Adhesives for Wallcoverings

Wallcoverings, classified by EN 233-235 [133], consist of a variety of materials paper, textiles, glass, plastics (PVC, PE, PS, PU), ceramics, wood, cork, metals, leather. They are attached by hand in the form of sheets (wallpapers), tiles, or profiles to masonry, plaster, concrete, plasterboard and psum wallboard, wood, and metals. 

For ease in do-it-yourself projects (adjustability, open time, easy application, etc.) and because most substrates to which the coverings are bonded are capable of absorbing moisture, it is preferable to use water-based adhesives in the form of solutions and emulsions. Solvent-containing adhesives are only used on nonporous substrates, for example, metals [86], [87]. 

The adhesives are based on methyl cellulose, starch ethers, carboxymethyl cellulose, pre-gelatinized starch, poly(vinyl acetate), polyacrylate, styrene-butadiene latices, polychlorobutadiene, and polyurethanes. The viscosity of the adhesives covers the range from fluid to pasty. 

Wallpapers include those with a PVC or metal surface and rough-textured plain wallpapers. They are applied with pastes of pre-gelatinized starch, starch ethers, carboxymethyl or methyl cellulose in the form of 2-10% solutions. For rough-textured plain wallpapers and heavy wallpapers, moisture resistance and tack are increased by utilizing poly(vinyl acetate) redispersion powders. High solid, emulsion-based adhesives, optionally in conjunction with resin-enhanced pastes (special purpose pastes), are used preferably for heavy vinyl- and metal-faced wallpapers. 

Light textile fabric wallcoverings are hung with special fabric wallcovering adhesives. Special-purpose pastes containing 10-20% of emulsion-based adhesives also are used. 

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