Adhesives are a broad family of formulated chemicals supplied as compounds that adhere or bond two items together. Adhesives may come from either natural or synthetic sources. Adhesive is a general term and includes among others cement, glue, mucilage, and paste. All of these terms are loosely used interchangeably.
Adhesives are classified in the following categories (ASC/FEICA):
- Adhesives Based on Natural Polymers
- Polymer Dispersion/Emulsion Adhesives
- Hot Melt Adhesives
- Solvent Based Adhesives
- Reactive Adhesive Systems
- Adhesives Based on Water-Soluble Polymers
- Other Adhesives
Phenolic resins are widely used by major adhesives formulators as the main component or as additives in contact adhesives.
Phenolic resins are frequently used with polychloroprene-based and nitrile phenolic contact adhesives to increase adhesion, cohesion, and thermal stability of the contact adhesive.
Phenolic resins also provide unique curing properties to natural rubber based pressure sensitive adhesives. Since phenolic resins have high temperature resistance and excellent internal adhesion, these are vital in applications that require the ability to withstand heat or need long lasting adhesion.
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