Polyurethane Adhesives - Adhesives Manufacturers and Suppliers in India

Polyurethane is one of the best engineering polymers. It is versatile and can be tailored to achieve specific properties such as high tack adhesives, flexibility, foam flexibility or hardness. The characteristics depend on engineering the urethane linkage with aliphatic hydrocarbons, esters, amides and other organic compounds. Adhesives is one area in which polyurethane resin shines and it can take on epoxy, proving to be much better in some cases such as in footwear where flexibility is important. Polyurethane adhesives manufacturers offer adhesives specifically engineered for use for footwear. Not that that is the only use to which they are put!

Uses for polyurethane adhesives

As said earlier, polyurethane resin is very versatile. It can be engineered to become hard and rigid on curing. It can be designed to retain flexibility like rubber when it is cured. This is useful for footwear. It can also be designed to set to a rigid mass when cured which is useful in certain applications. Given its versatility polyurethane adhesive uses are many.

Furniture: One application of polyurethane adhesive is in furniture industry. Furniture makers will find polyurethane adhesive price higher than the normally used PVA adhesive. However, PU has better bonding capability and strength. It increases durability of furniture, especially when used for gluing together laminates. If you use PVA the laminate can peel off after some time but with polyurethane adhesive, the adhesion is permanent. It is especially useful in marine boat building where even rubber solutions are of little use.

Automotive industry: This is another segment where polyurethane adhesive finds wide use. It can be used for glass used in vehicles, for upholstery and as a thread locking agent to keep nuts and screws from coming loose.

Homes: Polyurethane is ideal to stick together glass, wood, plastics, stone and metal. All these materials are used inside homes for functional purposes and for interior decoration purposes. The bond created is very strong and the resin also acts as sealant. It can even be used in concrete such as affixing stone, porcelain or vinyl tiles on concrete surfaces. The resin also finds use as exterior coat on wood to prevent moisture and pest ingress and to impart a durable finish. It can be used to glue together marble or granite slabs used on kitchen platforms. The resin resists acids and it is waterproof too. It is also flexible and holds together two parts quite well over a long time by adjusting to thermal expansion and contraction. The only deterrent may be polyurethane adhesive price, which is higher than epoxy or rubber solution or PVA.

Footwear: The footwear industry makes use of leather that may be smooth or grainy leather like suede. Footwear may be made out of leathercloth or synthetic leather. The sole material too varies from rubber to synthetic polymer to polyurethane. The upper must be bonded to the sole and must stay glued throughout the expected working life of the shoe. PU adhesive for footwear is best compared to rubber solution. The resin thoroughly wets the surfaces, unlike rubber solution and it also penetrates into leather. The bond is many times stronger and PU is also waterproof.

Types of polyurethane adhesives

Polyurethane adhesives may be categorized into different types and the polyurethane adhesive properties can vary.

• Properties on curing: Polyurethane can be engineered to set to a hard and rigid mass when it cures. It can also be designed to be elastic and flexible on curing. The former has uses in engineering. The latter is useful for footwear, fashion accessories, bags and furnishing where joined materials experience deformations and stress.
• Single component resin: Makers of polyurethane adhesive India based offer single component polyurethane resin. It remains in liquid form when kept in a closed container. When exposed to air and moisture the resin polymerizes and sets. Once cured, the bond is flexible. Single component type is the PU adhesive for footwear most widely used in this segment.
• Single component heat curing: Where a stronger bond is desired then it is advisable to use heat curing resin. It is recommended when you want fast curing as in production lines. The cured material is rigid.
• Two component resin: This type of resin cures to a rigid or flexible material. There are two components. The two parts must be mixed together prior to use. The advantage is that the resin has longer shelf life.

Polyurethane adhesive uses are dictated by polyurethane adhesive properties.

Manufacturers of polyurethane adhesive India based offer resins in different types to suit end use. Buy only quality PU resin with the right properties if you plan to use PU adhesive for footwear. The adhesive will give lifelong bond that will outlast the leather and the sole and it will not be affected by rain or solvents.