Polyurethane hot melts are being used more and more in industries from high volume manufacturing to DIY and home repair. This is because PUR hot melts have some amazing characteristics that appeal to a huge set of users. PUR hot melts are non-toxic, quick setting, offer great temperature and weather resistance and are affordable at any volume requirement. Here is the Complete Guide to Polyurethane PUR hot melts to answer any questions you may have about this exciting adhesive technology. 

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Jiwei.

Overview: the PUR hot melt technology

Discovered in the s in Switzerland, the PUR hot melt technology has enjoyed increasingly popularity, first across Europe, and then across the Atlantic in the U.S.A.

• What exactly is PUR? Polyurethane, or PUR, simply is a string of polymers that share similar chemistry, typically linked together by urethane (carbamate, an organic compound derived from carbamic acid).

• What's different from traditional hot melts? PUR is a so-called “reactive” adhesive because a chemical reaction needs to take place for the strong adhesive bond to work. Some moisture needs to be present to spark that chemical reaction and create the adhesive bond. The good news is that sufficient moisture exists in the air around us and usually in the material being glued.   

     - A 24-hour period of curing allows the moisture in the air to react with the PUR hot melt to create the strong bond.

     - PUR eliminates VOCs. The advanced technology and its chemical reaction with moisture free PUR hot melt from the need for solvents or formaldehyde—ensuring both a safer work experience and final product.

Characteristics of PUR hot melt

Following are key characteristics and benefits of using PUR hot melt as your go-to adhesive.

• It creates a stronger and longer lasting bond than traditional hot melt.

• It is flexible and adapts to different uses: it can be set hard or remain rubbery.

• It tolerates the widest temperature range and therefore is just as effective for indoor and outdoor applications.

• It is fast-curing. (Note: if the atmosphere tilts towards arid, it may need a longer curing time.)

• It achieves a high-quality bond with products that typically are difficult to bond, including nonporous materials. It works with materials that are different from each other.

• Less of the adhesive is needed for a strong bond, and less is wasted during the application process.

• PUR is known for its ease of use: no mixing or measuring is required.

• Its ease of use and fast curing time translates into more rapid production, which leads to lower labor costs.

• Once set, it can be sanded and/or painted, and it will not shrink or curl.

Top applications for PUR hot melt

Many industries now incorporate hot melt technology into their processes. Everything from footwear to mattresses to boat construction has pivoted to gluing with PUR hot melt in order to maximize ease of use and flexibility, take advantage of temperature and moisture tolerances, and reduce labor time. Below are brief descriptions of the top four applications for PUR holt melt.

• Cabinetry and furniture making rely on hot melt adhesives. This blog offers specific tips on assembling cabinets and drawers using a hot melt adhesive— which “provides superior strength, precision and quality without the time or expense of a hammer and nails.” Looking for information on APAO hot melt to use as a furniture adhesive? Look no further than this blog for specifics.

• Woodworking—whether it’s your hobby or your commercial industry—benefits from an array of PUR hot melt applications. Rapid curing and low strength properties make this adhesive your go-to in the woodworking shop. If you are on the design end of woodworking, nothing supports your design work like hot melt glue for creating maquettes to finalize your design.

The website Canadian Woodworking & Home Improvement suggests that you “Stack and hot-glue many pieces to save time in the shop,” and “When working with small parts, use hot melt glue to fasten them to larger pieces to make machining them safer.”

The blog, Woodworking Hot Melt Essentials, helps guide you through the experience of selecting the right adhesive or the job at hand. Two top PUR products for use in woodworking are available here and here.

• Product Assembly: Versatility is the name of the game when it comes to Product Assembly adhesives. PUR hot melt does the job regardless of how tough your bond substrates are. It adheres to plastics, glass, PVFs, aluminums, stainless steel and other metals. Most electronic and automated assembly lines benefit from a fast-curing adhesive that doesn’t need drying time or measuring, and bonds regardless of temperature swings or contact with water. 

