Where did adhesives come from? How have adhesives gone from horse glue to Elmer's glue to Nano-tech? Learn all about the history of adhesives of different kinds in this infographic from NTI Data Products.

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History of Adhesive from Horse Glue to Elmer's to Nano-tech
Presented by NTI Data Products Inc. - Advanced Labeling Solutions
Things that we recognize as adhesives today have an age old history. The adhesive was a one-of-a-kind invention by man and it took thousands of years to get to what we are using in our day to day life. Now, this is a million-dollar industry with so many different types and applications. It's interesting to see how it was developed from horse glue to Elmer's and now, to Nano-tech.
70,000 BC - The caveman in South Africa back then used a gluey substance made of tree-sap and red ochre to protect their cave-paintings.
Thousands of years went by with no significant development in this field. Perhaps, people couldn't realize the need of adhesives in their life back then!
2,000 BC - The Egyptians first introduced the use of liquid adhesives in their wooden artifacts.
In the tombs of the Faraos, the wooden artifacts still show their work of art with different types of adhesives. They first introduced animal products to produce liquid adhesives which came from extracts from bones, skin, blood, brain and connective tissue of the animals.
1700 - The first ever industry opened and started producing the liquid adhesives commercially in Holland.
Often termed as HORSE GLUE, this animal glue was very popular even in the modern societies till the 18th Century. The ranchers started disposing their old horses to the glue factories; which was why the animal glues are widely termed as horse glues.
1932 - Elmer's all-glue was first made by Borden, America's leading food and beverage manufacturing company.
With the advent of synthetic and plant-derived glue in the commercial industries, the animal glues started disappearing from the factories. As there are now strict laws and regulations about protecting animals, no living animals can be used for such commercial purposes. However, the proteins from milk and other extracts are still being used for preparing animal glues for specific purposes.
The manufacturer Elmer's Products Inc. still features Elsie the cow in their logo. This simply represents the use of animal extracts in producing glues.
1947 - Casco all-glue was introduced to the market which was first multipurpose PVA-based glue.
Before Elmer's became popular, it was first sold as Casco glue, made of milk protein CASEIN.
1999 - Borden started running as an independent spun-off and later in 2003, the company was acquired by Berwind Corporation.
The formula now of Elmer's All-Glue doesn't involve use of any animal product. The product is made of PVA-based synthetic glue.
PVA is a thermoplastic, a rubbery synthetic polymer. These synthetic glues are more efficient, and have the environment friendly nature. The strength, price and efficiency have made this synthetic glue as the most preferred liquid adhesive today.
Nano Technology
This brand new adhesive technology roots back into the adhesive behavior of the gecko, the reptile.
The adhesive manufacturers are trying to develop synthetic setae, just like those Geckos have around their feet which are responsible for their adhesive behavior.
Their adhesiveness doesn't involve any glue like substance; neither does it require use of an animal extract. The technology uses the concept of molecular adhesion.
The basic principle of this concept: If the two closely located substances start exhibiting adhesive properties, a fluid is not required to initiate molecular adhesion.
Gecko-tape is 1000 times stronger than the regular adhesives we use now.
The adhesive works with the natural theory of adhesion at cellular level. At the same time, the concept uses no harmful chemical at all.
Adhesives have become the part and parcel in our day to day life. We need an efficient adhesive to repair everything that gets broken! Depending on the materials, we need different types of adhesive products. But we all are looking for something affordable, efficient and environment friendly. The target is fairly simple; to create something this is simultaneously - cheap, lasting, environment-friendly and multipurpose!
Since the beginning, researchers and commercial business companies have been trying to develop a product that would help them with the best service at consumer level. The journey from Horse Glue to Elmer's all-glue to nano-tech based advanced adhesives was long, and the journey will certainly continue towards further development!
Source: http://ntidata.com/
Intrographic proudly made by NTI Data Products Inc.