Adhesive Terminology: A Comprehensive Guide

Common Adhesive Terms Explained: A Beginner's Guide Key Takeaways Common Adhesive Terms: Adhesive: A substance used to bond surfaces, available in liquid, paste, or film forms. Bonding: Joining two surfaces with an adhesive, relying on strength and material compatibility. Cu...

Safety First: Comprehensive Guide to Handling and Storing Solvent-Based Contact Adhesives Key Takeaways Health Risks: Inhalation, skin contact, and eye exposure to solvent-based contact adhesives can cause serious health issues. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): When work...

Precision in Application: Mastering the Use of Contact Adhesives for Complex Projects Key Takeaways Understanding Contact Adhesive: Delve into the chemical engineering behind contact adhesive, emphasizing its strength and versatility for bonding diverse materials without cla...

The Role of Structural Adhesives in Trailer Manufacturing Key Takeaways Enhanced Strength and Durability: Structural adhesives distribute stress evenly, resulting in stronger, more durable trailers. Weight Reduction: Eliminating mechanical fasteners reduces trailer weight, i...

Solvent-Based vs. Water-Based Adhesives: Pros and Cons Key Takeaways Solvent-Based Adhesives: Strong, quick-drying bond. Resistant to water, chemicals, heat. Requires ventilation; emits VOCs. Water-Based Adhesives: Eco-friendly; safer. Easy cleanup; non-flammable. Slower dry...

Urethane vs. MS Polymer: Which One to Choose? Key Takeaways Adhesion: Both provide strong adhesion, but MS polymers are versatile with various substrates. Flexibility: MS polymers stay flexible after curing, ideal for movement or vibration; urethane adhesives are flexible bu...

The Key Benefits of Engineered Product Solutions Key Takeaways Customization: Tailor-fit solutions for specific application requirements, ensuring optimal performance and reliability. Product Engineering: Thorough testing and validation guarantee superior performance, durabi...

Forza Distribution Solutions: Why Forza is the Best Friend of Distributors Key Takeaways High-Quality Products: Forza's sealants and adhesives meet industry demands, building trust and securing repeat business. Strong Partnerships: Forza builds relationships based on trust, ...

MS vs. Silicone: Which is Better for Your Needs? Key Takeaways MS Polymer Advantages: Strong adhesion, flexibility, durability, and eco-friendliness make MS polymers ideal for various substrates and harsh environments. Silicone Sealant Advantages: Thermal stability, water re...

Modified Epoxy vs. Regular Epoxies: What’s the Difference? Key Takeaways Regular Epoxies: Offer high mechanical strength and environmental resistance, ideal for static, load-bearing applications. Modified Epoxies: Enhanced with flexibility, toughness, and impact resistance...

Adhesives vs. Mechanical Fasteners: Which is Better? Key Takeaways Strength and Durability: Mechanical fasteners provide higher immediate strength; adhesives offer durable bonds with proper preparation and curing. Material Compatibility: Adhesives bond dissimilar materials s...

Why Purpose-Built Solutions are Essential   Key Takeaways Superior Performance: Purpose-built solutions are designed for specific applications, ensuring optimal performance and reliability. Custom-Built Solutions: Forza's in-house R&D team creates tailored products ...

Contact Adhesive: Navigating Safety Protocols Key Takeaways Understand Risks: Be aware of VOC emissions, flammability, and skin/eye irritations. Safe Workspace: Ensure adequate ventilation, proper adhesive storage, and clear labeling. Use PPE: Wear respirators, protective gl...

Contact Adhesive: The Go-To Solution for Dynamic and Flexible Bonding What Are the Key Benefits of Using Contact Adhesive? Superior Flexibility: Ideal for materials that experience movement or temperature changes. Diverse Material Compatibility: Effective with a wide range o...

