TABLE OF CONTENTS This chapter reviews materials commonly used in adhesives products. The major sources of this information were Skeist and Miron (1977) and Adhesives Age (1993). Adhesives materials suppliers are shown in Table 11.1.
The principal applications for polyvinyl acetal adhesives are glass and metal (Farmer and Jemmott, 1990), but they have excellent adhesion for paper, fibers, and plastics. Monsanto, DuPont, and Union Carbide have been the leading suppliers in the United States of polyvinyl butyral. DuPont supplies safety glass interlayer under the trade name Butacite and Monsanto, Saflex. Union Carbide offers polyvinyl butyral resin as Bakelite. Monsanto produces polyvinyl formal resin under the trade name Formvar.
Polyvinyl acetals are manufactured by reacting one molecule of aldehyde with two molecules of alcohol in the presence of an acid catalyst. Films of polyvinyl acetals are characterized by their high resistance to aliphatic hydrocarbons, mineral, animal, castor, and blown oils.
General-purpose wood glue (household white glue) consists of an emulsion of polyvinyl acetate and polyvinyl alcohol. The excellent adhesion of polyvinyl acetate emulsions to cellulosic and other materials gave rise to an abundance of applications including bookbinding, paper bags, milk cartons, drinking straws, envelopes, folding boxes, and many more. Among the manufacturers of polyvinyl acetate are Air Products and Chemicals, National Starch, Union Carbide, (Jaffe et al., 1990).
Among the main uses for polyvinyl acetate emulsions are interior and exterior flat paints. In the textile industry, polyvinyl acetate emulsions impart durability...
