WIKO-Wiki: S
Solidify
As the adhesive solidifies, its internal strength, the cohesion, increases.
Adhesives can set in two ways:
- Physical setting is called "setting". During setting, only physical processes such as drying, cooling or evaporation of solvents take place. The physical solidification process during setting is reversible. (reversible).
- Chemical setting is called "curing". During curing, in contrast to setting, chemical processes take place during the solidification of the adhesive. Polymers are formed by chemical reaction from the resin and hardener particles (or prepolymers) present in the liquid adhesive. In physically setting adhesives, the polymer chains are already present in the liquid adhesive. The chemical solidification processes during curing cannot be reversed (irreversible).
