Organic Polymers for Adhesive Applications: History, Progress, and the Future

Adhesives have been an essential requirement of our daily life since the early ages of civilization. Adhesives, glues, or sealants are substances in society, capable of joining permanently to surfaces by the process known as adhesion. The process of adhesion involves two different substrates, intimately held in contact, such that the transfer of mechanical force takes place across the interface. Different materials require specific types of adhesives, the formulations of which are prepared considering the requirements. The glue/adhesive market is an important sector, which impacts the overall economy of a nation. The total market value of the adhesive industry as of 2017 was estimated to be around 52.5 USD. Adhesives may be classified into different groups, on the basis of sources, starting materials used, and the dispersion mediums. Specific sets of rules are laid down by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), which determines the adhesive strengths and hence the utilities. With the progress in research worldwide, the advancement in adhesive formulations is also under progress to meet the growing demands. In addition to regular uses, the development of user-friendly adhesives can also contribute to energy and environmental applications. This chapter provides information about the history, the current research scenario, and the future scope of organic-polymer-based adhesives.