Gluing is one of the most frequently performed activities in finishing and repair work. Its quality performance is influenced by a number of factors that must be paid attention to.
Today we cannot imagine finishing work without gluing various materials - parquet, linoleum, wall cladding panels, wallpaper, fabric coverings, ceramic, stone, glass tiles, decorative elements, etc. The variety of adhesives used in construction is huge and practically inexhaustible.
IN WHAT CONDITIONS ARE THE ADHESIVES OFFERED?
Adhesives are available in liquid, jelly, paste or solid (in the form of sticks, granules or powder) state. There are also adhesives that are applied to a substrate, for example tape. There is also a variety in packaging. Adhesives are stored in metal boxes, buckets, packages, elastic bottles or hermetically sealed packages, which are usually in the form of cylindrical tubes with dosing devices and are used with a special gun. All types of packaging must provide reliable closure in order to preserve the properties of the adhesive for a sufficiently long time.
Most adhesives are polymers with good adhesion. They can be natural (of animal or plant origin) or synthetic, for example artificially produced thermoplastic or heat-curing resins. Various substances are added to the polymer to improve the bonding process.
TYPES OF ADHESIVES ACCORDING TO THEIR COMPOSITION
The composition of the adhesive determines the nature of the effect on the surfaces to be joined. There are water-based adhesives, solvent-based adhesives, compound adhesives (two- or more-component) and hot-melt adhesives. Some solvents in their pure form are also considered adhesives.
Water-based adhesives are aqueous solutions or suspensions and are the most environmentally friendly group. They harden and bond after the water has completely evaporated. They are developed on the basis of three types of products: organic (cellulose and bone glue), synthetic (polyvinyl alcohol, phenolic and melamine resins) and inorganic such as aqueous solutions of sodium silicate.
WHAT ARE WATER-BASED ADHESIVES USED FOR?
Aqueous suspensions are water-insoluble synthetic resins whose particles are dispersed in an aqueous medium. Such are, for example, polyvinyl acetate adhesives or those made of synthetic rubber. Water-based adhesives are applicable to porous materials such as polystyrene, plasterboard, chipboard, plywood, MDF, OSB and wood. Water moistens the pores of these materials and allows the adhesive to penetrate evenly over the entire surface. These adhesives have two disadvantages. One is the long curing time. In some cases, it is possible to shorten it by heating the joints to evaporate the water more quickly. In addition, the layer of hardening adhesive serves as a nutrient medium for the development of microorganisms, which can subsequently lead to the formation of mold if the adhesive does not contain bactericidal and fungicidal additives.
WHAT ARE SOLVENT-BASED ADHESIVES USED FOR?
Solvent-based adhesives are polymers that are kept in a liquid state using chemicals such as acetone, alcohol, toluene and alkaloids that evaporate faster than water. Typical examples in this group are contact adhesives, which are solutions of synthetic rubber in cyanide esters of acrylic acid, as well as solutions of polyvinyl chloride in ethylene chloride or ethyl acetate esters. Such adhesives are used for bonding thermoplastic materials such as sheets, panels, fittings and pipes made of polyvinyl chloride. Drying time is shorter than with water-based adhesives. A disadvantage of these adhesives is that the vapors of most solvents are harmful to human health.
WHAT ARE TWO-COMPONENT ADHESIVES USED FOR?
Two-component adhesives harden as a result of a chemical reaction of polymers after mixing with hardeners or under the influence of various factors such as heat, pressure, moisture, sunlight or oxygen from the air. The most common are epoxy, polyurethane, silicone and acrylic polyester resins. They are successfully used for bonding various metals and some types of plastics. When using hardeners, it is important to mix the components immediately before use, taking care not to form air bubbles and inhomogeneities. It is a good idea to prepare the amount of mixture that you think you will use, because after the open time for work, which is specific to the different adhesives, the mixture becomes unusable.
WHAT ARE HOT MELTING ADHESIVES USED FOR?
Hot melt adhesives are thermoplastic polymers such as alkyd resins or ethylcellulose with some additives. These adhesives do not contain water or solvents. At room temperature, they retain their hardness and chemical resistance for a long time. They are used only after heating to a high temperature, at which they melt and are applied to the surfaces to be glued in the form of more or less viscous compositions. If metal surfaces are glued, they are first heated and then dusted with the adhesive, which melts from contact with the hot metal.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT ADHESIVE?