ForzaBOND ® IC933 is a revolutionary multi-purpose contact adhesive that not only sets new standards in bonding performance but also adheres to the most stringent California VOC requirements outlined in SCAQMD Rule 1168. In the ever-evolving world of adhesives, finding&hell

Contact Cement vs Contact Adhesive: A Forza Perspective on Industrial Adhesion In the industrial adhesives industry, 'contact cement' and 'contact adhesive' are more than just buzzwords. They're key players in our arsenal of top-notch bonding solutions. Here at Forza, we're&

Achieve Unwavering Bonds with C805 Vinyl Bonding: A Professional's Choice When it comes to vinyl bonding, professionals know that only the strongest, most reliable adhesive will suffice. C805 Vinyl Bonding and Adhesion is a testament to the art of adhesive…

Unlock the Power of Adhesion with S228 Adhesive Primer: A Journey into Enhanced Bonding Performance In the vast world of adhesives, achieving a reliable bond on certain materials can be a perplexing challenge. Polyethylene, polypropylene, and TPR (Thermoplastic Rubber) are&h

Introducing OA12: The Fast Grab Adhesive with High Green Strength Are you tired of waiting for your adhesive to dry and set? Look no further than OA12, the ultimate solution for your bonding needs. With its exceptional green strength, OA12…

OS24 is a unique adhesive formula that combines the best of both worlds: strength and safety. Unlike traditional adhesives that use harmful chemicals and release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air, OS24 uses a water-based, non-toxic formula that is…

Forza Company's MS Sealants offer a variety of benefits over traditional urethane and silicone sealants, making them the ideal choice for a wide range of applications. In addition to superior performance characteristics, MS Sealants also provide a safer and more…

ForzaSEAL™ OS2 ForzaSEAL™ OS2 is one of our non-hazardous ms polymer moisture cure sealants. It seals/bonds many applications in the marine, trailer, transportation and other outdoor activity industries. It can also be used for general industry applications, as well as&h

Forzabond OA4 Forzabond OA4 is a high-strength single-part structural adhesive/sealant, used across a variety of industries, including the composites, signage, marine, trailer and transportation industries. This performance polymer moisture cure adhesive bonds a wide variety...

Forzabond H805 Forzabond H805 is one of our hotmelt adhesives. It is an aggressive PSA (pressure-sensitive) hotmelt which is often used to replace PUR hotmelts. H805 can bond vinyls, polypropylene and other plastics, as well as metal and other difficult-to-bond…

What is ForzaTAPE™ T220? T220 is one of our acrylic high bond double-sided tapes, used for a variety of applications in trailer, transportation, marine, signage, and home appliance manufacturing. With its shockproof and soundproof characteristics, T220 is a great adhesive...

Hazardous vs Non-Hazardous Adhesives Are the adhesives you’re using hazardous or non-hazardous? Hazardous adhesives are adhesives that contain at least one component that is harmful to users or to the environment. Non-hazardous adhesives are adhesives that contain no harmf...

Tapes vs Adhesives, What is better? So you need to bond something, but don’t know whether to use adhesives or tapes. Which is better? It really depends entirely on your application, as both are able to bond things permanently or…

The Drawbacks of PUR Hotmelts PUR hotmelts are polyurethane hotmelt adhesives, that are used for structural bonding of panels and a wide variety of other applications. You can learn more about this type of adhesive in our blog outlining how…

Pressure Sensitive Adhesives PSA vs Contact Adhesives PSA vs contact adhesives: how do they compare? PSA’s (Pressure Sensitive Adhesives) are adhesives that stay tacky once dry, and contact adhesives are adhesives that, once coated on both substrates, stick to themselves.&

Industrial Adhesive Users: Is Your Vendor an Ally? First of all, what’s the definition of an ally? To combine or unite a resource or commodity with another for mutual benefit. At Forza, our mission is to: Create allies by providing…

Common Adhesive Terms, Explained There are so many adhesive terms floating around out there – you’ve probably heard them all but don’t know what half of them mean. So…we present to you, our all-inclusive list of adhesive terms and definitions!…

