A sealant primarily fills gaps or joints and helps limit the passage of air, water or other substances. An adhesive primarily joins materials. Some formulations combine bonding and sealing functions; suitability depends on the product and joint requirements.
An adhesive is a substance used to stick materials to each other. The most common adhesives include glue, paste and cement. Adhesives come in many different types and are suitable for a wide range of applications.
Adhesives join materials by forming a bond between their surfaces. Depending on the system, adhesion can involve physical and chemical interactions. The materials, surface preparation, curing conditions and joint design all affect the result.
Industrial adhesives are used in packaging, furniture, wood products, construction, transport vehicles and electronic assemblies, among other applications. The appropriate technology depends on the materials, production process and performance required.
Explore our adhesive applications for examples and selection guidance.
Adhesives that are suitable for stone may not necessarily work well on steel. You probably would not use silicone or concrete adhesives to glue paper. When selecting an appropriate product, you should therefore start by considering the materials involved and the application – i.e. whether it is for construction, renovation, industrial or household use.
The next question to ask: How quickly and under what conditions can or must the adhesive cure to form a strong, reliable bond? Super glues set almost instantly and offer a firm hold. However, they are only suitable for use on small areas. With adequate ventilation, contact cement takes around 5 to 30 minutes to dry. If you are looking to glue down parquet or plank flooring, you will need a glue that remains flexible for a while after application so that you can make any necessary adjustments during the installation process. One-part moisture-cure polyurethane sealants are well suited for this application because they have a relatively slow cure time of approximately 24 hours (for 3 to 4 mm thick layer).
Not every adhesively bonded connection is meant to last forever. Some bonded surfaces are designed to be removed later, such as in the case of parquet or laminate flooring. Anaerobic sealants produce joints that can be disassembled. Furthermore, different products have very different properties in terms of temperature resistance or UV stability. It is therefore crucial to seek professional advice – especially in commercial applications.
For environment and health protection, another key factor to consider is whether the selected adhesive is allowed to contain solvents or not. For example, contact cement comes in both solvent-based and solvent-free variants.
Some adhesive formulations provide additional functions, such as sealing or electrical and thermal properties. These functions depend on the specific formulation and application and should be established from product documentation and testing.
There is no best glue for every application. The suitability of an adhesive system can be determined by looking at the environment, application methods, materials and the purpose of the bond.