Frequently Asked Questions

Over a period of time, even with daily maintenance and cleaning, I still get tough-to-clean buildup of adhesive on my gluing equipment, rollers, floors, etc. I have tried everything to remove this buildup but nothing works very well. Do you have any suggestions?

You couldn’t have asked this question at a better time. We have just introduced a wonderful new cleaning product called “Soyclean”. It’s non-toxic and biodegradable, and boy, does it do the job! Spray it on, let it soak in, and wash it off. Call today for a bottle, pail or drum. You will be impressed.

I often hear the word “humectant” when discussing water-based adhesives. What does this mean?

A humectant is a hydroscopic substance that absorbs and retains moisture from the atmosphere. In water-based adhesives, humectants prevent the surface of the adhesive from skinning by keeping it wet. By retarding drying, humectants also slow adhesive setting speed and extend its open time. In addition, humectants allow easier cleanup of dried and semi-dried adhesive.

If an adhesive has a Ph of 5.9 and the user must have an acid-free adhesive, can you do anything to the adhesive to accomplish this?

Absolutely! This is a process commonly known as buffering the adhesive. A substance such as Sodium Bicarbonate can be added to the formula in small amounts to reach the neutral Ph. The principle here is the same as when a person has acid indigestion and he/she takes an antacid, which neutralizes the acid and makes that person feel better.

I often hear the term “acid-free” when referring to adhesives or paper materials. What does this mean?

Acid-free is a term describing materials with a Ph value of 7.0 or higher. Materials with a Ph level of 7.0 are neutral and considered acid-free and those with a Ph level greater than 7.0 are alkaline.