Adhesives & Tapes

Adhesives & Tapes Explored

Are you tired of using fasteners & fixings that look messy, fail under vibration, or simply can not hold dissimilar materials together?

Every engineering, construction, or maintenance project faces the challenge of creating a strong, lasting bond that is often invisible, yet absolutely needed, so if you choose the wrong glue or double-sided tape, this can then lead to costly failures, leaks, and delays.

All while the more traditional methods like screws, welding, and cheap adhesives are often restrictive, time-consuming, and leave you with weak points.

Consequently, this is where you need a reliable, professional solution that delivers high-strength, flexible, and permanent joins in any environment.

In comes high-quality Adhesives & Tapes for your answer.

But, if you are not sure which ones are right for you, here we break down the exact industrial-grade epoxies, structural compounds, and specialist tapes you need - from VHB tapes that replace rivets to threadlockers that secure your machinery - making sure that every project you undertake is guaranteed to stick, seal, and last.

Then, if you are still not sure in any way, our helpful customer service team is on hand to answer any questions you may have before you buy as well.

What Are Adhesives & Tapes?

Definition: Adhesives and Tapes, in essence, constitute a very broad category of non-metallic substances, which are designed to join substrates through surface bonding and cohesive strength.

Adhesives, for instance, function by undergoing a phase transition (e.g., curing, drying, or cooling) to form a resilient bond layer that distributes mechanical stress across the joint area.

Here as well, you will also see key mechanisms include mechanical interlocking, electrostatic forces, and chemical primary bonding, and these products are typically classified by their chemical base (e.g., epoxy, cyanoacrylate, anaerobic, silicone) and form factor (liquid, film, paste, or Pressure Sensitive Adhesive (PSA) tape).

Tapes, then specifically, employ a carrier film coated with PSA, providing an immediate tack and ultimate shear resistance for sealing, insulating, damping, and permanent structural joining (e.g., VHB tapes).

Industrial Adhesives For Strong Bonds

Adhesives are, in essence, chemical compounds that are used to join two surfaces.

As a result, unlike mechanical fasteners such as nuts and bolts, adhesives help you here by distributing the load stress evenly across the entire joint, often resulting in a stronger, lighter, and more aesthetic finish as a result.

These are then broken down into several areas, such as:

Instant Adhesives (Cyanoacrylates)

Often called 'Super Glue', these cure incredibly fast when exposed to trace moisture in the air or on the surface.

As a result, they are brilliant for quickly bonding small parts made of rubber, plastics, and metal, and provide a quick, rigid bond, but we should note that they are not usually recommended for high-impact or very high-temperature applications.

Contact & Grab Adhesives

Contact & Grab Adhesives include solvent-based and solvent-free formulas.

As a result, here a traditional contact adhesive is applied to both surfaces, allowed to dry until tacky, and then pressed together for an instant, permanent bond.

Grab adhesives, on the other hand, are typically thick, high-strength mastics that provide immediate 'grab' or initial hold on heavy materials like skirting boards, panels, or construction components, often reducing the need for temporary clamping.

Epoxy Adhesives (The Heavy-Duty Solution)

Epoxy adhesives are then two-part systems, which means that they consist of a resin and a hardener.

Then, when these two parts are mixed, a chemical reaction begins, and the adhesive starts to cure.

How Do They Work?

Epoxies provide extremely high strength, excellent gap-filling properties, and resistance to heat, water, and most chemicals as well.

Due to this, they are also superb for bonding dissimilar materials like metal to wood, or ceramic to plastic, and are a staple in both maintenance and repair for their reliability as well.

Types

Epoxies also come in various setting speeds, from '5-minute' quick-set versions for urgent repairs to '24-hour' slow-cure versions that help you to achieve maximum structural strength over a much longer time period.

Structural Adhesives (Engineering Strength)

Structural adhesives are then designed to hold significant loads and often replace welding or riveting.

Methacrylate and Acrylic Adhesives

These are then your high-performance, two-part adhesives that cure rapidly and can bond metals, composites, and thermoplastics with minimal surface preparation.

As a result, they are often used in automotive assembly for their resilience and ability to withstand extreme environments and vibration, for example.

Pro Tip: Did you know that they are also known for creating bonds that are as strong, or even stronger, than the materials they join too.

Threadlockers & Retaining Compounds (Locking Things Down)

Threadlockers & Retaining Compounds are then your specialised adhesives that fall under the Anaerobic adhesive category - meaning they cure in the absence of air, specifically when confined between close-fitting metal surfaces.

These 3 types then differ in a number of ways, including, for instance:

Threadlockers

These are essential for machinery and vehicles, as they prevent threaded fasteners (like bolts and screws) from vibrating loose.

They also come in varying strengths, from low-strength compounds for items that need occasional adjustment (e.g., small gauges) to high-strength compounds for permanent assemblies (e.g., engine bolts).

Retaining Compounds

Retaining Compounds are then used to secure bearings, bushings, and cylindrical parts into housings or onto shafts, filling microscopic gaps all to prevent wear, corrosion, and movement, for instance.

