Britannica Sources used in this answer

How do contact cements form a bond after their solvent evaporates?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Why does glue stick? — adhesive Overview of how glue and other adhesives work.

It is important to clarify that contact cements and cyanoacrylates are distinct types of adhesives with different bonding mechanisms. While cyanoacrylates (often marketed as "super glues") cure through rapid polymerization, contact cements function differently.12

Contact cements are typically composed of neoprene dissolved in a solvent. To form a bond, the adhesive is applied to both surfaces being joined. Once the solvent evaporates, the remaining neoprene film becomes tacky. When the two coated surfaces are pressed together, the neoprene layers fuse upon contact, creating an immediate, strong bond that exhibits high resistance to shearing forces. This method is widely utilized in industries such as automotive assembly, furniture manufacturing, and the application of decorative laminates.1