Tech Talk: pressure sensitive adhesives
Stephen Boulton, F. Ball technical services manager, provides a guide to pressure sensitive adhesives, including high-performance formulations with additional features.
While wet-lay adhesives are suitable where vinyl sheet is being installed in relatively large sections, contractors will often desire the benefits of pressure sensitive adhesives, such as when installing Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVTs). They form an instant grab upon contact, so contractors don’t need to worry about tiles or planks moving about when they are working, making them ideal for where intricate designs or patterns are being created. They also offer an extended open time, reducing the risk of late placement and making them ideal for installations where more complex designs or patterns are being created. Nowadays, pressure sensitive adhesives are available with a range of additional features.
Temperature tolerant requirements
When installing floorcoverings in areas subject to extreme temperatures and temperature fluctuations, for example, it is advisable to use a temperature tolerant adhesive.
High temperatures or extreme temperature fluctuations can cause vinyl floorcoverings to expand and contract significantly, which may lead to unsightly tenting in floorcoverings and gapping at the edges of floorcoverings over time. This can be the case in conservatories and other rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows that are subject to ‘solar gain’. Temperature tolerant adhesives develop the high bond strength required to hold floorcoverings securely in place in such environments, ensuring a long-lasting flooring finish.
Moisture resistance
When installing flooring in an area subject to high levels of humidity or surface water, an adhesive with water-resistant properties is essential. An adhesive that is not water resistant may break down and soften when it comes into contact with water, potentially causing floorcoverings to bubble or de-bond.
Epoxy or polyurethane-based adhesives were once the only option for such installations. These adhesives are highly effective at making areas impermeable to water, so they are also suitable for installing vinyl floorcoverings outdoors where surface water may collect. Nowadays, solvent-free, one-part alternatives are available that are also easier to apply and faster curing, such as F. Ball’s Styccobond F73 PLUS.
F. Ball’s Styccobond F49 Hybrid PS is an example of a new breed of high-performance, hybrid adhesive, with revolutionary combinations of properties, including temperature tolerance, pressure sensitive characteristics and more. The water-based adhesive has the familiar characteristics of a pressure sensitive adhesive and develops the extremely high bond strength required to hold vinyl floorcoverings firmly in place in areas exposed to extreme temperature fluctuations (from -20°C to +60°C). The properties of this adhesive also make it moisture resistant, meaning it is suitable for installing vinyl floorcoverings in damp and humid environments.
Fast-track solutions
Options are also available where contractors face considerable time pressures and a moisture resistant or temperature tolerant adhesive is not required. F. Ball has recently launched a fast-track, pressure sensitive adhesive for LVTs, Styccobond F58 PLUS. Developed as a ‘transitional’ adhesive, Styccobond F58 PLUS transitions from a wet-lay adhesive when initially applied to a subfloor, through a semi-wet stage to become fully pressure sensitive.
The fast-drying formulation of Styccobond F58 PLUS enables LVT tiles and planks to be secured from just five minutes, while fibres in the adhesive provide resistance to lateral movement, preventing vinyl tiles and planks from moving around when working. As well as helping to reduce movement during installation, the adhesive’s high bond strength and strong initial tack prevents excess adhesive oozing between joints, facilitating easier application.
Compatibility check
It is always recommended that flooring contractors check the compatibility of a particular adhesive with a chosen floorcovering. For this purpose, F. Ball produces its industry-leading Recommended Adhesives Guide (RAG®), which contains over 6,000 adhesive recommendations for floorcoverings from over 200 international manufacturers. A continuously updated version of the RAG® is available as a free app and on the F. Ball website. Alternatively, contractors can contact F. Ball’s technical service department, on +44(0)1538 361633 from 8.30am – 5.00pm (GMT), Monday to Friday, for advice on adhesive compatibility. Otherwise, they should consult manufacturer’s instructions.