Sealants & Fillers, For Stopping Leaks and Gaps

While adhesives join things, your sealants and fillers are then used primarily to block the passage of fluids, gases, and dust, and to fill voids.

Due to this, they generally remain more flexible than adhesives, and come in a few variations, including, for instance:

1. Silicone and Caulk Sealants

These are the most common flexible sealants, and you will often dispense them via an Adhesive Applicator Gun.

Due to this, these come in some further subtypes, including, for instance:

Silicone

Famous for its flexibility, weather resistance, and ability to withstand temperature extremes, and here silicone is commonly used for sealing in kitchens, bathrooms (as it resists mould), and external joints around windows and doors.

Caulk (Acrylic Sealants)

Less flexible than silicone, caulk is ideal for filling gaps and cracks in porous materials, such as between skirting boards and walls, before painting.

It can also be easily painted over as well, unlike most silicones.

Gasket & Flange Sealants

Gasket & Flange Sealants are then used specifically in mechanical assemblies to create a perfect seal between two rigid parts, replacing traditional pre-cut gaskets.

As a result, they are liquid-applied and cure to form a durable seal, often in conjunction with Retaining Compounds, to help give you maximum performance in your engines and gearboxes as a direct result.

Adhesive Fillers & Putties

These are typically metal-filled epoxy compounds, often referred to by trade names like 'Plastic Steel' or 'Metal Bondent'.

As a result, they are mixed like standard epoxy but have the consistency of putty, allowing them to be sculpted to fill large holes, repair castings, or rebuild worn surfaces on metal components.

Pro Tip: Due to these properties, they can be drilled, tapped, and machined once cured, effectively becoming part of the original component.

Essential Tapes, For Temporary Fixes to Permanent Holds

Tapes, on the other hand, offer a clean, mess-free alternative to liquid adhesives, providing immediate bonding without the curing time.

These also come in varying types, and can include, for instance:

Duct Tapes (or Cloth Tapes)

Duct or Cloth tapes are your British workshop staple.

Here, for instance, they can be made of a fabric mesh coated in polyethene, and these tapes are known for their strength, flexibility, and waterproofing - making them brilliant for temporary repairs, bunding, and sealing air ducts as a result.

Masking Tapes

Masking tapes are then your essential tape when it comes to painting and finishing, as these tapes have a low-tack adhesive that allows for clean removal without damaging the surface underneath.

As a result, they come in various adhesion levels, with the better quality ones being suitable for delicate surfaces.

Packaging Tapes

Typically, polypropylene or PVC film tapes, used for securing boxes and packages.

Electrical Tapes

Usually vinyl-based, electrical tapes are key for your insulation and protection in electrical work, and offer you flexibility, resist moisture, and have specific dielectric properties to safely insulate conductors as well.

Aluminium Tapes

Often used in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, aluminium tapes are heat-resistant and provide you with an excellent barrier for sealing pipe joints and reflecting heat as well.

Waterproof & Anti-Corrosion Tapes

Waterproof & Anti-Corrosion Tapes are then thick, heavy-duty tapes which are designed for outdoor use, providing a lasting seal and protection against rust and weathering on pipes and metal infrastructure mainly.

Double-Sided and High-Bond Tapes

Double-sided tapes are then coated with adhesive on both sides, allowing two materials to be joined invisibly.

For instance, here you will tend to see:

Adhesive Transfer Tapes

Adhesive Transfer Tapes are then pure adhesive films, which are often applied with an applicator gun, that leave behind a layer of adhesive film when the liner is peeled away.

In turn, this makes them excellent for bonding lightweight materials, papers, and films.

VHB (Very High Bond) Tapes

These VHB (Very High Bond) Tapes are then a game-changer in the tape world, as VHB tapes are acrylic-based, high-performance foam tapes that can replace mechanical fasteners (screws, rivets) for bonding structural elements, like cladding, panels, and signs.

They also dampen vibration, provide a permanent, weatherproof seal, and offer you exceptional strength in shear and peel as well, making them a common choice in modern manufacturing due to all of these.

Lane & Hazard Marking Tapes

Brightly coloured vinyl tapes used to mark gangways, storage areas, and danger zones on factory and warehouse floors, Lane & Hazard Marking Tapes help you to keep your workplace safe and organised.

Anti-Slip Tapes

Anti Slip Tapes are coated with a coarse mineral grit, and they are applied to stairs, ramps, and walkways to significantly improve your grip and prevent slips and trips, especially in wet or oily environments as well.

Surface Preparation

As you may know well, success in bonding is always about preparation. Whether you are using a liquid adhesive or a strong double-sided tape, the surface must be clean, dry, and free of grease.

This often requires the use of Activators & Sealant Primers to prepare non-porous materials like certain plastics or tricky metals to ensure a chemical bond can properly form.

However, always check the product's instructions for the correct application temperature and clamping time for the adhesive or tape you are using to get the best bond.

With the right preparation and the right adhesive and tape, you can make sure that you get a reliable, professional, and lasting result every time.

Contact Customer Support

However, if you are still not sure about which is the correct adhesive or tape for you, or you need help, then for further product information, please contact our team, and we will be happy to help you understand which ones are perfect for you and your team.