Glue: Modern Innovation with Ancient Roots

Now available in various versions, glue results from a long quest for quick and efficient solutions for bonding surfaces.

Glue is an extremely common item in our lives. Often, we use it ourselves in everyday tasks, such as quick repairs, crafting, or creating an object.

But adhesives and glues are also present, often imperceptibly, in various aspects of modern society, ranging from simple decorative items to large airplanes and ships, as well as in cell phones, furniture, appliances, and many other things.

This significance has been made possible by a continuous process of research and development, which has led to the creation of highly effective glues, as well as practical and precise application methods. For everyday use, this might involve simply pressing a tube or bottle, while in industry, it might include even robotic bonding systems.

And it would be a mistake to think that glue, with its current technological sophistication, is a recent invention. As you’ll discover in this article, it has a rich and fascinating history, with a long tradition of seeking practical and effective solutions for bonding surfaces.

Millennia of Evolution

The first recorded use of something similar to glue dates back at least 5,000 years, when our ancestors still lived in caves and painted the well-known cave images with materials they had on hand, such as plants and animal residues, including blood.

Realizing that certain mixtures of these substances had adhesive properties, they began using them to bond wooden components, skins, bones, and other materials in the artifacts that helped them survive.

This marked the beginning of a gradual evolution, which later included several stages. The main ones are:

• The ancient Egyptians improved the formula by adding bones, cartilage, and other animal tissues containing collagen, a protein that, when heated, turns into a substance with adhesive properties (the word “collagen” itself is derived from the Greek term “kolla,” which also gave rise to the word “glue”).
• The Greek and Roman civilizations refined the formulations by adding new sources of collagen, such as egg whites. Later, glues with bee honey, milk, tree sap, grains, and other ingredients were also tested.
• The first industrial glue production plant began operating in the Netherlands at the end of the 17th century, and the first industrial patent for the product was issued in England in 1750 for a glue made from fish skin and bones.

Diversification in Evolution

Now derived from synthetic components, glues are currently available in various versions, capable of bonding the vast majority of surfaces and designed for different applications.

Among the main types of glue available today, we can highlight:

• INSTANT ADHESIVE – Effective and versatile, it bonds surfaces (preferably more rigid ones, as it doesn’t remain flexible after drying) in just a few seconds. It can be applied to wood, MDF, metal, plastic, porcelain, ceramics, leather, EVA, PVC, metals, paper, and other materials.
• PVA WHITE GLUE – Well-known and even used by children, it is an excellent choice for small pieces and finishing work that requires quick drying and easy application. Examples include crafts made with EVA, Styrofoam, felt, cork, rubber, plastic, photography, wood, leather, metal, paper, and other materials.
• WOOD GLUE – Ideal for applications requiring a quick bond in wood, but also in MDF, plywood, particleboard, paper, and cardboard, whether in construction or repair of objects and pieces made from these materials.
• SILICONE GLUE – Used both professionally and in everyday activities, it remains flexible and transparent after drying, making it ideal for items requiring a better finish. Versatile and water-resistant, it bonds various types of plastics—including EVA and polystyrene—felt, rubber, paper, leather, wood, and other materials.

You can find these different types of glue in the portfolio of Adelbras, a leading brand in the Brazilian adhesive solutions market for over half a century, always produced with the highest quality standards and the strictest principles of sustainability and respect for the environment. Learn more about us at www.adelbras.com.br.