The correct choice of adhesive is one of the mandatory conditions for obtaining a satisfactory result from the bonding. It must take into account the characteristics of the base of the bonded material and the operating conditions - temperature, humidity, mechanical load, impact of aggressive reagents, etc.
Very popular are the so-called liquid nails adhesives, which are water-dispersed acrylic copolymers. They allow quick and easy installation of materials made of wood, chipboard, PVC, gypsum, drywall, cardboard, ceramics and metal, without the use of nails. With such universal adhesives, the above-mentioned materials can be glued both to each other and to various substrates.
WHAT DOES WOOD GLUED WITH?
If you are going to glue wood, you may want to consider adhesives based on water-based dispersions of polyvinyl acetate (PVA), as some experts consider them to be the most suitable for the job. There are several types of PVA adhesives:
- universal (for wood, plywood, chipboard and PVC);
- adhesives specialized for wood and chipboard;
- adhesives that are used not only for gluing, but also for adding to cement mortars for a stronger bond to the surface.
WHAT IS PARQUET GLUEED WITH?
When choosing an adhesive for installing parquet flooring, the rate of moisture absorption by different types of wood should be taken into account. Oak and ash, for example, absorb moisture relatively slowly and coverings made of these materials can be glued with water-dispersion adhesives with a water content of no more than 30%. Coverings made of beech, maple, cherry and many exotic species absorb moisture relatively quickly and are therefore glued with solvent-based adhesives or two-component adhesives. With the first type of adhesive, the floor can be walked on after 5 or more hours, and with the second - after about 2 hours. Many parquet manufacturers also make adhesives specialized for each of the types of coverings they produce or accompany their product with a list of recommended brands of adhesives.
WHAT IS WALLPAPER ADHESIVED WITH?
The same applies to the choice of wallpaper glue. Just as there are a variety of types of wood with wooden materials, wallpapers are made of different materials – paper, textile, vinyl, fiberglass, etc. One of the most commonly used wallpaper glues is water-soluble carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) glues. High-quality CMC glues are a white powder that is dissolved in water before use. If the dry mixture has a yellow color or is non-uniform, it is of unsatisfactory quality, which will worsen the solubility of the glue and the color will most likely bleed through the wallpaper. CMC glues differ not only in quality, but also in purpose – for light, medium and heavy wallpapers. The heavier the wallpaper, the higher the concentration of carboxymethylcellulose should be, as it makes the bond stronger and prevents the wallpaper from peeling and sliding off under the influence of its own mass. If the room has high humidity, it is better to choose a KMC glue with antiseptic additives that prevent rotting. Vinyl glues are more suitable for vinyl or textile wallpapers. Due to the wide variety of glues and wallpapers, choosing a glue is not easy. Do not ignore the wallpaper manufacturers' recommended glues for the respective product, because if you decide to experiment, the results are unpredictable.
WHAT IS LINOLEUM ADHESIVED WITH?
For natural linoleum floor coverings, water-based adhesives are suitable, for vinyl linoleum - based on polyvinyl chloride, and for coverings with an organic backing, special water-based dispersions with bactericidal and fungicidal additives have been developed. Of course, adhesives with such additives are usually more expensive, but you should not skimp on the choice of adhesive. Otherwise, you may have to replace the entire coating after possible mold development. For polymer-bitumen coatings, conductive adhesives with graphite fillers are recommended, which prevent the accumulation of static electricity. Cork coatings are well glued with water-based compositions intended for porous surfaces.
HOW ARE SURFACES PREPARED BEFORE ADHESION?
The surfaces to be glued must be cleaned beforehand of mechanical and chemical contaminants such as dust, fibers, grease, acids, moisture and even fingerprints. For this purpose, water or some solvent is used, most often gasoline or acetone depending on the nature of the adhesive. Otherwise, in places the adhesive will adhere not to the base, but to these non-uniform areas of the surface, which will reduce adhesion. It is also a good idea to pay attention to the manufacturer's recommended thickness of the adhesive layer, because if it is exceeded, there is a risk of reducing the bonding resistance precisely in the adhesion layer.
IF YOU ARE GOING TO USE SANDWICH, USE A MEDIUM-GRAINED ONE
It is good to keep in mind that the degree of surface roughness affects adhesion. The bond between the adhesive and a perfectly smooth surface is always weaker than with rough surfaces. This is why it is sometimes necessary to use granular abrasive sandpaper for pre-treatment of surfaces. The adhesion of the adhesive to the surface is greater after treatment with medium-grained sandpaper than with fine-grained. When using coarse-grained sandpaper, the opposite happens, as greater roughness is obtained and sometimes the adhesive layer must exceed 0.2 mm in thickness, which will reduce the durability of the bond. The surface prepared for bonding must be uniform, without edges and cracks, and in the case of wood, without protruding fibers. In the case of metals, an adhesion primer is applied in advance to prevent rust formation.