The Importance of Part Prep: How important is it? What is “part prep”? Part prep, or surface preparation, is the process of getting substrates ready to bond. The adhesive needs to cover the surfaces you are bonding together, to ensure…

What are acrylic adhesives, and how do they work? Acrylic adhesives are structural adhesives that use acrylic resins as the base. There are numerous types of acrylic adhesives, but the uniting feature is that they all cure when exposed to air. Once…

What are rubber-based adhesives, and how do they work? Rubber-based adhesives are adhesives that use rubber resin to make up the solids content, and contain tackifying resins as well as other specialty performance additives. Typically, they work by contact bonding, meaning&

What Are Contact Adhesives, and How do They Work? Contact adhesives (aka contact cement), are adhesives that bond on contact with a substrate. The adhesive is applied to both substrates, and then mated together using pressure to form a strong,…

What Are PSA's (Pressure Sensitive Adhesives), and How do They Work? PSA’s are pressure sensitive adhesives, and as the name suggests, they need pressure to form their bond. Unlike reactive adhesives which need a catalyst to cure, PSA’s provide immediate…

Consulting con·sult·ing /kənˈsəltiNG/ Adjective Engaged in the business of giving expert advice to people working in a professional or technical field. At Forza, we don’t have salespeople, we have adhesive consultants. And at Forza, you’re not just a customer, you�...

How do PUR Hotmelt Adhesives Work? PUR adhesives are reactive polyurethane hot melt adhesives. They are one-part synthetic specialty adhesives with the strength of structural adhesives, but with the application speed of hotmelts. Similar to regular hotmelts, PUR adhesives ...

Deciding Between Urethane and MS Polymer Sealants: The Pros and Cons When it comes to sealants, two popular options are urethane and MS polymer. While both are used for bonding and sealing applications across various industries, there are some key…

What does "solids content" mean? Solids content is a term often used when discussing adhesives, particularly solvent-based adhesives, where the solvent serves as a carrier for the solid/non-volatile content. So what does the term “solids content” refer to?  “Solids co...

Industrial adhesive users – do you know how to read your SDS? At last, here is your all-inclusive guide to reading your SDS, or Safety Data Sheet! If you're looking for a more general guide of adhesive terms, check out…

Temporary vs permanent fixturing – what’s the scoop? You may have thought that all tapes and adhesives are permanent, but this isn’t always the case. There are many different applications out there, and not all of them need to be…

MS vs silicone adhesives – how do they compare? Both are polymer-based structural adhesives, with one using a modified silane polymer as a base, and the other using a synthetic polymer. They are both used for sealing and bonding applications, across…

What does superglue bond? Superglue is one of our specialty adhesives, a cyanoacrylate moisture-cure instant bonding adhesive. It will bond basically any substrate, as long as moisture is present! This glue is ideal for bonding metal to metal, but works well…

What are your costs for running an air-assist unit? An air-assist unit is a system that uses air to assist in spraying adhesive. These adhesive systems are typically used in place of non-sprayable adhesives, as they are quicker and easier…

The Benefits of NeoprenesWhat are neoprenes? Neoprenes are a base primarily used in solvent adhesives. They’re used for bonding HPL (high-pressure laminate), and some foams.What makes neoprene-based adhesive a good alternative to other adhesives commonly used in the indust...

Structural Adhesives vs Mechanical Fasteners Structural adhesives are a powerful alternative to traditional mechanical fasteners. They offer superior strength, cost-effectiveness, and ease of use in manufacturing processes. Unlike mechanical fasteners, which only distribute ...

