PVAcglue's drying rate for various surfaces

15.09.2022

One may wonder, what is the drying time of PVAc glue? The drying time hinges on the quality of glue and the materials the product is made of. This article will be helpful in finding out the drying time of PVAc glue on various surfaces.

Drying and curing of glue

In the technical descriptions or on the glue's label, PVAc manufacturers provide explicit recommendations regarding the glue's drying rate and the polymerization time of a glue line. To achieve the best possible quality of gluing, one should follow the manufacturer's instructions.

The concepts of "drying" and "curing" have different meanings. The term "drying" implies that the surface of the product is dry, the glue line is firm, but not yet firm enough due to the fact that its polymerization has occurred partially and the chemical reaction is still underway. The complete polymerization of the glue line is called "curing time".

Only after the final PVAc curing, one may transport and use the products safely.

PVAcglue's drying rate for wood and furniture

In order for wooden furniture to last a long time, it should be used only after the final polymerization of the adhesive. For this purpose, it is important to know how long the glue will be drying on wooden surfaces.

PVAc glue is made of polyvinyl acetate dispersion. It is versatile, easy to use and good for manufacturing any wooden furniture. The initial setting time of the adhesive is about 30 minutes. Full adhesion occurs in 24 hours.

The drying rate of PVAcis affected by the moisture content in the wood, humidity and ambient temperature.

Joiner's glue is perfect for gluing wooden surfaces, with its drying rate depending on the bonding conditions and ambient temperature. PVAc glue consists of water, polymers and additives. Water freezes being exposed to low temperatures. Therefore, the glue storage temperature should be at least +5˚С, and the glue aplication temperature should be not lower than +15 ˚С. The colder the room, the longer will be the PVAc's drying time. In cold environments, the adhesion quality deteriorates and the glue stops doing its job.
Extra ventilation will help facilitate the glue's drying, especially if the wood is not completely dry or there is high humidity in the production room.
Joiner's glue's drying rate depends on the type of wood. PVAc perfectly glues all types of wood, but if the wood workpieces are coniferous, then they have a soft structure into which the glue penetrates too quickly, so the adhesion rate decreases. When working with coniferous wood, one should remove the clumps that hold the parts together earlier than when bonding the parts made of hardwood.
Deciduous wood is a hard wood that grows slowly and has a dense structure into which the glue penetrates much longer, so it's drying rate is higher. Before the final processing, it is necessary to achieve complete curing of the PVAc glue.

The more glue is applied to the wooden part, the longer it’s drying time.

There is an opinion that if ones applies a large amount of PVAc glue to the wood, the glue will bond the part more firmly. This is not exactly the case! Here are a number of reasons why one should not apply an excessive amount of glue:

The drying rate of the glue depends on its amount on the product. An adhesive film is formed between the wood parts, which looks dry, but inside the thick adhesive layer there is a glue layer that has not yet completely dried up.
When gluing soft coniferous wood, joiner's glue gets too absorbed, which causes the wood fibers to swell and push the surfaces apart, thus reducing the adhesion.
Before applying paint or varnish to the wood, the remnants of glue should first be sanded and scraped off. If the glue is absorbed into the area around the joint, it prevents the smooth application of decorative coating or gluing of the finish, changing its colour, so, the work will eventually look heterogeneous.

One should follow the recommendations of manufacturers regarding the correct application of PVAc glue for wood. In any case, we recommend applying a thin layer of glue to the two parts of the surface to be glued. If the glue shows up on the cut of the product when compressed, wipe it immediately with a damp cloth.

In most cases, PVAc glue dries completely within 24 hours

Despite the fact that PVAc glue for wood is being made by various manufacturers all over the world and it has many modifications and brands, any PVAc glue normally dries up in 24 hours.

It is not recommended to leave the parts clamped under pressure for too long, since the clamps provide excessive pressure, and the wood may warp. The best option is to slightly unscrew the clamps after the initial applying of the glue and remove them after the glue is completely dry.

One should consider the loads that the product is going to have in the future. For example, if a wooden chair will be regularly subjected to significant load, we recommend that the glued parts be clamped for the maximum possible time. If you need to glue a section of veneer, then after applying the PVAc glue, keep it fixed with a duct tape for one or two hours.

PVAc glue's drying rate for paper

PVAc glue's drying time on paper depends on PVAc composition, the ambient temperature, the humidity in the room, and the amount of glue applied. The thinner the glue layer, the warmer and drier the environment, the faster it dries. It is possible to reduce the drying time of PVAc glue on paper or cardboard by changing the environmental conditions.

How to reduce the glue's drying time on paper and cardboard in the production environment?

One should opt for the glue with a fast setting time.
Apply glue in a room with the ambient temperature being at least +15 ˚С.
Before use, it is necessary to preheat the adhesive to reach the operating temperature in accordance with the technical specifications.
Mind that the adhesive layer should be as thin as possible.
Arrange some extra blowing or drying to speed up the drying time of the glue.

How to reduce the drying time of the glue for paper and cardboard at home?

Apply PVAc glue with a roller or a brush in a thin layer on a paper or cardboard surface, then glue it to another part.
To fix it more tightly, one may temporarily put the parts under the press or press them with his hands.
In the warm and dry environment, the paper or cardboard product will be dry in 20-30 minutes. To reduce the drying time, place the fan near the glued parts for 10 minutes.
How to check whether the surfaces are glued together well? The surface of the paper should be dry on both sides, and the glue line should be transparent and elastic. If the product is still wet, it should be kept under appropriate conditions for a little more time before it is dried completely.

PVACc glue's drying rate for the fabric.

PVAC glue is polyvinyl acetate dissolved in water. PVAc for fabric is a versatile adhesive for your creative projects. It is perfect for bonding porous materials, it does not emit strong odours or vapours, and is safe to touch with bare hands.

Under regular conditions, at an average room temperature, the PVAc glue for the fabric will dry in 20-30 minutes to be ready for further handling. But if the room is cool, the drying process can take about an hour.

PVAc glue's drying rate for PVC.

Is PVAc glue good for plastic? PVAc glue, that is polyvinyl acetate or PVAc dispersion, has strong adhesive properties when gluing wooden, paper, cardboard or fabric parts. PVAc glue's drying rate for these materials has already been highlighted in detail in this article. However, polyvinyl acetate does not provide adhesion when gluing non-porous surfaces such as plastic and metal.

For further information or to buy our high-quality Lux PVAc glue for wood, furniture, paper, cardboard or fabric, please send us your request from the website lux-x.com by ordering a callback. Also, you may write an email to office@lux-x.com or call our hotline: +38 (068) 766 06 36; +38 (050) 324 06 36.