Adhesives V Sealants - The Ultimate Guide.

A Beginner's Guide to Understanding the Difference Between Adhesives and Sealants

Gone are the days when you had to rely solely on bolts, rivets, or welding to join or seal materials. Nowadays, there’s a vast array of adhesives and sealants available that provide a simpler solution for both the construction and industrial fabrication industries. In many cases, these non-metallic substances outperform traditional single-point metal fasteners. Adhesives and sealants can bond or seal various materials together while distributing stress more evenly. They're cost-effective, aesthetically pleasing, and offer greater design flexibility compared to mechanical fasteners. This post is designed to introduce you to the world of adhesives and sealants, helping you achieve a cleaner, more polished finish in your projects.

Before diving into the comparison, let’s clarify the basics. What sets adhesives and sealants apart? An adhesive or glue is a high-strength product used to join two pieces of material together. It's applied to one surface of two separate items and bonds them together to resist separation. On the other hand, a sealant or joint sealant is a low-strength caulk product ideal for filling and sealing gaps between different materials. Sealants prevent air and water from entering openings and accommodate differential movement. While this is the general distinction, some adhesives also function as sealants, and vice versa. The key is understanding your specific application and desired outcome when choosing the right product.

Key Advantages of Adhesives and Sealants

Adhesives and joint sealants offer several benefits over mechanical fasteners like rivets or Huck bolts, including thermal bonding similar to welding:

• Provides an invisible fastening solution for a sleek, seamless finish compared to traditional fasteners.
• Distributes weight uniformly over a larger surface area, resulting in a stronger bond.
• Absorbs and spreads stress more effectively than single-point metal fasteners.
• Accommodates thermal movement between different material types.
• Time and cost-efficient, leading to improved productivity compared to using metal fasteners.
• Offers excellent protection against environmental factors like moisture, salts, and UV light.

Main Types of Adhesive Glues

There are numerous types of adhesives with varying chemical compositions, also known as glues, cements, or pastes. In this guide, we'll focus on synthetic adhesives used in construction and industrial fabrication, rather than natural glues. Here's an overview of the range, including examples of MS Polymer, Polyurethane, Epoxy, Polyamide, and Acrylic, among others.

Polyurethane Glues & Adhesives

Polyurethane is another strong, flexible adhesive that bonds well with a wide range of materials, including plastic, metal, and wood. It excels in construction and industrial settings due to its excellent resistance to stretching and movement. Examples include Bostik® Matrix® FC, Sikaflex® 252, and Sikaflex® 221. With a low price range, these adhesives are cost-effective and widely used.

Silicone Adhesives

Some silicones possess adhesive properties for a variety of materials and applications. While silicone is generally considered superior to polyurethane in the building industry, it does have limitations, such as being unpaintable. A popular choice is Bostik’s Industrial Grade Silicone, which offers superior adhesive properties and works well with numerous materials. Aerobolt’s top-selling silicone, Bostik® V60, is ideal for painted and anodized aluminum and glass applications. It maintains its elastomeric properties under harsh conditions and temperature extremes, ensuring long-term reliability.

Epoxy Adhesives

Epoxy is a two-part adhesive created by mixing epoxy resin with a hardener. These components are stored separately and mixed when needed. Although less flexible than MS polymers or polyurethanes, epoxies boast better shear strength and longer open times, making them suitable for assembling complex shapes. They adhere to a wide range of surfaces, including metals, fiberglass, wood, plastics, stone, and concrete. Examples include Lord® 310 series, Dunlop® Builders Bond, and Selleys® Araldite. With a high price range, epoxies are typically used for more demanding applications.

Acrylic Glue

World-famous Super Glue® is an acrylic glue. There are numerous acrylic adhesives available, including MMA's and cyanoacrylate. Methyl methacrylate (MMA) adhesives are a type of acrylic that combines resin and hardener. Once cured, MMA adhesives form a strong bond with excellent resistance to shear, peel, and impact stresses. Examples include Crestabond® M1 series, 3M® Scotch-Weld, Super Glue®, Loctite® H8000, and more. With a high price range, these adhesives are ideal for precision tasks.

Polyimide Glue

For high-temperature applications, polyimide glue is an excellent choice, providing outstanding thermal resistance in the range of 240–500 degrees Celsius. With a high price range, this adhesive is suited for specialized needs.

There are countless other types of adhesives, including white craft glue, yellow wood glue, hot glue, spray adhesive, cyanocrylate (aka Super Glue®), and more.

Main Types of Sealants

A sealant is a low-strength product designed to fill and seal gaps between different materials. The sealants listed here are categorized based on their chemical makeup, and their suitability depends on several factors. Popular sealants, often referred to as caulking products, include polyurethane, silicone, MS polymer, and polysulfide.

MS Polymer Sealant

MS Polymer sealants are relatively new entrants in the sealant market, curing to become fully elastic after application. They are versatile and require minimal surface preparation. Examples include Soudal® Multibond SMX50 and Bostik® Xtreme Flex. With a medium price range, these sealants are a solid choice for most projects.

Silicone Caulk Sealant

Silicones are commonly used in areas prone to expansion and contraction. They act as barriers to prevent air and water from passing through, making them ideal for bathroom and kitchen applications. Silicone sealants are highly flexible and widely used in the construction and building sectors. Unlike polyurethane, they don’t require follow-up painting. A popular joint sealer for caulking applications is Bostik 6S Sanitary, which offers superior mold resistance and works well with various materials found in bathrooms and kitchens.

Butyl Sealant

Butyl sealants are synthetic rubber blends that exhibit strong adhesion to a wide variety of materials, including metal, glass, concrete, and wood. They form a tough outer layer but remain pliable underneath. Ideal for sealing joints in applications like curtain walls, metal panel joints, door frames, windows, or against neoprene or EPDM surfaces, butyl sealants withstand vibration. While slightly challenging to apply, examples include Selleys Butyl Mastic or Bostik’s 5612 Mastic. With a low price range, these sealants are practical and durable.

Polysulfide Sealant

Polysulfide sealants are water and chemical resistant but don’t handle much movement. Commonly used in swimming pools and other submersible environments, polysulfide sealants often require a primer. They tend to be relatively expensive.

Other sealants include latex, acrylic, and silicone, which we’ve covered above.

Structural Adhesives, Silicone, and Joint Sealant Summary

We’ve now explored the range of adhesives and sealants. Hopefully, this post has demystified these products and eased any concerns about selecting the right one for your application. At Aerobolt, we offer a comprehensive selection of structural adhesives, silicones, and joint sealants to help with your next project. In fact, Aerobolt has its own private-label range of high-quality products that perform exceptionally well in almost any scenario. Click here to view our range of adhesives and sealants. Alternatively, feel free to call or contact us for all your sealant needs—we’d love to assist you.

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