ForzaBond P308 – what is it? P308 is one of the pressurized canister system adhesives that we carry, a real performer in the industry! Which industry? Well, several. Marine and transportation, to name a few. If you fit into one of these industries,…

Acrylic-Based vs Rubber-Based Tapes When it comes to adhesive tape, two popular types are acrylic-based and rubber-based tapes. Each has its own unique set of properties and is better suited for specific applications. Acrylic-based tapes are known for their durability&hellip

Water-Based Adhesives in Winter: Myths & Truths Water-based adhesives are adhesives that use water as the carrier. There’s a lot of myths out there about these adhesives, so read on to find out what’s fact and what’s fiction! Water-based adhesives…

What tackifier are you using for infusion molding?What impact does it have on the environment, your employees, and your manufacturing process?These are questions you should consider when choosing the best products for your infusion molding process. It’s important for you&h

What are the best structural adhesives for marine applications? And why use structural adhesives over other types of adhesives?Marine structural adhesives can be used to bond substrates in many applications in the marine industry. Among other substrates, these adhesives bond

What all is involved in adhesive testing, and why is it important? Adhesive testing is used to see how an adhesive will perform in and under stress, and to test the strength, reliability and durability of the adhesive over time.…

Solvent-based vs water-based adhesives – what’s the scoop? Solvent-based adhesives use solvents as a carrier for the resin, whereas water-based adhesives use water as a carrier for the resin. Either type of adhesive can be beneficial, depending on the application.&hellip

Epoxy vs methacrylate vs urethane adhesives…what are they? They are all 2-part structural adhesives, but they have different ingredients and uses. They are all great alternatives to mechanical fasteners, uniformly distributing stress over the entire bond line, resulting in...

2-Part vs Single-Part Adhesives – How do They Compare? Which type of adhesive is best for my application? First of all, lets explain what each adhesive is, and what they do. 2-part adhesives, are any adhesive that needs two parts…

Adhesive Overspray Overspray…what is it? Overspray is extra adhesive that is sprayed out, that doesn’t actually land on the parts being bonded. Overspray is quite high with most adhesive spray systems, and can cost the user 30-70%. The problem with…

What Are Sealants? Sealants are a high viscosity product used for sealing surfaces where there are joints, cracks or gaps. The most commonly-used types of sealants are MS polymer-based, urethane-based, phenolic-based, epoxy-based, acrylic-based and silicone-based. They are v...

How do Moisture-Cure Urethanes Work? Moisture-cure urethanes are single-part structural polyurethane reactive adhesives that require moisture to cure. They are known as “reactive” adhesives because they need a catalyst, in this case exposure to moisture, to begin the che...

Adhesive Canister System EquipmentCanister system equipment consists of a hose, gun and spray tip, all designed specifically for use with adhesive canisters. This is the only equipment needed for a canister adhesive system, so it is a very portable and…

ForzaTAPE™ T464 Are you needing a tape that doesn’t fail in cold weather? Enter ForzaTAPE™ T464! ForzaTAPE™ T464 is one of our specialty tapes, a double-sided tape that works exceptionally well in cold weather. It provides a strong bond, even…

ForzaBond FC-CAR ForzaBond FC-CAR is a citrus cleaner/adhesive remover, available in aerosols and canister systems. It has a pleasant citrus scent, and is not a harsh solvent. ForzaBond FC-CAR is non-corrosive and biodegradable, designed to safely remove adhesives and other&

Methacrylate Adhesives: Dispelling the Myths There’s a lot of theories floating around out there about methacrylates, so we thought we’d try to dispel some of the myths! So what are methacrylates? Methacrylates are 2-part acrylic structural adhesives, composing of a res...

Structural Adhesives for Fiberglass Manufacturing Why are structural adhesives such a good choice for fiberglass manufacturing? First of all, let’s explain what structural adhesives and fiberglass are. A structural adhesive is basically an adhesive that can withstand high ...

Solvent-Based Adhesives: Dispelling the Myths Solvent-based adhesives – what are they? Solvent-based adhesives are industrial adhesives that use solvents as a carrier for the resin. They are quite versatile and can be used across any industry, in many different application...

