Fevicol, Fevikwik, and other glues stick things together, but these don’t stick to their own containers due to…
New Delhi: We have used glues and adhesives like Fevicol and Fevikwik to fix, attach, and repair objects. We have used these pastes numerous times to solve our ‘broken issues’ but, have we ever wondered that why do these strong adhesives don’t get stuck to their own containers, like metal tubes, and plastic jars and buckets? I guess it is a rather unexplored domain so why not delve into it and get some gummy insight?
What is glue and how does it work?
Glue is made of polymer chemicals. These polymers are long strands, which are either sticky or stretchable. The manufacturers of glue, after properly evaluating sticky and stretchable polymers, find a polymer that is stretchable as well. That is the one we use for sticking purposes.
After finding the right sticky polymers for stretching, water is added to it where water acts as a solvent. White glues like Fevicol also contain water. This water does not let the glue dry inside the bottle and keeps it in a semi-liquid state. Now when you take the glue out of the bottle, it dries up in some time and sticks things. Let us make it clear here that in this process the glue does not dry, rather the water evaporates. In such a situation, only the polymer remains on the surface, which sticks things.
Why do glues not stick to their containers?
To prevent white glue like Fevicol from sticking inside, the bottle/container has to be kept closed at all times. Actually, this is done to prevent the water present inside the bottle with the glue from evaporating and drying up. Glue and water are mixed in the bottle, so it does not dry up. You must have noticed that whenever the lid of Fevicol is left open, after some time the glue dries and becomes solid and remains stuck inside.
How do glues like Fevikwik work?
Glues like Fevikwik not made from polymers and do not use water. These glues contain cyanoacrylate chemical. When this chemical comes in contact with water present in the air, it sticks things. These glues have to be protected from water. In such a situation, those who make it, use such bottles or tubes in which not even a particle of water can reach. If the lid of Fevikwik is left open, it will dry up after mixing with water vapour and remain stuck inside.
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