Cement or glue?

General Discussions General Painting
1

As a non-native English speaker, I always wondered about the difference between glue and cement.

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I am sure there is difference like one just holds parts together and another melts parts together but many use the terms interchangeably as the same thing.

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Simple definition of glue:

a sticky substance that is used for joining things together permanently, produced from animal bones and skins or by a chemical process.

Definition of cement:

Cement is defined as a binding agent that is used to bind various construction materials . Given its adhesive and cohesive properties, it is an essential ingredient of concrete and mortar. Cement is mixed with water to form a paste that binds aggregates like sand or crushed rocks.

Difference between a glue and an adhesive:

Glue is an adhesive, but not all adhesives are glues. Glues are derived from natural sources (plant and animal byproducts), while adhesives are synthetic . But in everyday usage, the words are practically synonymous. Manufacturers use them interchangeably, and so do we.

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Very helpful, thanks!

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So. Tamiya extra thin cement is a glue because it welds/melts the plastic together and CA glue is a cement because it binds the items together without welding them together…

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Glue will secure your construction helmet to a steel girder.

Cement will send you to Davy Jones’ Locker.

That was a joke.

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A cement yoke can be a heavy burden …

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According to Littorio’s definition of glue (and other adhesives), it is a sticky substance which, when dry, permanently bonds two substances (whether alike, or unlike) together. Any styrene “glue” is actually a solvent (and only acts on styrene plastics), and by itself is not actually sticky (you can’t stick your fingers together with Tamiya’s, but you certainly can with any super-glue :rage: :joy:) - it attacks the plastic and melts it to the point where the two pieces melt, or weld, together. Maybe a third category is in order - “Solvents”.
:smiley: :canada:

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Absolutely.
I use solvents, less messy.
CA or epoxy when sticking styrene to resin or PE