Called thermoset polyesters, these materials are glass fiber-reinforced unsaturated polyesters. They are also often referred to as “sheet molding compounds” (SMCs), “fiber-reinforced plastics” (FRPs), or simply “fiberglass.”

I have worked with companies that manufacture superglue and polyurethane glue, both of which are single-component, no-mix adhesives. Superglue, which is the common term for cyanoacrylate adhesive, has been around for about 60 years. In contrast, the polyurethanes are about 20 years old in the retail market and somewhat older in professional woodworking. I admit to using both types of adhesive regularly.

The most desirable type of adhesive is one that sets quickly and has some heat resistance.

Adhesives can be classified in several ways, including their material origin (e.g., natural or synthetic) and their type of cure (e.g., physical curing such as drying or chemical curing).

The global market for surgical sealants and adhesives is forecasted to top $3.5 billion by the end of 2026, growing at a CAGR of over 9.3% from 2019-2026.

Over a long career, I have worked with several adhesive and sealant technologies and have tried many of them at home.

In the plumbing industry, solvent-based PVC cements are used for bonding PVC plastics. However, if you need a solvent-free system, cyanoacrylates and reactive acrylics have been widely used on rigid PVC.

Henkel Corp. recently announced that it continues to build on the success of its Recycling Program by offering additive manufacturing customers recycling options across its Loctite^® brands.