There are many sources and types of adhesive. Most early adhesives were glues made by rendering animal products such as the Native American use of buffalo hooves.
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Reaction adhesives may also react with the surface of the materials to be stuck together. This is bonding, in which the adhesive forms chemical bonds with the material, and is distinct from sticking, the action of common glues.
A special case of this kind of adhesive is cyanoacrylate (more commonly known by the brand name "super glue") which reacts with moisture in the air and therefore does not need any mixing before application.
Reactive adhesives are very strong and are used for high-stress applications such as attaching wings to aircraft. Because the strength of a reactive adhesive is a result of chemical bonding with the surface material, reactive adhesives are applied in thin films. Reactive adhesives are less effective when there is a secondary goal of filling gaps between the surfaces.
Categories of adhesives
Drying adhesives
These adhesives are a mixture of ingredients (typically polymers) dissolved in a solvent. Glues and rubber cements are members of the drying adhesive family. As the solvent evaporates, the adhesive hardens. Depending on the chemical composition of the adhesive, they will adhere to different materials to greater or lesser degrees. These adhesives are typically weak and are used for household applications. Hot adhesives
These adhesives are applied hot and simply allowed to harden as they cool. These adhesives have become popular for crafts because of their ease of use and the wide range of common materials to which they can adhere.Reactive adhesives
Epoxy resins are the most common example of this kind of adhesive. Reactive adhesives generally come in two separate containers. The two ingredients of the adhesive must be mixed in certain proportions immediately before application. Generally one ingredient is a monomer, or resin, and the second is a reaction initialiser. When the two are mixed together, a polymerisation reaction occurs which solidifies the adhesive.Temporary adhesives
Temporary adhesives are designed to repeatedly or easily stick and unstick. They have low adhesion and generally can not support much weight. They are commonly used on paper. They have common applications as bookmarks, informal notes and office supplies. Brands include Blu-tack, a gum-like adhesive, and the adhesive applied to the back of 3M's Post-It™ notes.