WOOD & LAMINATE
THE ART OF ADHESIVES
Alec Stacey, technical manager at Bona, provides a straightforward guide to selecting the best adhesives for wood flooring.
Wood floor installations require adhesives that are up to the job, and understanding the difference in products, the benefits of one type over another for your project, and the specifications, can make an enormous difference to the quality of the final job.
AN EVOLVING PRODUCT
Contractors who have worked in the industry for some time will know that adhesives have changed beyond recognition over the past 30 years. Solvent-based synthetic resin adhesives, one- and two-component PUR adhesives, and dispersion adhesives were readily used.
Silane adhesives were first introduced in the flooring industry in the 1980s and quickly became the popular choice for several reasons. In contrast to other products, silane adhesives offered a hard-elastic bond without plastic deformation. This allowed the absorption of any tension or movement in the floor and meant that the adhesive retained its form and could maintain its stress- relieving properties for years.
Furthermore, the rapid strength development and high level of ‘green grab’ was a huge bonus, counteracting the formation of hollow spots to create a more secure installation.
Also, some silane-based adhesive formulations have a much higher resistance to water vapour diffusion. This counteracts the movement of moisture from the subfloor, reducing the expansion of the wood and the stresses on the floor.
SILANE ADHESIVES TODAY
With silane adhesives making up around 90% of the EU wood flooring market, market share is rapidly increasing in the UK, yet the market for one – and two-component PUR systems declines and the market for dispersion adhesives has virtually disappeared.
Today silane adhesives have become an important part of modern adhesive technology with expanded application possibilities and the desirable sustainability aspects of more environmentally conscious products. Ongoing research is focused on further reducing toxicity, increasing durability, and minimising volatile organic compounds (VOC).
Additionally, recent tests have shown that some adhesives bring improvements in the overall performance of the floor installation with regard to sound transmission.
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www.tomorrowscontractfloors.co.uk HOW TO DECIPHER THE CHOICES
A myriad of silane-based systems adorn the market, so what’s the best way to decipher the quality and long-term performance of these products?
Remember, the basic structure of adhesives is the same: polyether, with silane end groups attached. All the systems available cure by absorbing moisture, from the air, the substrate and the wood, and releasing small amounts of methanol during this reaction.
Today’s silane adhesive systems are complex formulations designed to achieve specific desired technical properties with the main components consisting of the polymer, plasticisers, fillers, a catalyst, and various additives such as an oxidation stabilizer.
It’s important to remember that if the formulation is incorrectly developed, not tested sufficiently or the required characteristics are not achieved, the adhesive may be inferior. For instance, adhesives that suffer from oxidative degradation crumble into dust over time due to a reaction with the air.
VALUE AND PERFORMANCE
To be able to make a judgement, contractors must understand the properties of an adhesive and also understand that the value and performance of a product is more important than the price. Knowing the practical characteristics of the adhesives, such as the green grab level, ease of application, open time and drying/ curing time should inform the choice rather than price.
Bona understands the art of adhesives and has developed different adhesives to cover different situations, all exclusively for wood floors, including Bona Titan, Bona Quantum, Bona Quantum T, and Bona R848. Formulated with the perfect balance of elasticity and strength, unlike other products that are too rigid or too flexible, Bona’s silane-based adhesives are the only GREENGUARD GOLD Certified adhesives for wood floors, allowing a safe and healthy environment for contractors and clients during and after installation. Furthermore, the new Bona Smart-Park keeps the adhesive fresh and is easy to reseal with a zip-tie for the next job – enabling contractors to use what they need, save the rest and maximise cost-effectiveness.
Above all, the quality and performance of the adhesive are the most important factors to ensure a premium job for clients.
www.bona.com/en
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