Natural adhesives are glues and binding products that are made from natural ingredients or derived from nature itself, rather than coming from chemicals and synthetic constructions. Natural adhesives have in fact been around for hundreds (and probably thousands) of years, and have been used by societies and cultures all over the world to help with every day chores and the manufacturing of many key products. The first sort of natural adhesive was a gum or resin, and these glues are still popular today due to their ease of production and harvesting (particularly in tropical climates).
Natural adhesives can come from several key primary products. Animal-based adhesives (made from skin and bone in the form of collagen, and sometimes mixed with fat) are varied in their properties – fish-based adhesives, for example, are more water resistant than animal-based adhesives, but some animal-based adhesives may be stronger. Vegetable-based adhesives are another form of natural glue, and these are made from starch. They have a lower level of resistance to water and are not as strong as the animal-based products, but they do not require heating and thus are far more versatile for everyday use.
Natural adhesives can come from several key primary products. Animal-based adhesives (made from skin and bone in the form of collagen, and sometimes mixed with fat) are varied in their properties – fish-based adhesives, for example, are more water resistant than animal-based adhesives, but some animal-based adhesives may be stronger. Vegetable-based adhesives are another form of natural glue, and these are made from starch. They have a lower level of resistance to water and are not as strong as the animal-based products, but they do not require heating and thus are far more versatile for everyday use.
Another type of natural adhesive is that of casein, which was developed relatively late in the history of natural adhesives and which involves the combination of calcium and acid. Casein is a particularly useful substance as it can also be used in the making of plastics and protective coatings.