contact adhesive

Also known as: contact cement

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 24, 2026

Quick Summary

Contact adhesives, also known as contact cements, are substances used to hold materials together through surface attachment. These adhesives are typically applied to both surfaces to be bonded. After the solvent evaporates, the surfaces can be joined to create a strong bond resistant to shearing forces.1

Cyanoacrylate adhesives, marketed as contact adhesives like Super Glue, bond almost instantly to various surfaces such as metal, plastic, and glass. They are also used in surgery to close incisions due to their strong adhesion to skin.2

Contact adhesives are widely used in assembling automotive parts, furniture, leather goods, and decorative laminates, and are effective for bonding plastics.1

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

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

adhesive
Contact cements
Contact adhesives or cements are usually based on solvent solutions of neoprene. They are so named because they are usually applied to both surfaces to be bonded. Following evaporation of the solvent, the two surfaces may be joined to form a strong bond with high…
Read More
Contact adhesives or cements are usually based on solvent solutions of neoprene. They are so named because they are usually applied to both surfaces to be bonded. Following evaporation of the solvent, the two surfaces may be joined to form a strong bond with high…
Read More