Why Does My Glue Fail? 7 Hidden Factors Affecting Adhesive Performance

Why Does My Glue Fail? 7 Hidden Factors Affecting Adhesive Performance

In our daily life, glue, as a common adhesive, is widely used in various industries, such as manufacturing, electronics, packaging and so on. However, during the use of glue, many people may encounter glue failure. So, what exactly causes glue failure? Here are 7 hidden factors that affect the performance of adhesives:

1. Environmental humidity

Ambient humidity is an important factor in the performance of adhesives. Many glues do not bond optimally in environments with too much or too little humidity. In particular, thermoplastic glues and some solvent-based glues, high humidity may occur in the environment of water adsorption or solvent evaporation, resulting in a decrease in bonding strength.

2. Surface cleanliness

Whether the surface of the adhesive bonding is clean directly affects the adhesive bonding effect of the glue. If there is oil, dust or other pollutants on the bonding surface, it will hinder the affinity between the glue and the surface of the substrate, resulting in weak bonding or even failure.

3. Use of temperature

The adhesive properties of the glue are often closely related to the temperature. Most of the best use of glue temperature range are clearly defined. Too high or too low a temperature may affect the curing speed or adhesive strength of the glue, resulting in unsatisfactory bonding results.

4. Insufficient curing time

Certain glues require a certain curing time to achieve the best bonding effect. If the curing time is not enough, the glue may not be fully hardened, the bond strength is not enough, or even lead to glue failure.

5. Substrate mismatch

The compatibility of different substrates and glues varies greatly. Some glues may be suitable for some specific materials, such as metal, plastic or paper, etc., while for other materials may not be able to provide sufficient bonding strength. Therefore, it is important to choose a glue that is suitable for the substrate.

6. Glue expiration

Glue has a limited expiration date, and expired glue often loses its bonding properties and may even harden or delaminate. When using expired glue, the bonding effect cannot be guaranteed, resulting in glue failure.

7. Uneven application of glue

Uneven application of glue may result in poor bonding in certain areas. This usually occurs when the glue is applied by hand, or when the glue is applied with an inappropriate tool. Therefore, it is critical to ensure that the glue is applied evenly.
Summarizing

Understanding the potential causes of glue failure can help us better select the right glue and use it wisely. Factors such as ambient humidity, surface cleanliness, application temperature, curing time, substrate matching, glue expiration date, and uniformity of glue application can all affect bonding results. I hope this article can provide some reference for you in the selection and use of glue, to avoid common failure problems. If you encounter glue failure, you may want to check these hidden factors, timely adjustment of the use of the way, so as to improve the bonding effect.