Canister System Tips & Tricks Series, Part 1: Understanding Strange Spray Patterns The canister system is highly efficient for adhesive applications, yet occasional mishaps occur. This article is part of a series aiming to highlight common industry errors and offer&helli

Canister System Tips & Tricks Series, Part 2: Abnormal Adhesive DeliveryThe canister system is one of the simplest and most efficient adhesive system to use, but sometimes mistakes happen, and things go wrong. This article is part of a series outlining common…

Canister System Tips & Tricks Series, Part 3: Gun Leaking or Won't Shut Off The canister system is one of the simplest and most efficient adhesive system to use, but sometimes mistakes happen, and things go wrong. This article is part of…

Manufactured Housing Adhesives: A Special SolutionAt Forza Inc, we have partnered with prefab home and building manufacturers, to create a revolutionary adhesive.An adhesive that:Meets ASTM D6464, D3498 and E72 (on American, National and USG Boards) StandardsHas a quick and ...

Canister System Tips & Tricks Series, Part 4: Poor Adhesion or Bond FailureThe canister system is one of the simplest and most efficient adhesive system to use, but sometimes mistakes happen, and things go wrong. This article is part of a series outlining common&hell

How Adhesives Impact Your Manufacturing: Productivity and Efficiency Did you know that your adhesives can majorly impact your manufacturing? You may not have realized it, but adhesives and equipment used play a huge role in the productivity and efficiency of…

Non-flammable adhesives – does that “spark” your interest?!Non-flammable adhesives have a lot of benefits over traditional adhesives, with the main benefit being that they won’t be ignited by heat or sparks – you sure won’t need to worry about explosions…

Why Are Canister Systems More Efficient? Have you ever wondered why canister systems are more efficient than traditional methods of applying adhesive? It’s because with modern technology, we can enclose the adhesive in a pressurized canister, significantly reducing the a...

ForzaTAPE™ T532 ForzaTAPE™ T532 is one of our double-coated tapes – a pressure-sensitive foam mounting tape with a highly aggressive synthetic rubber adhesive. ForzaTAPE™ T532 is used across many different industries, but is most commonly used in the display and si...

An Adhesive for Composites Manufacturers Did you know…that your current adhesive used for infusion molding could actually be a contaminant and could be harming your part's structural integrity? Have you thought in Composites Adhesive? At Forza Inc, we understand the issue...

An Aircraft Interior AdhesiveAt Forza Inc, we have partnered with companies in the aircraft industry, to create a versatile contact adhesive designed specifically for aviation interior refurbishment. With our Aircraft Interior Adhesive, you'll have a solution that:Has excel...

Common Adhesive Strength Tests Terms, Defined When it comes to adhesive strength, there’s three main tests to determine the strength – tensile, shear and peel. That's why we talked about adhesive strength tests. These tests are all used to determine how…

Forzabond R519 – what is it? Forzabond R519 is one of our 2-part methacrylate adhesives, designed to bond a wide range of substrates in the marine, transportation, trailer and fiberglass industries. This adhesive is commonly used in structural bonding, to…

Forzabond R221 Forzabond R221 is one of our 2-part hybrid epoxy adhesives, and is commonly used for structural bonding in the marine, fiberglass manufacturing, and trailer industries. Being a modified flexible epoxy adhesive, Forzabond R221 can be used in many…

Are your adhesives keeping you in bondage? Did you know that your adhesives could be holding you back? Using the wrong adhesive for the application could be causing you unnecessary problems. The adhesive could be too fast, too slow, too…

Automation and adhesives – is automation right for you? Well hey, it depends entirely on your application! Adhesive automation typically means streamlining the adhesive application process by using automatic spray heads or robotics, instead of applying adhesive by hand. Au...

What is MaxRelease 2200X? Forzacoat MaxRelease 2200X is a naturally derived biodegradable concrete form release agent, and is part of our FormO2 series of sustainable products. It is specifically designed to react with concrete to form a barrier, allowing for a…

ForzaSEAL™ OS4 ForzaSEAL™ OS4 is one of our silicone sealants, a non-hazardous, moisture-cure adhesive/sealant. It is used across a wide variety of industries and applications, as it will stick to just about anything. It is used for general industrial sealing…

What is Aqua-Shield?Forzacoat Aqua-Shield is an environmentally-friendly mist spray marine growth inhibitor, used in numerous applications across the marine industry. It works by creating a slick surface, which then prevents barnacles, mussels and other marine growth from a...

