No two panels are the same; some are made for furniture, others for doors, and others are composite panels for the lightweight construction of commercial buildings or the interior outfitting of ships and yachts. On the one hand, this results in major differences in production – for example, the bonding of different materials – but also different process parameters. For the right choice of adhesive, you must take all these aspects into account. It is, therefore, essential to seek expert advice when choosing an adhesive.
An expert will analyse your processes, check the material compatibility and then select the adhesive with the appropriate product characteristics. This is because properties such as viscosity, open time and curing time have a direct impact on production efficiency as well as the quality of the finished products.
PUR hotmelt adhesives for flat lamination must be easy and even to apply, and there are generally two application methods: by slot nozzle directly onto the decorative film or by roller application onto the panel. Do you want a high gloss or super matt finish on the surface? There are specially designed adhesives for this.
In the production of sandwich or composite panels, different types of material are usually bonded together. The panels often have a foam or honeycomb core, which is enclosed by two thinner panels made of wood, plastic or even metal. The number of material layers and the thickness of the panels can vary depending on the function and requirements, but it is important that the PUR adhesive has a broad adhesion spectrum to permanently bond all materials together.
Another important point is occupational safety. In addition to traditional PUR hotmelt adhesives, low-emission adhesives are increasingly being used. They have a reduced content of free isocyanate monomers of less than 0.1%. They are, therefore, not subject to labelling requirements under the Hazardous Substances Ordinance, nor are they subject to mandatory training for the safe handling of isocyanate-containing substances. By using these low-emission adhesives, you reduce your employees’ exposure to potentially harmful substances.
After all these important aspects, are you sure that you are using the ideal adhesive for your processes and materials, or is there potential for optimisation? Get in touch for a complete overview of all adhesive solutions.
