Polyurethane PUR hot melt is a great match for indoor and outdoor applications that need to stand up to the trials of time and harsh conditions. Today we will share our top tips for PUR adhesives, no matter the project!
PUR hot melt has a hybrid chemistry designed to create and maintain a secure bond in wet environments, extreme temperatures, high-flexibility situations, and other less-than-ideal settings.
It combines the advantages of traditional thermoplastic technology with the performance characteristics of reactive adhesive chemistries. It is extremely strong, can be engineered for flawless application in a variety of settings, and is the perfect choice in harsh environmental conditions.
Correct dispensing is vital to ensuring the performance of your adhesive. There are two main tips for preparing a cartridge for dispensing, first make sure to choose the correct temperature setting. Second of all, make sure to properly preheat your cartridge.
These adhesives can be applied at temperatures ranging from 185-285 degrees Fahrenheit, which is a lower temperature than other hot melt formulations. Choose the "low temp" setting on your PUR cartridge gun for the most effective dispensing.
The PUR applicator from Infinity Bond offers a powerful 500-watt heater and a dual (high and low) temperature settings. When using the Infinity PUR choose the green "low temp" setting for all 50 gram PUR cartridges.
2. Properly Preheating the Cartridge
Another tip of working with PUR hot melt is to make sure to properly preheat your cartridge for at least 15-20 mins before attempting to dispense the adhesive. Failing to properly preheat the cartridge will cause the plunger in your gun to break from force. With a properly preheated cartridge, the plunger will extrude the adhesive easily.
The typical shelf life of Polyurethane hot melt adhesives is 12 months. This is significantly shorter than other traditional hot melts. Make sure to follow these tips to prolong the shelf life of your polyurethane adhesive.
1. Proper Storage to Prolong Shelf Life
If unopened, PUR hot melt should be stored in a foil pouch in a cool, dry place. Proper storage will prevent premature activation, and keep it dry from rain or any other moisture.
2. How to Utilize a Partially Used CartridgeDid you know that you can cap and reuse a cartridge? If done properly, it is a great way to minimize adhesive waste. To recap a cartridge, first, extrude a one-inch bead of adhesive to remove all air from the tube. Next, securely attach the cap and store in a cool, dry place. If recapped and stored properly you can extend the shelf life of your Infinity Bond 50-gram cartridge up to 12 months.
Understanding the chemistry behind these adhesives can save you a lot of frustrations later on. Although it is dispensed like a traditional hot melt, it will take much longer to fully cure, a full 24 hours to be exact.
1. Understanding the Cure Time of PUR AdhesivesPUR hot melt adhesives generally have a longer cure time than other types of hot melt adhesives. They undergo a chemical change when they react with moisture in the air. Although PUR seems super-strong after 20 minutes, we always recommend waiting the full 24 hours before placing stress on the substrates and bonds.
We carry a variety of different cartridges with different open times. Common open times are 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 seconds. If you are looking for a 30 second open time, we recommend the Infinity PUR WW30. We recommend Infinity PUR WW60 for a 60 second open time, and Infinity MP75 for longer (75 seconds) open time.
No matter the application, there's a PUR hot melt that will produce great results. The Infinity Bond line are available in 50 gram and 10-ounce cartridges and bulk sizes. Check out our selection of PUR hot melts today.
A new restriction on diisocyanates was adopted on 4 August , by the European authorities under REACH, targeting respiratory and dermal sensitisation potentially caused by diisocyanates. Details of this restriction can be found in all EU languages via EUR-Lex, the European Union's website offering access to EU law. The new restriction requires training prior to use for diisocyanates. The restriction also requires adhesives and sealants manufacturers to:
As of 24 August , training is required for all professional and industrial users of products with a total monomeric diisocyanate concentration of > 0.1%.
FEICA, in coordination with the European Diisocyanate & Polyol Producers Association (ISOPA), the European Aliphatic Isocyanates Producer Association (ALIPA), and several other industries in the polyurethane (PU) industry, launched a comprehensive training programme to ensure the safe use of diisocyanates for producers and professional users all over Europe. In this way, FEICA also ensures that all end-users of PU containing adhesives and sealants across Europe continue to handle diisocyanates safely.
The PU Training Platform can be accessed via www.safeusediisocyanates.eu and is accessible across the EU. If you are a manufacturer of PU adhesives or sealants, you will need to be trained on the safe handling of diisocyanates.
If you are a FEICA member or a member of a FEICA National Association (NAM), you can access further guidance on how to train your staff via the FEICA Extranet.
