What is the best adhesive for PVC edge banding?

Chemical compound

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Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), also known as poly(ethylene-vinyl acetate) (PEVA), is a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate. The weight percent of vinyl acetate usually varies from 10 to 50%, with the remainder being ethylene. There are three different types of EVA copolymer, which differ in the vinyl acetate (VA) content and the way the materials are used.

The EVA copolymer which is based on a low proportion of VA (approximately up to 4%) may be referred to as vinyl acetate modified polyethylene. It is a copolymer and is processed as a thermoplastic material &#; just like low-density polyethylene. It has some of the properties of a low-density polyethylene but increased gloss (useful for film), softness and flexibility. The material is generally considered non-toxic.

The EVA copolymer which is based on a medium proportion of VA (approximately 4 to 30%) is referred to as thermoplastic ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer and is a thermoplastic elastomer material. It is not vulcanized but has some of the properties of a rubber or of plasticized polyvinyl chloride particularly at the higher end of the range. Both filled and unfilled EVA materials have good low temperature properties and are tough. The materials with approximately 11% VA are used as hot-melt adhesives.

The EVA copolymer which is based on a high proportion of VA (greater than 60%) is referred to as ethylene-vinyl acetate rubber.[1]

EVA is an elastomeric polymer that produces materials which are "rubber-like" in softness and flexibility. The material has good clarity and gloss, low-temperature toughness, stress-crack resistance, hot-melt adhesive waterproof properties, and resistance to UV radiation. EVA has a distinctive vinegar-like odor and is competitive with rubber and vinyl polymer products in many electrical applications.

Production

EVA is made by mixing ethylene and vinyl acetate in a processor, which creates an unrefined mass of EVA. It is fed through rollers that flatten it into sheets, which are then put into a pressure oven.[2] Ethylene-vinyl acetate is based on products from the production of petroleum and natural gas.

Hydrolysis of EVA gives ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) copolymer (and acetic acid).

Applications

Hot-melt adhesives (such as hot glue sticks) and top-of-the-line soccer cleats are usually made from EVA, generally with additives like wax and resin. EVA is also used as a clinginess-enhancing additive in plastic wraps. Craft-foam sheets are made of EVA and are popularly used for children's foam stickers.[clarification needed]

EVA is also used in biomedical engineering applications as a drug-delivery device. The polymer is dissolved in an organic solvent (such as dichloromethane). Powdered drug and filler (typically an inert sugar) are added to the liquid solution and rapidly mixed to obtain a homogeneous mixture. The drug-filler-polymer mixture is then cast into a mold at &#;80 °C and freeze-dried until solid. These devices are used in drug delivery research to slowly release a compound. The polymer does not biodegrade within the body, but is quite inert and causes little or no reaction following implantation.

EVA is one of the materials popularly known as expanded rubber or foam rubber. EVA foam[3][4][5] is used as padding in equipment for various sports such as ski boots, bicycle saddles, hockey pads, boxing and mixed-martial-arts gloves and helmets, wakeboard boots, waterski boots, fishing rods, and fishing-reel handles. It is typically used as a shock absorber in sports shoes, for example. (Some manufacturers of running shoes, such as Nike, market EVA-based compression-moulded foam used in the manufacture of running shoes as "Phylon".[6]) It is used for the manufacture of floats for commercial fishing gear such as purse seine (seine fishing) and gillnets. In addition, because of its buoyancy, EVA has made its way into non-traditional products such as floating eyewear. It is also used in the photovoltaics industry as an encapsulation material for crystalline silicon solar cells in the manufacture of photovoltaic modules. EVA slippers and sandals are popular, being lightweight, easy to form, odourless, glossy, and cheaper than natural rubber. In fishing rods, EVA is used to construct handles on the rod-butt end. EVA can be used as a substitute for cork in many applications.

EVA copolymers are adhesives used in packaging, textile, bookbinding for bonding plastic films, metal surfaces, coated paper, and as redispersible powders in plasters and cement renders.

In recent years, EVA foam has seen popular use in cosplay communities, largely in part due to its ease to work with, durability, and comfort in comparison to traditional plastic-based costumes.[7]

Flower-making foam is a thin sheet made of EVA, which is flexible, and is used by artists and craft makers to make artificial flowers. These foams are presented as raw sheets and they can be cut into the desired petal shape and then can be formed by ironing to assemble artificial flowers by putting these petals together.[8]

EVA is also used in coatings formulation of good-quality interior water-borne paints at 53% primary dispersant.

