How to Select the Right Adhesive

1. Find out what adhesive will work with your surface. Clearly, the most important issue is whether or not the adhesive will stick to your surfaces.
2. Determine if the adhesive is strong enough. We call this shear strength, which is the strength of the adhesive when a force is applied along the bond line. Does the adhesive have enough power to handle the job?
3. Determine if the adhesive is flexible enough. Flexibility is important if one of your materials is flexible or has a different thermal expansion rate (e.g. metal vs. concrete). If so, use a semi-rigid or flexible adhesive to handle the bending or expansion.
4. Match the adhesive's cured properties with how it needs to perform. Like everything, all adhesives have different advantages and disadvantages. Are the bonded parts going to be outdoors, so you need a water-resistant adhesive? Or are they going to be used in engines, so you need heat-resistance and solvent resistance? Match the adhesives' properties with what you need it to do (or not do!).
5. Match the adhesive's application characteristics with how you work. If you are using the adhesive in an assembly line, you might want an adhesive with an extended worklife, so you have ample time to assemble the parts. If you are applying the adhesive to a vertical surface, use the non-drip or high viscosity version. An adhesive won't work if it cannot be applied correctly!

By following these steps, you will select the right adhesive for the job!