To facilitate adhesive and sealant companies to comply with the information provision requirement, a dedicated FEICA information webpage was made available:
A link to this webpage (or QR code) can be added to adhesives and sealants labels to direct to the training platform.
With competitive price and timely delivery, BGP sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.
FEICA's PU Restriction Technical Working Group (TWG) created a leaflet titled 'A safe future for polyurethane products' to explain more about the restriction. It is available in 8 European languages:
More specific information for end-users was made available via the leaflet ‘Diisocyanates restriction compliance for end-users of adhesives and sealants'. It is also available in 8 European languages:
In addition, a FEICA article titled 'A safe future for polyurethane products', was published in the December issue of the European Coatings Journal.
For users of adhesives and sealants containing diisocyanates:
For manufacturers of adhesives and sealants:
PU adhesives and sealants are versatile, innovative and safe. They are used in a wide variety of applications in construction, packaging, automotive, furniture, engineering, marine, transportation, and many more. PU products are made by reacting diisocyanates and polyols.
Below are some frequently asked questions on the safe use of polyurethane products, answered.
Are diisocyanates safe?Like that of any other substances, diisocyanates’ use is safe when chemicals are handled according to relevant risk management and safety measures. It is also important to stress that virtually no diisocyanates can be found in finished articles. Diisocyanates are used only as reactive chemicals; they react with the polyol to form the PU product and are used up during the reaction.
What is respiratory sensitisation?Sensitisation means that after exposure, a person could become allergic to the substance. If sensitised, each time the person is in contact again with the substance (even at very low concentrations) the person could have a highly allergic reaction with respiratory impacts (e.g. asthma). The majority of individuals with diisocyanates-related asthma show improvement or total recovery after exposure has ceased.
Is there a standard available for measuring 0.1% free monomeric diisocyanate? Will FEICA provide support?There is more than one possible method.
The method CAM--18E is owned by CURRENTA GmbH & Co OHG, and FEICA has a non-exclusive and non-transferable license.
As FEICA holds a license, its members can refer to this license to receive a customer-specific discount.
However, as a non-member, please note that you can buy a license at full price from CURRENTA.
How do I know if my application of A&S is professional or industrial?The criterion for knowing whether the application of A&S is professional or industrial is the work location. If the application is performed within an industrial facility, then it is an industrial application. Professional applications of A&S are normally performed within the construction sector, or by professionals in auto repair shops or similar locations outside an industrial setting.
I am a reseller/distributor. What do I need to do? What about PU products for consumer use?The new regulation only applies to professionals and industry. A separate restriction for consumer use came into force several years ago.
Is the training mandatory only for EU manufacturers or suppliers, or do even foreign Importers also have to be trained?If the importer and his personnel are exposed to diisocyanates when they are opening drums or pouring out drums in a facility in the European Union, then they will have to be trained because that is industrial use. But if they are only shipping products and they do not have potential exposure to the products, then this is like any other shipping activity.
On what date will this regulation come into force?The new regulation was adopted on 4 August and came into force on 24 August . After a three-year transition phase, by 24 August , all users of PU products should be trained and certified.
When do I have to update the labelling of my packaging?The legal requirements should appear on the packaging as of 24 February .
Will PU adhesives and sealants remain on the market?The restriction is targeted at avoiding unsafe handling of diisocyanates, not on restricting product availability. Due to their unique properties in many applications, PU adhesives and sealants will remain widely available.
Does the supplier need a confirmation from his customer (the recipient of the diisocyanate-containing product)?No, the supplier must ensure that the professional or industrial customer is provided with information about the training requirements. That the customer or user reads the information or even acknowledges receipt of it is not required by the regulation. Furthermore, the supplier must put the following statement on the packaging: ‘As from 24 August , adequate training is required before industrial or professional use’. A confirmation of receipt from the customer is not required.
How are the training sessions organised? Does the supplier have to provide the training? What training module should managers or supervisors carry out?There is not a specific training module for managers or supervisors. Managers and supervisors should be trained by the same training modules as the employees they are responsible for.
In the case of a trainer account for the subdivisions of a company, e.g. Company X Germany GmbH and Company X France SA, should there be one account for each subdivision, or should there be a single account to cover the group of subdivisions? Is there an exam foreseen to show approved knowledge?A certificate will be issued to show successful completion of the training. The test questions come from a large pool of questions related to the training material, and if you have successfully passed the tests, then you will receive the certificate.
For more information, please visit PU adhesive supplier.
Whom should I contact if I have questions? Where can I find more information about diisocyanates?