Description and features of the use of latex glue, tips and tricks
Modern industry offers many varieties of glue. Each of them has its own characteristics and characteristics. It is often recommended to use latex glue, which is characterized by increased adhesion (adhesion), when decorating walls with tiles in repair. Before using the substance, one should understand the benefits, application features and tips for using the product.
Description and characteristics of latex glue
Latex glue, which is often used for gluing small objects and in repairs, is a water-based mixture. The substance contains ammonia and a rubber solution. Some manufacturers use for the manufacture of additional components that increase adhesion - synthetic resins, inorganic constituents, ethers.
There are two types of latex glue. One group contains artificial latex, while the other contains the main component of natural origin. The substance contains a liquid, so the use of glue has an important feature - one of the surfaces must be porous. It is in the pores that excess liquid penetrates, ensuring reliable fixation of the parts.
The glue used for bonding the surfaces has a certain shelf life. It all depends on the nature of the rubber.Some varieties retain all their qualities for only three months. If the rubber is obtained artificially, the shelf life can be up to a year.
The substance has a sweet smell, which quickly disappears. Despite this, when applying the adhesive indoors, it is recommended to ventilate after the work is completed.
What materials are used for
Latex glue can be used on many materials. Most often, a water-based mixture is used in the manufacture of shoes or during repairs.
It is recommended to use glue for these types of materials:
- clay (polymer);
- leather (natural or artificial);
- floor coverings (carpet, linoleum);
- ceramics (crockery, finishing tiles);
- polymer or fabric materials.
When assembling parts made of polymer clay, it is recommended to use glue based on natural rubber. For leather goods, a substance based on an artificial active element is more suitable.
Latex adhesive is also recommended for cellulosic materials. Do not use the mixture for metal parts. Polymer components emit an element dangerous to the metal - chlorine, capable of causing the formation of corrosion. The adhesive force when joining metal structures is also extremely low, so it is better to use a more suitable glue designed specifically for fastening metal parts.
An adhesive is also often added to the grout. This additive increases the elasticity and significantly increases the duration of action. It is recommended to add an adhesive component before using the solution - during long-term storage the mass will become thick and dense, which will greatly complicate the uniform application.
Rules for working with adhesive
The use of latex glue has several features, with which it is recommended to familiarize yourself in advance. The main thing is to take into account the temperature at which the mixture takes before use. At room temperature, the adhesive is fully cured within one day. At high temperatures, it will take 10-15 hours for the surfaces to harden.
The rule of thumb for using an adhesive is to thoroughly clean the surfaces before applying a coat of glue. Glue only on dry materials. If you have to work with rubber, first degrease the material, wait until it is completely dry. Step-by-step application of latex glue:
- On both surfaces to be fixed with latex glue, apply a thin layer of glue (if the surface is small, use a brush, for a large surface, use a gun or a wide spatula).
- Wait for the glue layer to dry.
- Press both surfaces, if possible, go under a press.
The use of latex glue is allowed by hot pressing. In this case, it is not necessary to wait for the layer of substance on the surfaces to dry - it is allowed to start gluing immediately. It is worth letting the adhesive dry for 24 hours. Check the fixation only after this period.
Tips & Tricks
There are many tricks and secrets to using latex glue. When using a water-based composition, it is better to be guided by the following rules and recommendations:
- it is not recommended to use glue for materials in contact with water or located in a room with high humidity - moisture will destroy the connection;
- it is permissible to use an aqueous mixture for gluing linoleum, since the material contains polymers that do not allow moisture to destroy the structure of the glue;
- when using an adhesive mixture for laying ceramic tiles, it is recommended to take a special notched trowel, first carefully level the wall, cover the surface with a layer of primer;
- it will take 3-5 days for the glue to harden when laying the tiles, so the work should be carried out gradually - when finishing large areas, there is a risk of the ceramic slipping;
- before buying a mixture, carefully study the composition and purpose - usually manufacturers indicate for which surfaces the glue is recommended;
- if phenolic resin is present in the composition, it is permissible to use glue even in rooms with high humidity;
- when bonding pressure-sensitive materials, only connect the surfaces after the adhesive layer has completely dried;
- remember the temperature regime - natural rubber easily withstands 100 degrees of freezing, a synthetic aqueous solution loses its adhesive qualities at only 5 degrees of freezing;
- it is allowed to use glue even for wallpapering, but only with the condition of preliminary priming of the walls;
- if the work has been carried out imprecisely, the latex glue is easily removed: if the mixture has not had time to dry, wipe the contaminated surface with a damp cloth, remove the adhering substance with a cloth soaked in acetone;
- It is not recommended to wash the surfaces of the floor, which were fixed with latex glue, - the ingress of moisture under the linoleum or carpet will lead to the destruction of the structure, the coating will peel off after a short time lapse.
It is recommended to tightly close the container after each use of the substance. You should not store the mixture to which additional components have been added - the glue will lose its viscosity, which will immediately affect the quality of fixing surfaces.
Latex glue is a versatile mixture that will help even an inexperienced owner to carry out repairs, repair small items or shoes.The main thing is to strictly follow the rules for using the substance, observe the rules for storage , not to conduct experiments by adding auxiliary elements.