Plastic resin glue, also known as urea resin glue, is used in woodworking as a construction adhesive. It comes in liquid or powder form, with pre-catalyzed powder being easy to mix with water. The ideal water-to-powder ratio is 60-65%, and the glue has a shelf life of one year. Curing time is 8-10 hours, and the glue has a longer “open time” than other adhesives. It can be refrigerated to extend pot life, and is ideal for laminating and coating applications.
Plastic glue, commonly known as urea resin glue, is mainly used in the woodworking industry as a construction adhesive. This glue is available in both liquid and powder form. Liquid resins generally come with a powdered catalyst, while powdered plastic resin glue is usually pre-catalyzed and preformulated and can be easily mixed with water. The term pre-catalyzed implies that urea and formaldehyde, the components of the glue, are already mixed; generally, this glue does not need hardeners when mixing.
The ideal amount of water used to mix plastic-strength glue should be approximately 60% to 65% of the weight of the powder. The powder should be added slowly to the water and mixed gently until it reaches a thick cream-like consistency. Even the dust that settles on the sides of the container should be scraped into the mixture until a smooth, lump-free final result is obtained.
Powdered plastic resin glue has a shelf life of about one year. This shelf life is reduced to less than six months when stored at elevated temperatures, around 90°C (32°F) and high humidity. If the powdered plastic resin glue mixes with water to make a grainy texture, it is not suitable for use. Also, if the powder doesn’t dissolve easily in water, that’s a pretty clear sign that the product has exceeded its shelf life.
The time it takes for the glue to cure, or “curing time,” ranges from eight to ten hours, depending on the surrounding temperature. Therefore, this glue is suitable for use in woodworking applications, where unhurried assembly of parts is common. The higher the outside temperature, the faster the curing process.
Plastic resin glue can be hot or cold pressed. It can also be radiofrequency cured (RF cured). One of the main advantages of plastic resin glue is its longer “open time” than many other adhesives, which is more than half an hour. The open time refers to the time interval between the application of the glue and the entry of the material into the press.
The “pot life”, the period of time between mixing and use, varies from four to five hours if the surrounding temperature is around 70°C (21°F). The glue can be refrigerated to extend pot life, but not below 55°F (12.7°C), as this may adversely affect ease of application. It is not recommended to freeze the glue.
Plastic resin glues are widely used for laminating and coating applications. You should use a thin amount of glue while working with raw veneers so it doesn’t ooze. Plastic resin glue is an ideal choice as a water and heat resistant construction adhesive and wood glue.
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