Vinyl glue: what it is, how to use it, what it is for
Vinyl glue is one of Pec Group’s flagship products. It is one of the most well-known and versatile adhesives with multiple properties. It is nontoxic, becomes transparent when dry, forms a rubbery film, and its bonds are strong and durable.
It is a widely used adhesive in both professional and hobby fields, as well as in schools, much used in children’s crafts. In the arts, it is used for making papier-mâché and cold porcelain.
What materials does vinyl glue glue?
Undoubtedly ideal for bonding porous materials such as fabric, cardboard and wood, not suitable for metals, glass, rubber, plastics and other non-porous materials.
In carpentry and furniture making is where it expresses its greatest potential, achieving excellent results. There are different classes of vinyl glue based on resistance to water and moisture, each type is used in different areas depending on its properties.
What does vinyl glue consist of?
Vinyl glue consists of a latex made up of tiny droplets of vinyl acetate dispersed in water, which makes up about 50 percent of the product. Once the water evaporates, the vinyl particles compact to form a solid compound that firmly bonds the parts together.
Vinyl glues have a grip that is far from immediate: although there are types called “rapid” the cross-linking process takes several hours and it is necessary to keep the pieces under pressure using clamps, straps, weights or similar systems, possibly for 24 hours.
How is vinyl glue applied?
Depending on the individual use, it can be applied in different ways. The first, is done with brush, in which the bristles allow deeper penetration into the material. In the case of an uneven surface, a trowel is also used, which helps to even it out. Once the parts to be bonded are mated, excess glue should be promptly wiped off with a slightly dampened rag.
Generally, vinyl glue should not be diluted unless it is used for certain uses especially in creative fields such as decoupage, where it is diluted with water.