What Is a Glue Gun?
A glue gun is a device used for bonding by heating solid resin to a liquid state and then cooling it to solidify again. This method is known for being non-flammable and eco-friendly, as it does not use volatile solvents. Glue guns offer advantages like quick bonding, a wide range of applicable materials, room temperature storage, and a clean finish upon bonding.
Uses of Glue Guns
Glue guns are versatile, and used in various sectors such as packaging, electronic components, construction, furniture, hobbies, automobiles, and food products. They are commonly used for bonding cardboard boxes in packaging and sealing machines in manufacturing. Hobbyists also use glue guns for crafts, and they are employed in the food industry for bonding desiccants in packaging.
Characteristics of Glue Guns
Glue guns bond materials quickly, typically within seconds. Unlike general adhesives that rely on solvent evaporation or chemical reactions, hot-melt adhesives used in glue guns adhere through a cycle of heating, melting, cooling, and solidifying. This rapid cooling and solidification make glue guns faster than traditional adhesives.
Types of Glue Guns
There are two main types of glue guns:
1. Compounding Glue Guns
Compound glue guns use base resins like polyolefin, synthetic rubber, and EVA. These guns include base resins, adhesive agents, waxes, and stabilizers such as plasticizers, fillers, and antioxidants.
2. Adhesive Polymer-Based Glue Gun
Adhesive polymer-based glue guns use base resins with inherent adhesive properties, such as polyester, polyamide, and urethane.
Merits and Demerits of Glue Guns
The merits of glue guns include quick bonding, versatility in applicable materials, high safety, reusability, easy storage, and automation in the adhesion process. However, disadvantages include limited heat resistance, lower adhesive strength compared to curable adhesives, unsuitability for heat-sensitive materials, variable adhesion with temperature, and the requirement for a special applicator.