Contact adhesives, also known as dry-bonding water-based adhesives, are primarily emulsion and dispersion adhesives. Similar to solvent-based dispersions, water-based adhesives are applied to both substrates requiring bonding, and the water must evaporate before a bond forms between the adhesives. Bonding occurs when the components coated with the water-based adhesive come into contact with each other.

Water-based contact adhesives are more widely used than wet-bonding systems because they are generally stronger, allow for a greater variety of substrates, and exhibit better heat resistance. In these water-based adhesive mixtures, additives can be incorporated to enhance and impart properties including fire resistance, chemical resistance, and antistatic performance.