Other uses

EVA is used in orthotics, surfboard and skimboard traction pads, car mats, and for the manufacturing of some artificial flowers. It is used as a cold flow improver for diesel fuel and as a separator in HEPA filters. EVA can easily be cut from sheets and molded to shape. It is also used to make thermoplastic mouthguards that soften in boiling water for a user-specific fit. It is also used for conditioning and waterproofing fabrics and leather.[9] EVA finds application in the making of nicotine transdermal patches, since the copolymer binds well with other agents to form gel-like substances. EVA is also sometimes used as a material for some plastic model kit parts. One common use of EVA foam rubber is in low frequency (woofer) speaker cone membrane support rings[10] (replacing rubber) because of its good mechanical and acoustic properties. Open cell EVA foam is used to damp high frequency acoustical diffraction from tweeter speakers and is often put in the area around the high frequency speaker driver to give better directivity and sonic imaging.

EVA may be used in custom-made dental devices with a proper approach to hygiene.[11]

Safety and environmental considerations

Polyethylene vinyl acetate has recently become a popular alternative to polyvinyl chloride because it does not contain chlorine.[12] As of , EVA has not been found to be carcinogenic by the NTP, ACGIH, IARC, or OSHA, and has no known adverse effect on human health.[13] Like many plastics, it is difficult to biodegrade. One study suggested it may have adverse effects on certain organisms, but its actual effect on humans has not been determined.[12]

See also

References

• List of EVA tradenames (; last update ; last archived )

How To Use Edge Banding Adhesive: The Complete Guide

It goes without saying that using the right adhesive for the job is essential to ensure your edge banding goes on and stays on, and that you don&#;t make a mess of your project. Using the wrong glue in the wrong way could spell disaster!

Here&#;s our complete guide on how to use edge banding adhesives to help make sure you don&#;t land in a sticky spot&#;

#1 Choosing The Right Edge Banding Adhesive&#;

This is the crucial bit. Firstly, you need to know about the different types of adhesives and which projects and materials they are a best fit for. You can use glue pellets or cartridges depending on which your edge banding machine is compatible with.

Hot Melt Glues&#;

Most edge banding is applied with hot melt glue. The two main choices for hot melt glues are EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) and PUR (Polyurethane). Each has its advantages and disadvantages depending on your project and the material you are working with.

EVA Adhesive&#;

EVA Adhesive  is a multi-purpose hot melt glue used in a wide range of applications and suitable for pretty much all edge banding including PVC, melamine, ABS, acrylic and wood veneer. It&#;s at the more affordable end of the market, has a fairly standard water and heat resistance, but is easy to work with and to clean up after.

It can be repeatedly re-melted, handy when refilling glue compartments on your edgebander in between jobs and for cleaning. This also means it is sensitive to high temperatures, so be wary of using it for furniture or worktops that will be exposed to excessive heat. It&#;s pretty flexible, helping to reduce the risk of your edge banding cracking or peeling with the normal movement of wood and boards.

You can get filled or unfilled EVA hot melt glues for edge banding. The traditional EVA adhesive is filled, so called because it has added minerals that reduce annoying &#;stringing&#; and make it easier to work with. Unfilled hot melt adhesives, however, can be applied thinner to give a tighter joint. It just comes down to preference for your working style and the practicalities of the job you are working on.

PUR Adhesive&#;

Polyurethane (or PUR) based hot melt glues harden when dry and cannot be re-melted. They form an incredibly strong bond quickly, meaning little room for mistakes and the need to work fast. Some can set in seconds, with full cure time being 24 hours.

You will get efficient and thoughtful service from Lituo.

PUR hot melt glue creates a bond that&#;s highly resistant to moisture and heat up to 150 degrees. The glue line itself is more resistant to cleaning agents, making it a good choice for bathroom or kitchen products.

Because PUR adhesives bond by &#;moisture cure&#;, meaning they harden via a reaction with moisture in the air and the product they are applied to, they have to be stored in sealed containers.

It can get a little messy, as it expands and slightly foams as it cures. Unlike water based glues, which soak into the materials being bonded together, a PUR adhesive sits on the surface.

This type of adhesive is high strength but also flexible (it can be set hard or remain rubbery). Go for this in projects using hard to bind materials such as affixing porous to non-porous. It is generally a little more expensive than EVA hot melt glue, but you don&#;t need to use as much PUR to get a really successful bond.

Top Tip: Make sure you don&#;t put too much glue on or you&#;ll end up with an untidy bondline. Used correctly, PUR hot melts should give a pleasing, thin bondline.

Low Melt Glues&#;

Low melt adhesives, as the name suggests, work at a lower temperature so are safer to use, with reduced risk of burns. As a result, they are great for working with softer materials that could be damaged by a higher temperature, such as foam or polystyrene. Higher temperature hot melt adhesives are your best bet for bonding edge banding, but it&#;s worth knowing about the whole family of glues available to you.

