Evidence for the first known use of adhesives was discovered in central Italy when two stone flakes were found partially covered in birch bark pitch and a third stone was discovered from the Middle Pleistocene epoch (about 200,000 years ago). This is believed to be the earliest discovered human use of pitch ax stones.[2].
Birch Bark Pitch Adhesive is a simple, single component adhesive. A 2019 study showed that birch tar production can be a very simple process, simply burning birch bark near smooth vertical surfaces in open air conditions.[4] Although sufficiently sticky, plant-based adhesives are brittle and vulnerable to environmental conditions. The first use of composite adhesives was discovered in Sibudu, South Africa. Here, 70,000-year-old stone segments were discovered inserted into ax rafts, covered with an adhesive composed of vegetable gum and red ocher (natural iron oxide), as adding ocher to the vegetable gum produced a stronger product and protected the gum from disintegrating in wet conditions.[5] The ability to produce stronger adhesives enabled Middle Stone Age humans attaching stone segments to sticks in greater variations, which led to the development of new tools.[6].
More recent examples of the use of adhesives by prehistoric humans have been found in the burial sites of ancient tribes. Archaeologists who studied the sites discovered that approximately 6,000 years ago tribesmen had buried their dead along with food found in broken clay vessels repaired with tree resins.[7] Other archaeological research discovered the use of bituminous cements to secure ivory eyeballs to statues in Babylonian temples dating from about the year [8].
In 2000, an article revealed the discovery of a 5,200-year-old man nicknamed the "Tyrol Iceman" or "Ötzi," who was preserved in a glacier near the Austria-Italy border. Several of his belongings were found with him, including two flint-tipped arrows and a copper axe, each with evidence of organic glue used to connect the stone or metal parts to the wooden shafts. It was determined by analysis that the glue was pitch, which requires heating the pitch during its production. The recovery of this pitch requires a transformation of the birch bark using heat, in a process known as pyrolysis.[9].
The first references to adhesives in literature appeared around the year Other historical records of the use of adhesives are found in the period between 1500 and 1500. Artifacts from this period include paintings depicting wood gluing operations and a coffin made of wood and glue in the tomb of King Tutankhamun.[7] Other ancient Egyptian artifacts use animal glue for bonding or lamination. It is believed that laminating the wood of arches and furniture prolonged its useful life and was carried out with glues based on casein (milk protein). The ancient Egyptians also developed starch-based pastes for gluing papyrus to clothing and a plaster of Paris-like material made from calcined gypsum.[10].
From AD 1 to AD, the Greeks and Romans made great contributions to the development of adhesives. Wood veneer and marquetry were developed, the production of animal and fish-based glues was perfected, and other materials were used. Egg-based pastes were used to glue gold leaves and incorporated various natural ingredients such as blood, bone, skin, milk, cheese, vegetables and grains.[7] The Greeks began the use of slaked lime as a mortar, while the Romans promoted the development of the mortar by mixing lime with volcanic ash and sand. This material, known as pozzolanic cement), was used in the construction of the Roman Colosseum and Pantheon.[10] The Romans were also the first known people to use pitch and beeswax as a caulking and sealing between the wooden planks of their boats and vessels.[7].
In Central Asia, the rise of the Mongols in about the year can be attributed in part to the good range and power of the bows of Genghis Khan's hordes. These bows were made of a bamboo core, with a horn "Horn (anatomy)") on the belly (oriented towards the archer) and sinuero on the back, joined with animal tail.[11].
In Europe, glue fell out of use until the period 1500-12. At this time, world-renowned cabinetmakers and furniture makers such as Thomas Chippendale and Duncan Phyfe began using adhesives to hold their products together. In 1690, the first commercial glue plant was established in the Netherlands. This plant produced glues from animal skins.[13] In 1750, the first British patent for isinglass was issued. In the following decades of the following century, casein glues were manufactured in German and Swiss factories.[7] In 1876, the first US patent (number 183,024) was granted to the Ross brothers for the production of casein glue.[7][14].
The first United States postage stamps used starch-based adhesives" when they were issued in 1847. The first US patent (number 61,991) on dextrin adhesive (a starch derivative) was issued in 1867.[7].
Natural rubber was first used as an adhesive material beginning in 1830,[15] marking the starting point of the modern adhesive.[16] In 1862, a British patent (number 3288) was issued for the plating of metal with brass by electrodeposition to obtain a stronger bond with rubber.[13] The development of the automobile and the need for rubber mounts for shock absorbers required stronger, more durable rubber and rubber bonds. metal. This prompted the development of cyclized rubber treated with strong acids. In 1927, this process was used to produce solvent-based rubber adhesive for bonding metal and rubber.[17].
Natural rubber-based tacky adhesives were first used on a backing by Henry Day (US Patent 3,965) in 1845.[17] Later, this type of adhesive was used on fabric-backed electrical and surgical tapes. In 1925, the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape industry was born.[1]
Today, sticky notes, Scotch tape, and other tapes are examples of pressure-sensitive adhesives.[18].
A key step in the development of synthetic plastics was the introduction of a thermosetting plastic known as phenolic bakelite in 1910.[19] Within two years, phenolic resin was applied to plywood as a varnish coating. In the early 1930s, phenolics gained importance as adhesive resins.[20].
The 1920s, 1930s and 1940s saw great advances in the development and production of new plastics and resins due to the First and Second World Wars. These advances greatly improved the development of adhesives by allowing the use of new materials that had a wide variety of properties. With changing needs and constantly evolving technology, the development of new synthetic adhesives continues to the present.[19] However, due to their low cost, natural adhesives remain the most widely used.[21].