Characteristics of nonreactive synthetic glues
Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)
| Applications |
• ideal for bonding melamine-faced cabinet parts and for gluing cross-grain solid-wood assemblies where wood movement is likely;
• can be coloured with dyes etc. |
| Availability/ using |
• ready to use |
| Typical working time # |
10 to 15 min |
| Clamp time # |
1/2 to 2 hrs |
| Cured working properties |
• soft and pliable;
• can be worked with hand tools; machines well; sands moderately well;
• reversible with water and/or heat;
• compatible with some stains and finishes. |
| Cured properties |
• acceptable strength but with little rigidity or creep resistance. |
| Longterm properties |
• low resistance to heat and moisture;
• fair resistance to acids and solvents;
• fair shock resistance;
• will gradually degrade if exposed to intense UV light. |
# depending on glue formula, moisture content of workpieces, working temperature, atmospheric humidity etc
PolyVinyl Acetate (PVA) (white)
| Applications |
• low grade (craft or hobby glue);
• edge- and face-gluing, bonding structural joints;
• bonding plastic laminates etc;
• can be coloured with dyes etc. |
| Availability/ using |
• ready to use;
• water can be added up to 5% to increase working time. |
| Typical working time # |
5 to 30 min |
| Clamp time # |
20 to 90 min |
| Cured working properties |
• fairly soft and workable;
• can be cut with hand tools, machines well but loads paper when sanded;
• reversible with water for 2 to 6 weeks after curing;
• resist stains and finishes |
| Cured properties |
• adequate strength;
• low rigidity and creep resistance; |
| Longterm properties |
• low to moderate resistance to heat, moisture, acids and solvents and good shock resistance;
• will gradually degrade if exposed to UV light. |
# depending on glue formula, moisture content of workpieces, working temperature, atmospheric humidity etc
PolyVinyl Acetate (PVA) (yellow)
| Applications |
• high grade (professional/ industrial glue);
• edge- and face-gluing, bonding structural joints;
• bonding plastic laminates etc;
• can be coloured with dyes etc. |
| Availability/ using |
• ready to use;
• water can be added up to 5% to increase working time. |
| Typical working time # |
5 to 30 min |
| Clamp time # |
20 to 90 min |
| Cured working properties |
• cures hard;
• can be cut with hand tools, machines well but loads paper when sanded;
• can be softened or reactivated with heat up to several days after application;
• not reversible with water after curing;
• resist stains and finishes. |
| Cured properties |
• greater strength, rigidity, creep resistance and durability than white PVA. |
| Longterm properties |
• greater resistance to heat, moisture, acids and solvents and very good shock resistance;
• will gradually degrade if exposed to UV light. |
# depending on glue formula, moisture content of workpieces, working temperature, atmospheric humidity etc
| Applications |
• bonding plastic laminates;
• decorative overlays;
• other rigid sheet materials;
• some modern water-based cements are fast drying and give high performance;
• applying significant pressure to the work greatly increases the strength of the bond. |
| Availability/ using |
• ready to use |
| Typical working time # |
dry prior to assembly;
open drying times:
10 to 20 min (water based),
2 to 15 min (solvent based), |
| Clamp time # |
1 to 5 min will increase bond strength |
| Cured working properties |
• soft and elastic;
• can be machined and sanded but will gum up cutting edges and sandpaper;
• may be softened by solvents (may be affected by solvents in stains and finishes. |
| Cured properties |
• initially very weak;
• develops increased strength when pressed into thin layer;
• no rigidity;
• little or no creep resistance. |
| Longterm properties |
• good to excellent heat resistance if pressed into thin layer;
• poor to fair moisture resistance if subjected to prolonged exposure;
• poor solvent resistance. |
# depending on glue formula, moisture content of workpieces, working temperature, atmospheric humidity etc
Hot-melt
| Applications |
• hot-melt glues and guns are available with high, low or dual melt-point glue;
• high-melt systems widely available/used;
• low-melt systems are safer and less likely to harm the materials being glued;
• hot melt is useful for edge-banding sheet material and for the rapid assembly of temporary fixtures. |
| Availability/ using |
• supplied in solid sticks;
• must be applied hot;
• low-melt glue shouldn't be applied with a high-melt gun. |
| Typical working time # |
5 to 30 sec,
longer if parts preheated |
| Clamp time # |
No clamping needed; firmly press parts together as quickly as possible |
| Cured working properties |
• soft and elastic;
• can be cut with hand tools when hardened;
• machines and sands adequately but can gum up cutting edges and sandpaper;
• reversible with heat;
• may be softened or dissolved by some stains and finishes. |
| Cured properties |
• very low strength, unsuitable for permanent structural bonds;
• increased strength if pressed into thin layer before it cools;
• limited rigidity and creep resistance;
• some gap-filling ability. |
| Longterm properties |
• good moisture resistance;
• no heat resistance;
• poor solvent resistance;
• poor to fair shock resistance;
• will gradually degrade if exposed to UV light. |
# depending on glue formula, moisture content of workpieces, working temperature, atmospheric humidity etc
Top] [Home] [Carpentry] [Decorating] [DIY Information] [Electrics] [General Building] [Outdoors/Garden] [Planning] [Plumbing] [Tools]