Water based high solids adhesives and adhesive application system

Abstract

A method for producing a fast drying high solids adhesive and the adhesive composition are described herein whereby a water based polymer emulsion known as latex is modified with unemulsified plasticizing oils and reinforcing-tackifying resins, and a stable final emulsion of polymer, oil and resin is achieved without the use of additional emulsifiers or volatile organic solvents. The method takes advantage of the inherent solubility of the oils and resins in the polymer and of the emulsion-stabilizing effects of the selected resins, and the resultant product has excellent adhesive characteristics such as fast drying, improved water resistance, improved freeze resistance, high bond strength and no volatile organic compounds. Additionally, the product of this invention is resistant to coagulation by nitrogen, pentane, chlorofluorocarbons and many similar products used as propellants in the production of internally pressurized canisters of adhesives generically known as aerosol adhesives, and thus, when packaged in pressurizable canisters along with a suitable propellant, the product of this invention may be sprayed through a suitable nozzle and deposited in a thin layer to form an adhesive film which has excellent bonding characteristics for many laminates such as fabric or textiles, wood, plastics, metals and rubber, and for adhering flooring materials such as carpet, linoleum, tiles and artificial grass to appropriate substrates such as wood, concrete and many others.