PENOSIL Adhesive Academy

Product Manager Kert Prants answers the most common questions about PENOSIL adhesives.

What should I choose if I am looking for:

• a general-purpose adhesive with as many application areas as possible?

There are certain principles that apply when choosing an adhesive. First of all, it is necessary to consider whether the adhesive is needed for indoor or outdoor use, whether it must be moisture-proof, and what temperatures it must be able to withstand. Another important factor is the properties of the material: porosity, flexibility, dimensions and shape. Porous surfaces include wood, concrete, building board, plasterboard, and stone, while among non-porous materials are plastics, glass, various rubbers and metals. Most general construction adhesives are suitable for use on porous surfaces, while hybrid or epoxy adhesives are best for non-porous surfaces. A good adhesive bond is ensured by the proper preparation of the undersurface and by following the basic rules for application. If necessary, the element being glued must be supported until the adhesive hardens. When joining together two very different materials, an elastic adhesive should be used that can withstand the movement of the materials. In the case of rigid materials, a rigid adhesive can be used. The PENOSIL product range covers all major application areas. In the case of simpler applications, such as the installation of moldings, it is not necessary to choose the most expensive product, a more affordable acrylic adhesive is sufficient. For more demanding applications, a suitable range of hybrid adhesives is available.

• an ultra-strong adhesive?

All PENOSIL cartridge adhesives are fixing adhesives and do not have a structural function, which means that no specific numerical values have been assigned to the adhesives. The sole purpose of the adhesive is to keep the part in place, with the determining factor being that the joint no longer comes loose. If the label of a product shows the loads that a given adhesive can withstand, it is worth proceeding with caution, as it is generally not known on which surfaces or by what method the numbers provided have been measured. Even if undersurfaces are indicated in the technical documentation, it only takes the changing of one material and the corresponding numbers are no longer applicable. In general, hybrid adhesives are some of the most versatile available, because they are flexible, adhere to a wide variety of surfaces, and are suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. As a cheaper alternative, a solvent-based adhesive can be used.
 PENOSIL SpeedFix Crystal 799
 PENOSIL SpeedFix Clear 909

• an adhesive that does not contain volatile organic compounds?

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are substances belonging to various chemical classes that enter into the environment from volatile materials and products. In particular, volatile organic compounds affect indoor air quality. In the PENOSIL product range, most general construction adhesives are covered with an EC1 Plus certificate, which confirms that the products do not emit harmful compounds into the environment.

PENOSIL SpeedFix All Exterior 777
PENOSIL SpeedFix High Tack 707
PENOSIL SpeedFix All Interior 697

• an adhesive with a wallet-friendly price?

More important than the price is choosing an adhesive that is suitable for the materials being glued and is intended for the specific job. Solvent-based adhesives with the added bonus of suitability for outdoor use, such as PENOSIL SpeedFix Universal 907, are wallet-friendly. When choosing a solvent-based adhesive, the smell of the volatile solvent must be taken into account and for indoor use rooms must be properly ventilated. Acrylic adhesives such as PENOSIL SpeedFix All Interior 697, are a cheaper choice for interior adhesives.

• a paintable adhesive?

Should there be a need to overpaint the adhesive, all PENOSIL adhesives – whether acrylic, solvent-based or hybrid – can be painted with water-based acrylic paints. However, it is a good idea to test the suitability of a particular paint before use, as there are many paints with different bases available.

• a water-cleanable adhesive?

An uncured acrylic adhesive can be cleaned with water. A cured adhesive can only be removed mechanically.

• an adhesive suitable for gluing natural stone?

Hybrid adhesives can be used to glue natural stone, with the exception of transparent hybrid, which can cause migration and damage the stone. In the case of natural stone, it must be taken into account that hybrid adhesives are only suitable for gluing, and not for use in joints and sealing. For these purposes a suitable sealant must be found.

• an adhesive that can be used at temperatures below freezing?

This is the solvent-based adhesive SpeedFix Universal 907, which can be used at temperatures as low as -10 °C. Regardless of the temperature, the surfaces must be clean, dry and free of frost, and a longer curing time must be taken into account.

• a moisture-proof adhesive?

In cured form, all PENOSIL adhesives are moisture resistant, but the worst enemies of adhesive bonding are water and temperature. If simple rules are not followed when using outdoor adhesives and, for example, water remains in the joint, it will freeze, and the adhesive connection will break. Hybrid adhesives can be used in wet conditions, but the material itself must not be wet. Figuratively speaking, when water is in the way, the glue is prevented from permeating the material and no adhesive bond is formed.

• an elastic adhesive?

The most flexible adhesives in the PENOSIL range are hybrid adhesives and transparent solvent-based adhesive. As was mentioned with regard to choosing an adhesive, a flexible adhesive is needed in places where material movements occur as temperature and humidity change. Wooden baseboards, parquet and floor-tile joints are places where there is play between joints and materials, especially when underfloor heating is used. The same issues arise in outdoor conditions, as temperature changes during the day can be quite significant.

• an adhesive that is suitable for complex special work?

An example of this is the parquet hybrid PENOSIL Floor & Wall ParquetFix 749. Parquet installation should be left to a professional who specializes in this work. If you are determined to do the work yourself, it is worth reading the user manual carefully and watching the video.

A good overview of PENOSIL adhesives can be found at penosil.com. It is definitely worth reviewing all product information, including the section on limitations and tips. Instructional materials, videos, and consumption calculators can be found in knowledge centre.