Find the Best Glue for Aluminium Foil - Buy in Bulk!

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around finding an appropriate adhesive for sticking aluminum foil, with a focus on the need for a product available in bulk quantities. Participants express concerns about the reactivity of aluminum and the implications for adhesive selection.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant requests recommendations for a glue suitable for aluminum foil, emphasizing the need for a bulk product due to size requirements.
  • Another participant questions the nature of the reactivity, referencing the common use of aluminum foil for food wrapping.
  • Several participants discuss the reactivity of aluminum, particularly in relation to the aluminum oxide (AlOH) film that forms on its surface, which can be disrupted.
  • One participant shares an anecdote about stirring molten aluminum with a stainless steel rod, highlighting the increased reactivity of molten aluminum compared to solid aluminum.
  • A participant notes that drying adhesives may not be effective due to the airtight nature of aluminum foil.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is no consensus on the best adhesive for aluminum foil, and multiple viewpoints regarding aluminum's reactivity and its implications for adhesive choice are presented.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the specific conditions under which aluminum's reactivity may affect adhesive performance, and there are unresolved questions about the types of adhesives that would be suitable.

Notinuse
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I need a recommendations on a glue to stick aluminium foil.

Due to the size I need a product that can be brought in larger quantities rather than in small tubes; like a tub of wood glue or wallpaper paste.

I'm asking because aluminium is reactive and I need something that will stick, but not react.
 
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Reactive with what? You know, they wrap food with aluminum foil.
 
Aluminum is very reactive, if you disrupt the AlOH film that forms on the surface (of the order of only one molecule thick) when it is in contact with air.

That's why mercury-in-glass thermometers are banned from aluminum-framed aircraft.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbUPjHHml1E

On the other hand, AlOH is very inert, which is why Al is hard to solder, for example - but if the surface film has broken and can't re-form properly, it is virtually impossible to stop the reaction.
 
I was once stirring molten Al with a Stainless steel rod...The stainless "melted" into the Al. Al is very reactive, of course molten Al is more so then solid due to the thermal energy present.
 
AlephZero said:
Aluminum is very reactive, if you disrupt the AlOH film that forms on the surface (of the order of only one molecule thick) when it is in contact with air.

That's why mercury-in-glass thermometers are banned from aluminum-framed aircraft.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbUPjHHml1E

On the other hand, AlOH is very inert, which is why Al is hard to solder, for example - but if the surface film has broken and can't re-form properly, it is virtually impossible to stop the reaction.

Isn't this as much of a demonstration of the re activity of Hg as well as Al? I once was playing with some Hg, great fun!, and watch regular tin/lead solder simply vanish into the Hg.
 
Since the foil is pretty air tight 'drying adhesives' probably aren't going to work.
 

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