As our blog, How Hot Metal Molding Can Replace Traditional Epoxy in Manufacturing, states, “The advantages of low pressure hot melt molding over traditional epoxy include ease of application, the elimination of curing times and an environmentally friendly process. Hot melt molding is particularly useful within the automotive and medical device industries which require the preparation of connectors and switches that need to be sealed and protected from water and dust.”  

     A top PUR product for general assembly use may be found here.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website PUR for Honeyboard.

• Construction: Hot melt technology excels when it comes to window sealants, gaskets, foams, corrugated, fabrics, plastics, particle board, and light metal applications. Flooring, remodeling, countertops, and shower walls all benefit from hot melt adhesives’ ease of use and quick curing time. Let our blog on Solid Surfaces guide your use of hot melt adhesives in areas such as bathrooms.

Key differences between PUR hot melt and traditional hot melt

The PUR hot melt technology, with its chemical reaction with moisture, has reduced or eliminated heat-related disadvantages of traditional hot melt.

• PUR hot melt works better with substrates that are sensitive to high temperatures.
• Bonds remain strong at higher temperatures with PUR technology.
• PUR’s reactive technology creates a higher strength bond than most other adhesives.
• The quick cure time and superior bond strength mean that in a manufacturing environment, the substrate bonds formed by PUR’s reactive chemistry will not loosen.

• PUR’s flexibility, along with its wide temperature tolerance, and water and chemical resistance ensure its effectiveness in a wide range of both indoor and outdoor environments.

Check out this tensile strength test between traditional hot melt adhesives and PUR hot melt: 

The future of PUR is here

Looking for a replacement for the discontinued Titebond HighPURformer line? Our Infinity PUR offers you the same formula and cartridges for ease of transition.

Your success is our business: please contact us with any questions about our products or applications. 

Related Products: Infinity Bond Flex 50 PUR Hot Melt Applicator

Related Products

PUR hot melt adhesives, also known as Polyurethane hot melt, are typically used in hot glue guns or bulk dispensing machinery. As a hot melt, it’s quick-dispensing and a popular choice in manufacturing industries across the globe. Since it’s relatively cost-effective, it’s an affordable way to ensure strong bonds between numerous types of materials and a reliable adhesive. PUR hot melt is commonly used in automobile manufacturing, woodworking, doors, windows, floors, and an even broader range of applications. If you’re considering incorporating PUR hot melt adhesives into your manufacturing process, here’s what you need to know about the pros and cons.

Pros of PUR Hot Melt Adhesives

One of the most significant benefits of incorporating PUR hot melt adhesives into your manufacturing process is that it’s capable of adhering to numerous substrates and textiles. While traditional hot melt bonds can form an almost waxy bond, PUR hot melt is unique in its cooling process. While cooling, PUR hot melt adhesives undergo a chemical reaction that strengthens the bond to form a highly-binding adhesive. In many cases, it’s considered a stronger bond than traditional hot melt and can replace pricier structural adhesives.

Cons of PUR Hot Melt Adhesives

Despite the advantages of using PUR hot melt, it has one primary drawback to consider. As previously mentioned, PUR hot melt undergoes a chemical reaction during the cooling process due to moisture exposure. Unfortunately, this same reaction can also negatively affect PUR hot melt adhesives if they’re stored improperly, and they typically have a shelf life of 12 months when stored properly. Therefore, for companies considering PUR hot melt adhesives, you’ll need to ensure that they’re stored in airtight containers. 

The Glue Diligence® Difference 

At Glue Machinery Corporation, we do the Glue Diligence® so that you don’t have to. If you’re looking into different types of hot melt adhesives for your manufacturing industry and you aren’t sure which glue would work best, we can help. With our Glue Diligence®, we can find the right adhesive, machinery, and equipment for your specific application and production needs so that your company can get the most bang for your buck. 

Contact us to discuss your requirements of PUR for Textile. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

THE GLUE MACHINERY CORPORATION IS YOUR SOURCE FOR PUR HOT MELT