Adhesives and glues are substances that are capable of bonding two solid materials together at their surfaces. While they have been used by humans for centuries, it is only in the twentieth century that synthetic adhesives were developed. Archeological evidence suggests that ancient Egyptians used resinous adhesives at least 6,000 years ago. Other adhesives including starch, sugar, casein, bitumen, shellac, pitch and glues made from animals and fish were used around 1500 B.C.. These first adhesives were of natural origin and are still used today in a form that is not substantially different.

The first synthetic adhesive was produced in 1869. This material was incorrectly termed nitrocellulose and was created by a reaction between nitric acid, sulfuric acid, and cellulose. Today, this product is known as cellulose nitrate. In 1912, Leo Baekeland produced phenol-formaldehyde resins, a basic material for many of today=s adhesives. High strength...