In itself, glue is a substance or a mixture of substances that can apply to both organic and inorganic. They also differ in the form in which they are stored. This can be a solid form in the form of granules, liquid in the form of a solution or emulsion, and it can also be a powder form, etc. Among all the others, latex glue stands out quite strongly.
Description of the substance
Before proceeding to the description of a specific composition, it should be said that any adhesive substance has such a feature as adhesion. In other words, this is the stickiness of the substance on the material. This parameter depends on the temperature of both the adhesive and the surface with which it is in contact. Pressure, viscosity, and wettability also play an important role.
Latex glue is a mixture of an aqueous solution of natural rubber with the addition of ammonia. Some of the solutions may additionally contain substances such as resins of synthetic origin, alcohols, esters, as well as some other additives of inorganic origin. This diversity of composition has led to the fact that one type of latex adhesive is well suited for working with polymer clay or plastic, for example, and the other for working with wood.
Glue varieties
Today, there are two types of glue with a latex base. The first group includes natural latex, and the second one is synthetic.
The general structure of latex glue, which is created on the basis of a natural substance, is as follows: 30-40% rubber, 1-2% protein, 1-3% resins and other additives.
The main application of this composition is wet duplication of materials. In other words, after applying glue to one of the surfaces to be bonded, it is necessary to immediately contact the second surface. In order to remove the liquid present in the composition, it is necessary that at least one of the substrates has a porous structure.
You can also add that latex glue with natural additives can be used to create a pressure sensitive composition. In this case, the process looks like this. A composition is applied to one of the surfaces, it is dried, after which both surfaces must be joined together under pressure.
Characteristics of the composition with natural latex
It is worth noting that when using a natural latex adhesive additive, you can get a film that will have good cohesive strength, but it will have a low adhesive characteristic. In order to improve the adhesive component of the solution, adhesive substances, for example phenol-formaldehyde resins, are usually added to it.
In order to obtain an adhesive base that will be sensitive to pressure, it is necessary to mix natural latex and synthetic. However, here it must be taken into account that the viscosity of the composition will be much higher than separately, and therefore a stabilizer is needed. For a latex adhesive of this type, casein, potassium or ammonium oleates, for example, can act as a stabilizer.
In addition, if you mix natural latex and latex of chloroprene rubber or polystyrene, you can get an adhesive tape. The best mixture will be a ratio of natural to synthetic from 95: 5 to 50:50.
Other types of glue
To date, latex-based glue is mixed with a huge number of other substances. For example, if you add carboxy-containing rubber to natural latex, you get the same adhesive that is pressure sensitive, but you do not have to use stabilizers, its structure will be quite sticky.
Carboxylic acid rubber, for example styrene-butadiene, is excellent for creating a composition with maximum adhesion. To obtain this composition, you usually have to use fumaric or acrylic acid. The second is best suited, but because latex-acrylic glue is quite common.
Rubber effect
It is worth paying attention to other parameters that the composition based on rubber has. For example, the shelf life can range from 3 to 12 months, depending on the nature of the rubber. There is such a characteristic as curing. Glue on this basis can harden both at room temperature and at elevated. If the temperature is room temperature, then the time until complete solidification is 24 hours. In general, it is worth noting that the range of operating temperatures varies greatly depending on the nature of the rubber. For example, natural can be exploited in the range from -50 to +100 degrees Celsius, chloroprene from -50 to +70, PVA in the range from -5 to + 100.
Naturally, this solution has a certain tensile strength. This parameter depends on which latex is used in the composition, as well as on which vulcanizing system is used. You can give an example of bonding rubber using such a composition. In this case, the strength of the connection will be higher than the original strength of the rubber itself.
Where you can not use glue
As already understood, this glue has a huge range of applications. It can glue almost any surface. You can even glue wallpaper on latex paint. However, there are still materials for which this composition is not suitable at all, as if it were not supplemented. Metal has become such a surface.
Most water-based formulations are not suitable for metal surfaces. The main reason is that chlorine is released from such compositions with polymers, and it negatively affects the metal, causing corrosion. In addition, adhesive bonding strength will never be satisfactory for metal structures.
Glue application
The scope of this solution is very large. For example, it is suitable for gluing things such as linoleum, carpet or polymer tiles. But here it is worth adding that the mixture used for bonding is not waterproof. This means that any paths or floor coverings that are laid with this adhesive cannot be washed. Even a small amount of moisture that penetrates beneath the surface can easily destroy the entire structure of the adhesive, causing the coating to peel off.
For latex mastic, for example, you can lay tiles. Before use, the solution must be mixed well, and then apply it to the desired surface using a notched trowel. However, before applying the composition to the walls, it is necessary to make sure that they are fairly even, otherwise poor-quality setting is possible. It is also important to know that the final setting and hardening of such a solution occurs only on the fifth day after its application.
Many are also interested in the question of whether it is possible to glue wallpaper on latex paint. It is possible, since this solution is considered almost universal. The main thing is to choose the right substance according to its composition.