Rubber cement

Rubber cement (cow gum in British English) is an adhesive made from elastic polymers (typically latex) mixed in a solvent such as acetone, hexane, heptane or toluene to keep it fluid enough to be used.

This makes it part of the class of drying adhesives: as the solvents quickly evaporate, the rubber solidifies, forming a strong yet flexible bond.

Rubber cement is favoured in handicrafts applications, where easy and damage-free removal of adhesive is desired.

Older formula rubber cements are not considered an archivally sound adhesive because of their low pH value (making them acidic) and will cause deterioration of photographs and paper over time.

Rubber cement thinners are also available, and are used to replace the solvent that evaporates from the container or to remove residual adhesive.