A common specialty adhesive that many of us are familiar with is hot glue sticks.
These little sticks of glue are a staple in the toolboxes of crafters and handymen alike. And, with good reason. They work well, are inexpensive, and come in a variety of colors.
But have you ever wondered if hot glue sticks to aluminum foil?
Will Hot Glue Stick To Aluminum Foil?
Contents
- 1 Will Hot Glue Stick To Aluminum Foil?
- 2 Is It Possible for Hot Glue to Melt Aluminum Foil?
- 3 Is Hot Glue Adhesive To Plastic Wrap?
- 4 Is Hot Glue Adhesive To Parchment Paper?
- 5 Is Hot Glue Adhesive To Acrylic?
- 6 Is Hot Glue Adhesive To Rubber?
- 7 What Doesn’t Hot Glue Stick To?
- 8 Is It Possible to Get Hot Glue Wet?
- 9 Conclusion
Unfortunately, hot glue will stick only to non-aluminum materials. This means that you can attach other objects to foil with hot glue.
The glue will not stick to the foil itself. This also means you can use regular (not the low-temp) heat to melt the glue on your work of art to remove it without damaging the art or the foil backing.
However, if your goal is to permanently attach the object to the foil or to add other embellishments to your art project, you will need to use another adhesive that adheres better to aluminum foil.
Hot glue is not suitable for flat surfaces because the glue cannot flow around the entire surface to be glued and bond to it evenly.
So, if you want to use an aluminum foil-backed object as a coaster or place-mat, you’ll need to apply a layer of Elmer’s School Glue to the back of the object before placing it on the aluminum foil.
Is It Possible for Hot Glue to Melt Aluminum Foil?
Hot glue will melt at a temperature of about 240 degrees Fahrenheit (115 degrees Celsius). Heat this high can melt the thin aluminum backing on standard-issue plastic coasters and place mats.
If you leave the hot item on top of the melted plastic for more than a few seconds, it may damage the plastic as well.
One way to avoid this problem is to place the melted coaster/place mat in a freezer for a couple of minutes to cool it back down, and then place it on top of a piece of cardboard or other surface that won’t absorb moisture.
Aluminum foil has a melting point of 1220 degrees Fahrenheit (660 degrees Celsius).
As a result, hot dishes can be safely placed directly on top of a frozen piece of aluminum foil without melting it or damaging the foil’s surface.
Is Hot Glue Adhesive To Plastic Wrap?
Everything depends on the temperature difference between the hot glue and the plastic wrap.
If you’re talking about a low temperature difference, then the glue won’t stick to plastic.
PVC is too slick for the glue to stick properly. While it’s true that the glue will adhere to the wrapper for a few seconds before it dries out, it can’t stay on long enough to be practical.
However, when it comes to higher temperatures, the glue may stick to the plastic wrap if the temperature difference is high enough.
So, when in doubt, try using a little hot water on the area you want to stick the wrap to before applying the glue to the dry spot.
Is Hot Glue Adhesive To Parchment Paper?
The answer to this is a resounding “yes”! In fact, the parchment paper is one of the best surfaces on which to apply hot glue because it provides the perfect amount of friction to prevent the glue from falling off.
The surface of parchment paper is quite smooth, which allows the glue to adhere to it easily. Plus, parchment doesn’t absorb moisture like paper does, so the glued-on objects will stay for a long time.
And, as we’ve seen, you can use the frozen parchment paper trick to keep the pieces in place temporarily until they’re ready to be used.
When hot glue is applied directly to a non-porous surface such as wood or metal, it tends to become sticky and messy over time.
Is Hot Glue Adhesive To Acrylic?
A hot glue stick will not attach to an acrylic surface because the two materials have different chemical properties.
Therefore, the hot glue gun can’t melt the acrylic enough to form a strong bond between the two surfaces.
Is Hot Glue Adhesive To Rubber?
The kind of rubber determines whether or not a hot glue gun will stick to it.
Some kinds of rubber have just enough natural oil to make them porous enough for the adhesive to stick to them.
Hot glue does not function well on vinyl because of its slippery texture.
Vinyl does not absorb the heat from the glue gun well enough to allow the hot liquid to flow around it and create a strong bond between itself and the vinyl sheet.
Consider utilizing a different glue that is specifically designed for this type of material if you want to attach something to your vinyl sheets.
What Doesn’t Hot Glue Stick To?
As previously stated, hot glue sticks to a variety of non-metallic surfaces and materials quite well.
This includes wood, paper, foam, fabric, cardboard, and much more. It can even be applied to ceramic pottery! But it won’t stick to these metallic surfaces.
Aside from aluminum foil, don’t anticipate this adhesive to work on any other metallic surface such as stainless steel, brass, copper, silver, gold, platinum, etc.
Instead, consider using epoxy or superglue to attach these items to a metallic surface.
Is It Possible to Get Hot Glue Wet?
Yes, hot glue can indeed be wet! It can withstand water and other forms of moisture such as fog and humidity without becoming damaged.
This is because its chemical formula contains chemicals that prevent it from absorbing water and other liquids. In fact, it’s waterproof!
It is important to note, however, that the “wet” aspect only applies to the surface to which the adhesive has been applied.
If you place a wet object on top of a wet piece of glued-on material, the object will absorb the water and moisture from the underlying surface and cause it to become damaged.
Also Read: How Long Does Krazy Glue Take to Dry?
Conclusion
Although hot melt adhesive will not melt styrofoam and polystyrene foams, you can attach the two materials to each other using other types of adhesives.
This adhesive works best on rough materials such as wood and stone because it forms a bond by actually fusing the two items together. It also works well on porous materials such as paper and cloth because the molecules in the glue can soak into the material’s pores.
Cyanoacrylate, often known as quick glue, super glue, or instant glue, is another type of adhesive that is often used as an alternative to hot glue sticks.
It will adhere effectively to a wide variety of surfaces and materials. However, unlike hot melt adhesives, it is best used for temporary bonding purposes.