Rubber cement
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rubber Cement is an adhesive made from polymers mixed in a solvent such as acetone, hexane, heptane or benzene to keep them fluid enough to be used. This makes it part of the class of drying adhesives: as the solvent evaporates, the "rubber" part remains behind, forming a strong yet flexible bond.
Rubber cement is used in art applications as, unlike water-based PVA glues (i.e. white or Elmer's brand glue), rubber cement does not shrink much and so does not wrinkle the adhered surfaces. It also does not become brittle as paste does. Rubber cement is safe for use with photographs and specialty papers as it will not cause them to deteriorate over time, a danger associated with many other common adhesives.
The formula for rubber cement does not vary from brand to brand and has changed over time due to concerns of the toxicity of the chemicals involved, especially in regard to its use by children. Most rubber cement available today is quite safe, though. The solvents have also been criticized for potential of abuse as inhalants or, at the very least, that they can be a respiratory hazard. For this reason, as with any adhesive, rubber cement should be used in a well-ventilated area.
Copydex, a common latex-based adhesive in the UK, uses an ammonia and water solvent and needs no special handling, making it very child-friendly. While for this reason it is often given to children, it is also used in artwork, and finds widespread use in light D.I.Y. work such as fixing carpet tiles and repairing upholstery.sv:Gummiklister
