagenUntil it coolsThermoplastic. Somewhat brittle when setWater-soluble Cabinetmaking, bookbinding, lutherie, glue-sizeKeratin gluesHoof glue and horn gluehooves of ungulates, animal hornsHooves or horns are fragmented, boiled into goo, and acidifiedpartially- hydrolyzed keratinUntil it coolsThermoplastic. Hardens as it cools, but does not become brittleGluing and stiffening textiles, cabinetmaking, glass sealantFibrin gluehuman fibrinogen and human thrombin when two parts are mixed, they form fibrin10–60 secondsconverts to fibrinMedicineWaxesBeeswaxmade by insectsStarch gluespotato starch, rice glue, wheatpastestarches (plant energy-storage chemicals)Starch may be purified before being mixed with water; leaving gluten in makes a more permanent bondDextrin gluesBritish gum, Coccoinausually derived from potato starchmid-19th centuryPolysaccharide gluesmucilage, agar, alginTree gums/resinsBalsam (fir) resins, such as Canada balsam, Dammar gum, Gum Arabic (also called acacia gum), MasticLatex rubber cement (cow gum)latex, a coagulating plant fluid, also made syntheticallylatex is dissolved in an organic solventorganic solvent evaporates as it setssolvent may be hazardous; latex is an allergenMethyl cellulosecellulose, a plant structural material, and methyl chlorideheating cellulose with an alkali and reacting it with methyl chloride

Solvent-type glues

Solvent adhesives temporarily dissolve the substance they are gluing, and bond by solvent-welding material together with the re-solidified material. Type Subtypes Source(s)Manufacture Chemistry Volatiles Safety PropertiesShelf lifeWorking timeSettingStrengthSolvents Uses DateKetonesAcetonedissolves ABS plasticit is volatilePolystyrene cement/Butanone/methyl ethyl ketone (MEK)dissolves polystyreneit is volatileVapour is heavier-than-air and explosive. Toxic, neuropsychological effects. Rapidly absorbed through undamaged skin and lungs. Produces toxic ozone.DichloromethaneDissolves:

Polycarbonate

Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), commonly called "acrylic glass" among other brand namesit is volatile, boiling at 39.6°C (103.3°F; 312.8K)Will also glue acrylic to wood. Clear, waterproof, exterior grades exist.24 hours to set fully.

Synthetic glues

Synthetic monomer glues

Type Subtypes Source(s)Manufacture Chemistry Volatiles Safety PropertiesShelf lifeWorking timeSettingStrengthSolvents Uses DateAcrylonitrilesynthetic monomerCyanoacrylate ("Superglue", "Krazy Glue")synthetic monomerMethyl acrylate ("acrylic")synthetic monomer

Synthetic polymer glues

Thermoplastic polymers

Thermoplastic glues including hot-melt adhesives cure reversibly as they cool, like the gelatin and keratin glues listed above. They frequently don't emit volatiles unless overheated.

Type Subtypes Source(s)Manufacture Chemistry Volatiles Safety PropertiesShelf lifeSettingStrengthSolvents Uses Date Ethylene-vinyl acetatesyntheticpolyethylene mixed with about 11% vinyl acetatePolyolefins(polyethylene, polypropylene, etc.)syntheticthermosetting Polyamidessynthetic Polyesterssynthetic Polyurethanessynthetic Polycaprolactonesyntheticbiodegradablevery low melting temperature, and heat conductivity means it can be moulded by hand. Can be used to mould itself.

Styrene acrylic copolymer – e.g. "No More Nails"

Thermosetting polymers

Thermosetting glues or thermosets cure irreversibly by polymerization. The polymerization can be triggered by heat or other radiation, or high pressure or a catalyst/hardener may be added.

Type Subtypes Source(s)Manufacture Chemistry Volatiles Safety PropertiesShelf lifeWorking timeSettingStrengthSolvents Uses Date Phenol formaldehyde resins (PF), also called phenolic resins Resorcinol glue, Para tertiary butylphenol formaldehyde resinsyntheticresorcinol or similar is mixed with phenol to make a resin; cured by adding formaldehydeoffgasses phenol and formeldehydephenol and formeldehyde are toxic, PTBPF causes contact allergiesTemperature-, UV-, and microbe-resistant. No gap-filling; joint must fit tightly. Brown in colour, sands off.A few years, unmixed.Temperature-dependent. Will not cure at temperatures below .Needs to be clampedStructuralWater-soluble until set, waterproof after.laminating plywood, especially for exterior use; woodworkingUrea-formaldehyde gluesyntheticurea and formaldehydeoffgasses urea and formeldehydeformeldehyde is toxic, urea is an irritantthermosettingPolysulfidessyntheticWill melt acrylic, polycarbonate, ABS and PVC plastic. Can be used to glue nylon, epoxy, and polyoxymethylene. Epoxy resins Epoxy putty Polyvinyls Polyvinyl acetate (PVA) Includes white glue (e.g. Elmer's Glue) and yellow carpenter's glue (Aliphatic resin) (Brands include Titebond and Lepage) Polyvinyl alcohol Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) Polyvinyl chloride emulsion (PVCE) – a water-miscible emulsion that polymerizes as it cures Polyvinylpyrrolidone (component of glue sticks) Silicone resins Silyl modified polymers

By use Postage stamp gum may be a mixture of assorted starch and resin adhesives Library paste is usually starch-based Meat glue is a variety of culinary binding agents

References

es:Pegamento nl:Lijst van lijmsoorten pt:Cola (desambiguação)