Dental Bonding, Adhesive & Sealant

Adhesives are used in various industrial applications, including assembling parts of machinery, laying tiles, glazing windows & much more. They offer a high adhesive force for mechanical joining and come as glue sprays or liquids.

Sealants, on the other hand, perform distinctive functions that set them apart from adhesives. Examples include acrylic systems, silicones & urethanes.

Substrate

A substrate is a chemical species that is acted upon by another substance to create a reaction. It is used in many different fields, including chemistry, biology, geology, and microscopy. The exact definition of the substrate varies between niches. For example, the term can mean a material that is acted on by an enzyme in a specific reaction. It can also be used to describe a region of a crystalline mineral surface.

The type of adhesive or sealant chosen for a given application depends on several factors, including the substrate materials and the thermal and environmental conditions it will be exposed to. Some adhesives are better suited for bonding certain types of substrates than others, such as ceramics or metals. Other criteria may include a need for thermal insulation, electrical properties, or chemical stability.

The distinction between adhesive & sealant is that the former does the binding while the latter protects a space. Despite consisting of similar ingredients & adhesive & sealant compounds adhesives tend to be rigid & have lasting strength whereas sealants are more flexible & have high shrinkage rates. For example, silicone sealant is ideal for filling gaps & making spaces air-tight & watertight to prevent leaks or dust from passing through.

Adhesive

An adhesive is a substance that sticks to the surface of an object so that two surfaces become bonded. We use many kinds of glues and adhesives in our daily lives, from gluing envelopes to rejoining broken materials. Chemists work in the lab to develop these special materials before they are produced in a factory and sold in your local home improvement store.

Adhesives are usually organized into categories based on how they bond materials together. There are “structural” adhesives, which provide a strong hold for substrates such as wood and glass. These are available as pastes, liquids and films. “Contact” adhesives are elastomeric and form bonds between items in direct contact. These are often used below their glass transition temperature to achieve maximum strength. Commonly known contact adhesives include epoxies, cyanoacrylates and urethanes.

There are also “functional” adhesives that can offer additional material functions such as conductivity, durability or transparency. In addition, there are “reactive” and non-reactive adhesives – the difference being whether the adhesive chemically reacts with the surface of the substrate to harden.

Mechanical adhesion is a process in which molecules of the adhesive and adherend interact with each other to fill in the tiny pores of both surfaces, effectively holding them together as if millions of microscopic screws and bolts had been driven into both. This is a simple and effective way to bind dissimilar materials together.

Bonding

Bonding is one of the most popular, versatile, esthetic and cost effective restorative and cosmetic dental procedures performed today. It involves applying a tooth-colored resin material on and in the tooth to build it up and improve its appearance. It is commonly used to repair chipped or fractured teeth, restore cavities and change the shape of a tooth. It is also used by general dental offices for cosmetic purposes to improve the color and appearance of teeth, adhesive & sealant especially as a preventive measure prior to placing composite restorations. Bonding is also commonly employed by temporary personnel agencies and janitorial companies to insure employees against losses from theft or damage.

Clamping

Using the right clamping device to apply pressure to an object is critical when bonding objects together. This is especially important with metal components as a clamp can create a solid, shake-proof bond that prevents the adhesive from failing and falling off.

There are many types of clamps available for use in the workplace, but the most common is an adjustable screw clamp. These clamps consist of two flat jaws joined together by a threaded screw that can be tightened to apply pressure. Screw clamps can also be adjusted to apply different amounts of pressure and hold an object in place with a variety of angles.

When selecting an adhesive or sealant for a specific application, engineers should consider several factors including the amount of stress the bond is likely to endure and whether it must be waterproof or weatherproof. The type of substrates involved, required surface preparation, bond gap size, working life and application equipment may also influence the chemistries selected.

Adhesives typically have high shear and tensile strength making them ideal for applications that require strong bonds that can withstand significant loads. They can be applied with adhesive dispensing systems that offer meter/mix technology for an accurate and efficient application process that doesn’t fatigue the applier. This ensures a long-lasting, strong and durable bond for your project.