1. ADHESIVE SCIENCE 101 for the FLOOR COVERING INSTALLER
Jeffrey B Johnson
FCIS & DIY Business Marketing Manager
MAPEI Corporation

2. The SCIENCE of BONDING What is the function of a flooring adhesive?
Gravity Assist
Structural support

3. The SCIENCE of BONDING Types of adhesive bonds Mechanical Chemical
Ionic
Covalent
Van Der Waals

4. The SCIENCE of Bonding Adhesive Failure Modes
Cohesive
Adhesive
As a general design rule, the material properties of the object need to be greater than the forces anticipated during its use. (i.e. geometry, loads, etc.).

5. Types of ADHESIVES Non-Reactive Reactive Drying Adhesives
Pressure Sensitive Adhesives
Contact Adhesives
Hot-Melt Adhesives
Reactive
Two Component
One Component

6. CURING Mechanisms Non Reactive Drying Adhesives
Evaporation
Coalescence
Pressure Sensitive Adhesives
Tapes
Contact Adhesives
Hot-Melt Adhesives

7. CURING Mechanisms Reactive Two Component One Component
Chemical reaction between two (or more) chemical compounds
One Component
Chemical reaction between a prepolymer and moisture (H2O)
Anaerobic adhesive cures in the absence of O2.

8. ADHESIVE Chemical Bases
Natural
Plant based, animal based
Solvent Based
Nitrile, Neoprene, SBR, Asphaltic, Acrylic, PVA
Latex
SBR, Acrylic, PVA
Thermoplastic
Ethylene Vinyl Acetate
Reactive
Epoxy, Urethane

9. ADHESIVE Chemistry Components for solvent based adhesives consist of:
Rubber
Solvent
Filler
“mummy dust”
Performance attributes:
Fast drying
Flammable
Moisture resistant
Contact cements, construction adhesives

10. ADHESIVE Chemistry How solvent based adhesives work
Dry by solvent evaporation
As solution concentrates due to evaporation the adhesive mass builds viscosity and develops green strength.
Excellent wetting characteristics
Things that effect solvent based adhesive performance
Temperature
Moisture
Ignition sources

11. ADHESIVE Chemistry Components for SBR Multipurpose Flooring Adhesives
SBR Latex
Hydrocarbon Resin
Process Oil
Filler
Water
Performance Attributes:
Leggy
Durable
Inexpensive
Designed for felt backed and fibrous backed flooring
FILLER LATEX
OIL HYDROCARBON RESIN

12. ADHESIVE Chemistry How SBR latex adhesives work
Dry by water evaporation and coalescence
Resin solution emulsion breaks destabilizing the blend which results in “leg” development
Things that effect SBR adhesive performance
pH of substrate
Contaminants
Excess shear
Temperature
Moisture
Plasticizer Migration

13. ADHESIVE Chemistry Components for an acrylic adhesive:
Latex acrylic polymers
Fillers
Water
“Mummy Dust”
Performance Attributes
Plasticizer resistant
Alkali resistant
Oxidation resistant
Expensive
Designed for vinyl backed flooring
Non-legging
SOFT SET / PSA
HARD SET

14. ADHESIVE Chemistry How acrylic latex adhesives work
Dry by water evaporation and coalescence
Polymer structure and Tg determine final performance
Hard set
Pressure sensitive
Things that effect acrylic adhesive performance
pH of substrate
Contaminants
Temperature
Moisture

15. ADHESIVE Chemistry Components for hot melt adhesives
EVA resin
Wax
Tackifiers
Plasticizers
Performance attributes
Solid at room temperature but become fluid at temperatures above 180F
Cool quickly to solid phase
Can be brittle at very cold temperatures
Can soften at higher temperatures

16. ADHESIVE Chemistry How hot melt adhesive work Performance attributes
Become fluid with heat and cool to a solid
Performance attributes
Rapid bond performance
Things that effect hot melt adhesive performance
Temperature
Moisture
Surface contaminants
Plasticizers

17. ADHESIVE Chemistry Epoxy Adhesives Performance Attributes
Reactive adhesives by the combination of an epoxy resin and a basic (pH) hardener (amine)
Performance Attributes
Extremely high bond strengths
100% solids
Bonds to many types of materials
EXOTHERMIC!
Can cause allergic reaction
No “green strength”
Mass dependent for curing (temperature)

18. ADHESIVE Chemistry How epoxy adhesives work
Cure by chemical reaction
Epoxy resin reacts with amine based hardener to create thermoset adhesive
Things that effect epoxy adhesive performance
Temperature
Moisture
Improper mixing

19. ADHESIVE Chemistry Urethane Adhesives Performance Attributes
Reaction of isocyante group (NCO) and hydroxol (OH)
Releases CO2 when reaction occurs with water.
Performance Attributes
100% solids, no solvents, no water
Superior bond and tensile strengths
Very resilient
Moisture resistant when cured
Expensive
Can be hazardous

20. ADHESIVE Chemistry How urethane adhesives work
Cures upon exposure to moisture or
Cures when mixed (Part A/B)
Things that effect urethane adhesive performance
Moisture (excess or lack thereof)
Contaminants
Temperature

21. RULES that Regulate Adhesives

22. RULES that Regulate Adhesives
PROP 65
Proposition 65, the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, was enacted as a ballot initiative in November The Proposition was intended by its authors to protect California citizens and the State's drinking water sources from chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm, and to inform citizens about exposures to such chemicals.
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23. STANDARDS for Adhesives
ASTM D
Standard Specification for Tufted and Woven Broadloom Carpet Adhesives Without Homogenous PVC or Non-PVC Backings

24. When to USE WHAT, and Why

25. When to USE WHAT, and Why

26. READ THE INSTRUCTIONS!
When all else fails, and preferably before things start to fail, please read the instructions provided by the adhesive manufacturer.

27. “Bond, James Bond”
Thank you for sticking with me on this tacky subject!

28. QUESTIONS?
I’m all ears.