What is Forzabond R160? Forzabond R160 is one of our structural adhesives, a 100% reactive, 2-part 5-minute epoxy. Its 1:1 ratio allows for easy mixing and dispensing, and it can be used in a wide variety of applications. Forzabond R160 has…

Forzabond 81-0389 – what is it? Forzabond 81-0389 is a high solids, high strength contact adhesive. It is used primarily in the aircraft manufacturing and refurbishing industries, but can also be used for general industry applications. 81-0389 is a versatile adhesive w...

Forzabond W700 Forzabond W700 is one of our specialty adhesives. It is a cold press wood adhesive, for general bonding of many substrates used in the woodworking industry. It’s designed for cold press applications, edge bonding, veneer & HPL laminating, panel to&hell

Structural adhesives – how can they be used in the manufacturing of trailers? Structural adhesives can bond many substrates, and are commonly used to replace mechanical fasteners, rivets and welding in trailer applications, such as structural bonding frames, side skins, n...

ForzaTAPE™ T461 – what is it? ForzaTAPE™ T461 is one of our synthetic rubber transfer tapes, and is used across a variety of industries, including the insulation and signage industries. It is used for mounting trim, insulation and laminating panels, as…

ForzaBond IC933ForzaBond IC933 is a CA compliant contact adhesive. It’s a multi-purpose canister system adhesive that provides a very aggressive bond to nearly any surface. IC933 can be used in applications across a variety of industries, including the woodworking, insulat...

LSE plastics – what are they?LSE plastics are low surface energy plastics. Some examples of low surface energy plastics are 2 2 Polypropylene, HDPR, UHMW, Polyphenylene Ether, Polyethylene and PTFE. These plastics are some of the main plastics used in…

Forzabond H103 – what is it? Forzabond H103 is one of our hotmelt adhesives, and may be extruded, roll coated or sprayed. H103 has a low viscosity and a long open time, allowing for repositioning. It has exceptional heat stability, and…

ForzaTAPE™ T121 ForzaTAPE™ T121 is one of our anti-slip tapes, pre-cut with a ready-to-apply adhesive backing. It is used for applications in the vehicle and transportation industry, such as surface protection or for traction. ForzaTAPE™ T121 can be used for indoor&he

ForzaTAPE™ T458 – what is it? ForzaTAPE™ T458 is one of our versatile double-coated acrylic tapes. It is used for general purpose applications across a variety of industries, and is especially good for applications in the marine industry. It is…

ForzaTAPE™ T500 ForzaTAPE™ T500 is a synthetic polymer-based butyl sealant tape for sealing applications. It can be used for general industry applications, as well as for a variety of applications in the trailer and transportation industries. T500 works very well ...

Forzabond H156 Forzabond H156 is a high-performance acrylic hot melt adhesive, used across a variety of industries. It is designed for multiple different applications, and can bond many different substrates, including difficult-to-bond substrates. One of the main benefits o...

ForzaBond P309ForzaBond P309 is a powerful pressure sensitive web spray adhesive, that can be used across most industries. It is designed to bond difficult-to-bond substrates, single-sided applications and for temporary bonds. Amongst many other substrates, ForzaBond P309 b...

What are plasticizers? What are they used for? How do they work? Are they harmful? And, what adhesives can you use with them? Plasticizers are colorless and odorless liquids that are added to a raw polymer, such as rubber or plastic,…

Hazardous Shipments: What You Need to Know What are hazardous shipments? Hazard shipments are shipments of solid, liquid or gas materials that are considered harmful. If shipped, stored or handled improperly, these materials can harm people, property, animals or the…