What is the best water-based glue?

Water-based adhesives, also known as "wet" glues, are widely used in various industries such as paper labelling, woodworking, automotive, and non-woven applications. Here's a brief guide to their properties and applications:

  1. Dextrin and Starch-Based Adhesives:
    • Popular in the paper industry.
    • Very durable with specific materials.
    • Biobased, biodegradable, and compostable.
    • Break down when exposed to water.
  2. Casein-Based Adhesives:
    • Provide strong bonds.
    • Relatively long curing time.
    • Resistant to water.
    • Ideal for glass bottle labelling in the beverage industry.
  3. Synthetic-Based Adhesives:
    • Modern and customisable.
    • Form stronger bonds.
    • Suitable for challenging applications and environments
    • PVAC, Styrene Acrylic, Acrylic and VAE technology

Water-based adhesives offer environmental benefits and are easy to clean off equipment. They work by applying liquid glue, with water as a carrier, allowing it to form a bond after evaporation or absorption into porous substrates. Keep in mind that some wet glues have a limited shelf life compared to other adhesive technologies.

UAE technology

Intercol is specialised in VAE technology, also to enhance the properties of other technologies, like PVAC, dextrin and starch-based adhesives. VAE on it's own is already a kind of hybrid technology, combing Vinyl-Acetate with Ethylene. With this build in plasticiser a range from hard to soft adhesives are already possible, without external plasticisers. Therefore VAE technology has been proven to be a perfect match for food packaging purposes.

Furthermore VAE has a relative low environmental impact and is also proven in many construction applications. Dry VAE powder is a key ingredient in many dry cementious adhesives and floor levellers. Basic PVAC adhesives are already widely used in wood, furniture and assembly applications.

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