Adhesives are increasingly being used to replace traditional fastening methods such as welding, bolts and rivets, in industrial applications. In cars and other transport applications, weight reduction is a key factor in new developments, hence the use of lightweight adhesives is rapidly expanding. Engineering and structural adhesives are high strength, designed to support loads. They are often subjected to severe environmental conditions, for example in external construction applications or pipe joints. Adhesives are used to bond many different material types including ceramics, metals, glass, plastics and composites.