Applications and Properties: PVA Glue

by Pooja Late so cut

Glue is an essential part of many toolkits: Be it be repairs, DIY crafts or any other projects you’re working on. It is a temporary solution for most of your repairs and a great agent to help you with your crafting activities such as wood works

What is PVA Glue?

PVA was discovered in 1912 by Fritz Klatte during the polymerisation reaction of vinyl alcohol. PVA stands for Polyvinyl Acetate, a polymer formed between the reaction of vinyl alcohol and acetic acid. It is an ester polymer. PVA is a more generalized term for variety of glues. There is a wide spectrum of glues that fall in the category of PVA glue. However, there is a difference between them in terms of applications and the strengths. A few examples of PVA glues are: White glue, wood glue etc. White glue is generally used to bond lighter components such as paper, cardboards etc. Wood glue functions quite differently: It seeps into the surface of the wood, thereby enhancing the adhesive properties of the glue. PVA glue is usually water soluble: However, there are water resistant grades available that can withstand considerable quantities of moisture, mildew and humidity. There is generally a confusion between white glue and carpenter glue. Both of them are PVA: White glue is generally used in school works such as sticking paper etc. whereas carpenter’s glue has a slightly yellow tinge and is used for carpentry applications. However, both glues can be interchanged for their uses and they work just fine.

Properties of PVA Glue

1. Works well Porous Materials

One property of PVA glue that makes it a great substitute for most materials is that it works wonders with porous materials. PVA glues seep into the pores of the materials and enhance the binding properties right from a microscale. This property of PVA glue makes it great for binding materials such as wood, cardboard, leather etc.

2. Water-soluble

PVA glue can be applied in thin coats whenever needed because of its solubility in water. However, its water-soluble nature has a downside: Dried PVA Glue coating can be easily weakened and removed with accidental spills.

3. Highly Neutral

PVA glues maintain the pH of the surface you’re working on as it is acts as a pH buffer. Certain surfaces are highly sensitive to acidic pH and can disintegrate quickly, such as paper.

4. Clear after drying

PVA glues are clear after they dry unlike other glues which tend to develop a yellowish tint over time. This makes PVA glue suitable for art and craft projects where one wishes to retain the original colours.

PVA glues also are flexible after drying which makes it a great choice for book binding and wood working applications.

5. No Toxic Fumes and Leaching

This is one aspect of PVA glues that make it children-friendly and suitable for school projects. They don’t produce any toxic fumes and do not leach into skin. However, they are toxic when ingested.