polyvinyl acetate glue Is the most common adhesive on the market. It has many names, white glue, wood glue, carpenter’s glue, and in the US, Elmer’s Glue. Grocers, drug stores, paper craft stores line their shelves with this vinyl polymer. Add a little water to it and you have paper mache adhesive. It’s used to repair wood furniture, photo frames and jewelry. It lends a hand to the creation of feather and glitter paper art or assembly of greeting cards. The best part of using white glue is that it dries to a clear finish. It also washes off hands and tables with warm soapy water.
Formula Variations
In the commercial industry, Polyvinyl Acetate Glue has just as many adhesive purposes for converting and assembly equipment. With slight changes in the formula, manufacturers can develop a variety of applications for the vinyl polymer. Polyvinyl Acetate Glue or PVAc or PVA (C4H6O2) n was discovered in Germany by Fritz Klatte (1912). PVAc has a long history in the manufacturing industries.
No Cost Variations
From the classroom to the commercial packaging industry, white glue is a tacky adhesive in high demand. The glue’s primary application is for porous materials such as corrugated cardboard, wood, and paper products. The good news is that regardless of the formulation the costs should be relatively the same from product to product.
PVAc Benefits
There are no harmful fumes and its only toxic if ingested. It does not pose risks to the skin and works best at room temperature. That increases its value, as a super adhesive in the assembly of paper, corrugated and cardboard containers. But there are always some limitations and PVAc’s are minimal.
* Requires pressure or clamping
* Not waterproof
* Moderately resistant to moisture
* Breaks down if frozen
* Increase gap fills with sawdust
Polyvinyl Acetate Glue is also a general purpose adhesive used by the corrugated box manufacturers to seal box joints, side seams and more. It can be applied to most box coatings and depending on slight formula variations will adhere to some wax coverings, too. PVAc should always be stored in a cool, dry location out of direct sunlight. It’s formulated to meet USDA and FDA regulations for use in the commercial food packaging industry.
Rapid Bond, Inc. produces adhesives for the converting and corrugating industries. We also produce adhesive storage tanks and other adhesive related equipment. We are an international company that has served North, Central & South America since 1978. Visit us.