BE CAREFUL WITH THE QUANTITY!
If the adhesive you are going to use cannot be applied in the form in which it was purchased, it also needs preliminary preparation, for example heating, mixing the individual compositions in the case of two- and more component adhesives, etc. In such a case, it is a good idea to prepare as much material as you think you will use until the open time of the adhesive expires.
To obtain a high-quality and durable bond, you must have made the right choice of adhesive according to the materials and operating conditions, perform the bonding professionally according to the manufacturer's instructions, and subject the bonded materials to mechanical or other impact only after a certain period of time has elapsed, which is specific to the individual adhesives and is indicated on the product packaging.
WHAT DO WE OFFER?
With us you will find a wide variety of different types of adhesives, according to their purpose for different materials. The brands are also numerous, but we have prioritized two because of their high quality. One is from a Bulgarian manufacturer - the Trojan company VEKTOR, and the other - MOMENT from the German favorite in the industry HENKEL.
In this product group, you can find dozens of types of adhesives, according to their intended use for different materials: for wood, assembly adhesive, strong universal adhesive, instant adhesive, instant adhesive, assembly silicone, acrylic sealant, metal nut lock, liquid rubber, liquid steel, hard adhesive, epoxy adhesive, liquid steel auto adhesive, siliconized adhesive for cars, contact adhesive, vulcanizing liquid for gluing tires, polystyrene adhesive, adhesive for wall coverings and frieze, wallpaper adhesive, fleece adhesive, adhesive for polyurethane profiles, universal majoun-weld adhesive, quick-drying adhesive, adhesive for decorative polystyrene profiles and wall and ceiling panels, adhesive for thermal insulation panels, epoxy metal for aqueous environments, universal polymer adhesive, hardener for epoxy resin.
In addition to MOMENT by HENKEL and VEKTOR, we also offer adhesives from about twenty other brands, among which PUFAS, QUILOSA, BISON, AKFIX, LOCTITE, JIP are the most popular.
Our prices are in optimal proportion to the quality and purpose of the products. They are affordable and will inspire you to make a purchase.
We will introduce you in more detail to some of HENKEL's MOMENT adhesives, which are most widely used. Some of them are for wood and wood-based materials, and others are assembly adhesives.
MOMENT wood glues
We will not be wrong if we define the group of glues for wood and wood materials as the most frequently used not only in the home workshop, but also in every household. Wooden objects abound in every home and at the same time have the property of easily breaking or disassembling themselves. Therefore, a tube of glue is almost as necessary as one of the selected first aid medicines in the home medicine cabinet. Special glues for gluing parquet flooring also belong to this group.
Modern adhesives, and HENKEL adhesives are among the best on the market, are ready to use, bond quickly and firmly, and some of them also have high moisture resistance. They are sold in a variety of sizes and shapes, so that for each specific case of use a person can choose the most suitable one - different sized boxes or very convenient tubes. MOMENT wood adhesives are made on the basis of an aqueous dispersion of polyvinyl acetate (PVA) with various additives of artificial resins, which give them specific properties. The adhesives are white in color, and after hardening they form a transparent seam. The specified data on the times in which the parts can be adjusted before the glue begins to set, refer to a room temperature of 20°C. In production conditions, these times can be halved by heating the parts to about 50°C.
We will personally focus on two of the MOMENT wood adhesives that we offer.
Moment Wood Standard
The most characteristic feature of this glue is the extended time until it starts to gel and set – up to about 25 minutes, depending on the temperature, humidity and thickness of the glue layer. This means that during this time period, corrections and adjustments of the glued parts are possible without affecting the strength of the joint. This glue forms high-strength joints with some residual elasticity and good moisture resistance. It is used for all types of glued joints such as joints with wooden dowels, "tongue and groove", with tongue and groove, "groove and tongue" and other types of non-detachable carpentry joints, for longitudinal joining of battens, for gluing edges of solid wood or veneer, etc. It is suitable for gluing parts made of solid wood or various wood materials such as particle boards (chipboard) and wood fibers (fiberboard). The adhesive seam is heat-resistant - it withstands temperatures up to 80°C, which makes the adhesive suitable for gluing wooden flooring over heated floors. The adhesive is sold in plastic tubes with a capacity of 750 g.
