Polyurethane adhesives are strong and versatile, able to bond a variety of materials regardless of porosity. They are resistant to water, extreme temperatures, and chemicals, making them ideal for building applications and bookbinding. Available in household, gel, and heavy-duty forms.
Polyurethane refers to any polymer made up of repeating chains of organic units joined by urethane linkages. They are formed as a result of complex chemical reactions that take a variety of forms. Some of these resulting polymers are made into polyurethane adhesives. These can often be extremely strong and have become increasingly applicable for domestic and industrial use.
Polyurethane adhesives can be used to join a variety of materials including wood, metal, concrete, glass and plastic. Whether the material is porous or non-porous is of little importance, unlike most other adhesives. Polyurethane adhesives are especially often used as woodworking glues. They have the advantage of being very resistant to water, much more so than other glues used with wood. The United States has only seen these types of adhesives on the market since the 1990s, but they have been widely available in Europe for much longer.
The bookbinding industry has benefited greatly from the advent of polyurethane adhesives. They allow papers to be bound together that could not be bound before, due to the direction of the grain or coating in certain ways. The economy with these glues is also remarkable, because only a very thin layer needs to be applied, compared to older techniques. In theory it can be effective in a thickness of only 0.0004 inch (0.01 mm), but it is impossible to apply a layer much thinner than 0.002 inch (0.05 mm).
Whatever their purpose, polyurethane adhesives have many valuable properties. They are very resistant to extreme temperatures and remain stable up to 210 degrees Fahrenheit (100 degrees C). Once cured, they are highly flexible and yet resist dissolving even with strongly acidic or alkaline chemicals. They are also highly flexible, making them excellent for use in locations subject to frequent vibration or shock, such as in building applications.
Polyurethane adhesives come in several common forms. The former is a household or light industrial adhesive that is made for bonding wood or ceramic materials, among others. There are also polyurethane gels that are loaded into a cartridge like silicone or mastic, for use in the construction and repair of homes, furniture, boats, and stonework. These are made to be able to join any two materials as long as one of them is porous. Some heavy-duty polyurethane adhesives are also available in cartridges, and while they have a longer dry time, they can be up to 25% stronger.
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