Contact Adhesives&#;

Contact adhesives (also known as contact cement) are rubber based, fast acting glues that create a strong, flexible bond. Very effective on non-porous materials that other glue won&#;t stick. It is applied to both surfaces and allowed to air dry for around 20 minutes before sticking. It bonds almost immediately, so again, you can&#;t hang about and there&#;s little room for error. Often used for bonding large surface areas of wood veneer or plastic laminate to boards, contact adhesives can also be used very effectively used for edge banding.

#2 Choosing Your Equipment&#;

Edge banding is best applied using an edge banding machine. The glue compartment is filled with the appropriate glue and the machine glues and rolls the edging onto your boards simultaneously, for a precise finish that stays in place for the lifetime of your product.

Machines range from small home versions to industrial sizes capable of edging tens of metres of panel at a time. Check with your manufacturer which type of glue is compatible with your machine and whether to use pellets or cartridges.

#3 Edging Adhesive Application&#;

Make sure you keep your equipment clean and in good working order and that the edges of your boards are clear and ready for application. Here are a few top tips for perfectly applying your edging adhesive:

• Use the glue that&#;s compatible with your machine and your project.

• Don&#;t fill the glue tank to the brim if you&#;re only bonding a small amount of edging.

• Make sure you have enough edge banding ready for the job at hand and position it into the machine&#;s feed track.

• Your machine will heat, coat and bond the edging to your board.

• Set the pressure, temperature and feed rate correctly according to machine instructions.

• Make sure the room isn&#;t too hot or cold as this can stop the glue working properly.

#4 Safety First&#;

As with any aspect of production, using adhesive (particularly hot glues) requires a few safety precautions. Follow these simple tips and procedures to avoid any unfortunate accidents:

• Wear protective gloves, goggles and clothes.

• Some glues are toxic and can be harmful if inhaled &#; always read the labels and make sure there is appropriate ventilation.

• They are also HOT &#; protect yourself and your working environment from burns and damage.

• Test your adhesive before using it on your product to make sure you are comfortable using the glue and edge banding machine.

#5 Cleaning Up After Adhesive Application&#;

Once you&#;ve safely applied your adhesive and your edging is perfectly in place, there are a couple of other things left to do to ensure everything stays in tip-top condition. The first of these is cleaning up after the application process.

Always clean your equipment after use, especially where PUR glue has been used in your edge bander machine. As it cannot be re-melted, it will harden inside your equipment if it is not completely purged and cleaned &#; pretty impossible to get off.

As EVA glue does re-melt, if you&#;re doing several jobs one after another, it might not be necessary to clean after every single use, possibly just when the glue tank is empty. Always check the directions for use with your edge bander machine. No-one really wants to spend hours cleaning up glue, so make life easier for yourself and use specialist cleaning products for the adhesive you&#;re using.

#6 Understanding Different Edge Banding Materials&#;

Before delving into the adhesive selection, it&#;s important to understand the different edge banding materials available. Here are the most common types:

PVC: Highly durable and resistant to heat, PVC edge banding is great for high-traffic areas.

ABS: Similar to PVC in durability but more eco-friendly, ABS edge banding is an excellent alternative for those seeking a greener option.

Wood Veneer: This is an attractive and natural-looking option, ideal for high-quality furniture and cabinetry.

Melamine: This affordable option comes in a variety of colours and styles, but is not as durable as PVC or ABS.

Acrylic: Known for its glossy, high-end look, acrylic edge banding is resistant to scratches and UV light.

#7 Troubleshooting Common Edge Banding Problems&#;

Sometimes things may not go as smoothly as expected. Here are some common edge banding issues and how to solve them:

Glue Squeeze Out: Too much adhesive can cause squeeze out. Make sure to adjust the amount of adhesive being used or check the application pressure.

Peeling or Loose Edges: This issue may be due to inadequate glue, faulty machine settings or improper preparation of the material. Review your process to identify any shortcomings.

Bubbling: Can be caused by using the wrong type of adhesive or applying too much heat. Adjust your settings accordingly.

Discoloration: Using an adhesive that is not suited to your material can lead to discoloration. Choose your adhesive carefully.

#8 The Environmental Impact of Adhesives&#;

In the modern world, sustainability matters. Different adhesives have different environmental impacts. For example, water-based adhesives are generally more environmentally friendly than solvent-based ones. Understanding the environmental impact of the adhesives you choose can help you make more eco-friendly decisions.

#9 Upgrading Your Edge Bander&#;

Sometimes, your project requirements might outgrow your current machinery. If you&#;re experiencing frequent issues or if your edge bander can&#;t handle the volume or complexity of your work, it may be time for an upgrade.

By keeping these factors in mind, you can ensure you choose the right adhesive for your edge banding needs.

If that all sounds like hard work, you can take advantage of our Cut & Edge service, where we provide your boards and edges glued and ready as a finished product.

Still not sure which glue you need or how to use it? Drop us a line&#;

If you want to learn more, please visit our website PVC Edge Banding.