Before gluing, the contact surfaces must be clean, dry, degreased and dust-free. In addition, they must be smooth and fit tightly to each other, without forming wide joints between them. It is recommended that the humidity of the glued wooden parts does not exceed 12%, because high humidity extends the bonding time of the glue. For softwood parts, it is applied to only one surface, then the parts are positioned relative to each other and pressed with clamps until the glue hardens. For parts made of hardwood species, as well as for wood rich in resins, it is recommended to apply it to both glued surfaces. The time during which the parts must be pressed depends on the temperature, the humidity of the wood and the thickness of the glue layer. At room temperature (20°C), the minimum time required for gluing edges is 20 minutes, and for more massive parts, this period is extended to at least 40 minutes. When working at home, when high productivity is not sought, these periods can easily be extended, which is an additional guarantee that impatience will not cause the parts to be joined to shift.
What needs to be done in time is to thoroughly clean the glue that has come out of the seams of the assembly. While it is still fresh, it is easy to clean with a damp sponge. The other option is to wait until it starts to gel and then the glue that has come out is very easy to remove with a wide flat chisel. If necessary, the remaining traces here and there are cleaned with a damp sponge or cloth.
Because it contains water, the glue should not be kept in rooms where the temperature drops below zero in winter.
Moment Wood Express
As its name suggests, this glue sets faster than others - the time during which corrections can be made is reduced to 12 minutes at room temperature. Everything else is the same as Moment Wood Standard. Moment Wood Express is available in our store in tubes of 250 and 750 g.
MOMENT parquet flooring adhesives
This group of adhesives is of particular interest for at least two reasons. Laminate or wooden parquet flooring is very popular in our country due to its functionality, wear resistance, beautiful appearance, easy installation and also easy maintenance. They are available in a very wide price range, which allows you to find a good enough material for every budget. The quality of the finished coating depends as much on the boards themselves as on the adhesive used in their installation. And it must provide a strong and completely tight joint along the length of all joints (longitudinal and end). Thanks to the elasticity of the adhesive seam, it does not crack over time, while at the same time it can withstand the inevitable mechanical deformations when stepping on or moving heavy objects without damage. Resistance to moisture and possibly resistance to heating for flooring over heated floors should also be added to the list of requirements. Therefore, no compromise should be made, and HENKEL adhesives for wooden flooring meet even the highest requirements. Depending on the type of parquet boards and the method of gluing the coating, different adhesives are used. We will focus specifically on what is available in our nomenclature.
Moment Parquet & Laminates
Studies show that this is the most commonly used adhesive, as laminate and wooden parquet boards are usually installed loosely lying on the floor, glued together only along the edges, but not to the base. The result is a waterproof “floating” floor covering that lies on the floor without resting on the walls. The latter requirement is imperative to prevent the covering from swelling if it accidentally gets wet and the material expands as a result. Modern materials make laying such parquet coverings almost as easy as gluing the classics of the past – synthetic carpet.
Although the main purpose of the glue is for gluing the tongue and groove joints of wooden and laminate floorboards, it can also be successfully used for any other glued assemblies of wooden parts. It is sold only in soft plastic tubes of 750 g, equipped with a nozzle for quick, easy and, most importantly, accurately dosed application along the edges of the boards. One bottle can glue about 20 sq.m of parquet. The time for bonding the glue is up to 17 minutes - quite enough to install a block of boards, which are then tightly fastened to each other with special belts or other devices until the glue sets. Immediately after tightening, the leaked glue is thoroughly cleaned with a damp sponge. This operation should not be underestimated, because the floorboards are resistant to washing, while traces of dried and hardened glue can be difficult to clean. Parquet laid in this way can be walked on after 24 hours.
MOMENT assembly adhesives
Nowadays, adhesives are increasingly and more successfully replacing classical mechanical technologies in the connection and installation of various parts and objects. Instead of nails, screws, dowels, rivets and other connection techniques, it is much easier, faster, cleaner, and in most cases stronger to drop a few drops of glue or squirt a strip of it and after a short press the joint is ready. The area of application of adhesives is becoming more and more extensive and extends from surgery to aircraft construction and aerospace engineering. Adhesives are invariably present in the everyday life of every person - in the maintenance and repair of the home, cottage and car.
For example, parquet boards are no longer hammered, but glued. In the same way, skirting boards on the floor are glued to the wall, and not installed with screws and dowels. It is infinitely easier and faster to apply a wavy strip of glue to the back of the strip and press it against the wall in a minute, instead of drilling rows of holes for the dowels. Wallpaper, soft flooring and cork tiles, aquarium glass and decorative elements made of plaster or polystyrene, all kinds of hangers, signs, mirrors, all kinds of wooden structures, etc. cannot be glued. Only polypropylene, polyethylene and Teflon can be glued.
HENKEL is a world leader in the production of adhesives, an important part of which are the assembly adhesives with the well-known brand MOMENT. As their name suggests, these adhesives are intended for construction and repair purposes.
We will present you in more detail two of the MOMENT assembly adhesives, which can be used to bond wood and wood-based materials, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, stone and ceramics, glass, hard PVC, gypsum-based boards, cork and other cladding materials, in most cases polystyrene, etc.
MOMENT assembly adhesives are available in standard plastic bottles for spraying with a gun (press). Before use, the bottle is placed in the gun, its tip is cut off and the nozzle is screwed onto it. Its tip is also cut off at an angle, the place is chosen so that a wider or narrower opening is obtained. This determines the flow rate of the glue that flows through the opening under the pressure of the gun piston. The glue is most often applied in a continuous wavy strip or in points located at a distance from each other.
Moment PROFI FIX
As its name suggests, this glue is more professional, which means that it is used for bonding when there are increased requirements that other glues cannot cope with or are not suitable for. Moment PROFI FIX contains a solvent, which allows materials with non-absorbent surfaces to be glued together. In addition, the glue can be used for work at negative temperatures (up to - 7 ° C), the adhesive seam is waterproof, while maintaining high elasticity, which makes the joint resistant to temperature fluctuations. Obviously, these qualities significantly expand its range of applications for glued joints.
Gluing with it resembles working with contact adhesives. After the adhesive has been applied in the required amount and in the appropriate way (in stripes or dots), the parts are pressed firmly together to spread the adhesive to the sides and separated from each other again. Wait 2–3 minutes, the time required for part of the solvent to evaporate, after which the parts are pressed firmly together again and finally. If necessary, their position can be corrected without delay, but without separating them. The “open time” of the adhesive is 30 minutes.
The joint reaches its final bonding strength after 24 hours when the substrate is absorbent (plaster, concrete or wood) and after 48 hours when it is non-absorbent (glass, metals). The adhesive can fill cracks and joints with a maximum width of 6 mm.
Moment EXPRESS FIX
The most characteristic feature of this professional and solvent-free adhesive is that it bonds practically instantly, i.e. without any waiting or additional reinforcement. When gluing with it, it is no longer necessary to separate the parts and wait until the solvent evaporates. Thanks to the high initial bonding strength (10–12 g/sq.cm), in most cases there is no need to additionally fix and reinforce the glued part. This is done only when its weight is large and therefore there is a risk that it will move while the adhesive has not yet bonded strongly enough. The adhesive is suitable for all absorbent and non-absorbent substrates except polypropylene, polyethylene and Teflon. The compound is moisture resistant. C - Moment EXPRESS FIX can be glued at temperatures down to –10°C.
When both surfaces to be bonded are non-porous and do not absorb liquids, to facilitate solvent evaporation it is recommended to apply the adhesive in vertical stripes. The “open time” is up to 10 minutes. The maximum bond strength (50–60 kg/sq.cm) is reached after 48 hours. Moment EXPRESS FIX can fill joints up to 10 mm wide.
With us you can also find other MOMENT adhesives, the characteristics of which are specified in detail in their technical data sheets.
The VECTOR "C" series is well known to the mass consumer
The predominant share of VECTOR's offerings in our sales list is logically occupied by the adhesives from the "C" series, which are familiar to the general audience.
Glue C 200 is intended for bonding floor coverings, parquet and wall coverings to concrete, cement-sand, eternit, gypsum fiber and wooden surfaces, for construction when plastering. Glues paper and cardboard. Available in packages from 130 g to 20 kg in different packaging.
Glue C 300 is intended for gluing wooden parts. It can be used for veneer and wooden panels, flooring and other porous materials, for gluing paper and textile wall coverings. It is available in packages of 120 g, 220 g and 1 kg.
Glue C 450 is intended for bonding heat and sound insulation materials (polystyrene, cork), polymer linings in rooms with high humidity, flooring with and without textile backing, terracotta and faience. Available in 1 kg and 4 kg packages.
From VECTOR, we have also included epoxy resin, PVC glue and Helmevect glue in our sales list.
