Formaldehyde Free Adhesives

Workplace safety is a top priority in every industry, and having a good grasp of the materials and chemicals you’re dealing with is essential for the well-being of your employees and the safety of the products you’re developing.

In this article, we’ll delve into the topic of Formaldehyde – a chemical you often find in adhesives and resins used in manufacturing and construction.

As we journey through this piece, we’ll provide insights to help you better understand this substance, its potential impact and essential safety precautions you should know. Plus, we’ll explore alternative adhesives and resins that are key to making your glue application faster, safer and more cost-efficient. 

What is Formaldehyde?

Let’s start with the basics. Formaldehyde is a colourless, strong-smelling gas composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen (CH2O). 

While Formaldehyde can occur naturally in the environment, it’s also produced synthetically for industrial and commercial purposes. Notably, Formaldehyde is prevalent in the creation of various adhesives and resins, as we’ll go on to explore.

Another crucial thing to note is that Formaldehyde can become a gas at room temperature, which makes it part of a larger group of chemicals known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). 

Formaldehyde in Adhesive and Resin

Formaldehyde plays an integral role in the making of certain adhesives, bonding agents and solvents, all of which find widespread applications within the construction, woodworking, furniture and cabinetry industries. 

Applications of Formaldehyde

Some of the main applications where Formaldehyde is present include the following:

• Wood veneer lamination.
• Plywood, particleboard, MDF production.
• Bonding furniture components.
• The production of insulation materials.

Formaldehyde-Based Adhesives

See below for the most common adhesives used for these applications.

• Phenol-formaldehyde (PF)
• Urea-formaldehyde (UF) resin. 

Out of the two, Urea-Formaldehyde glue is considerably more pollutant. However, it’s beneficial in demanding applications, such as veneering fire doors with FR-rated sheet materials and bonding challenging timbers.

Health Risks: Formaldehyde Toxicity

While Formaldehyde is advantageous in the adhesive and resin industry, it can cause alarming health effects. Read on for an overview of the main concerns.

Respiratory and Irritation: 

Formaldehyde is a respiratory irritant. Inhalation can lead to symptoms like coughing, wheezing and throat irritation.

Carcinogenicity: 

Many international agencies classify Formaldehyde as a human carcinogen. Prolonged exposure is associated with an increased risk of specific cancers, including nasopharyngeal cancer and leukaemia.

Sensitivity:  

Some individuals are more sensitive to formaldehyde, and even low levels of exposure can cause health issues, making it essential to minimise exposure, especially for susceptible individuals such as those with asthma. 

Knowing the potential health risks linked to Formaldehyde exposure, it’s crucial to outline the safety measures to ensure the well-being of your workforce.

Safety Recommendations

In your workplace, it’s essential to look out for your team’s well-being and put specific precautions in place. Here are our safety recommendations and practical tips.

Sufficient ventilation:

• Formaldehyde should always be used with adequate ventilation to minimise inhalation of vapour formaldehyde.

Appropriate PPE:

• Always use chemical goggles or a face shield. Formaldehyde is corrosive, and the eyes are especially vulnerable.

• Ensure medium or heavyweight nitrile, neoprene, natural rubber, or PVC gloves are worn when handling concentrated formaldehyde.

• Disposable gloves that have come into contact with Formaldehyde should be rinsed thoroughly before being disposed of in regular waste. In cases of heavy contamination, treat them as chemical waste and follow proper disposal procedures.

Monitoring:

• Exposure monitoring is required to ensure that employees are not overexposed.

• Ensure Formaldehyde solutions are labelled clearly with the chemical’s name and hazards.

• Always keep stored away from heat and flame.

Substitutions:

• Make an effort to minimise your Formaldehyde use by changing your glue. Industries have been developing incredible alternatives that emit lower levels or are entirely Formaldehyde-free.

Alternatives to Formaldehyde

It’s natural to have concerns about how changing your glue might impact your manufacturing process. However, it’s important to note that there are excellent adhesive options available with lower Formaldehyde content.

PVA Adhesive 

One option is Polyvinyl Acetate (PVA) adhesive. Several companies are switching from Urea Formaldehyde to PVA glues in their production facilities. These adhesives are not only Formaldehyde-free but also boast low VOC levels. The swap also comes with significant benefits, such as a decrease in veneer peel, lower hot press temperatures, and shorter cycle times. 

What these results demonstrate is that, when appropriate, switching your adhesive can improve workplace safety, enhance overall production efficiency and make your bonding process more cost-effective.

Consider Timbond D3-rated PVA Adhesive, known for its superior quality and fast-setting properties. This adhesive is a perfect choice for woodworking applications that require high water resistance.

It excels in high-quality joinery, door and window construction, furniture assembly, bonding high-pressure laminates and securing timber veneers. You can explore a real-world example of how switching to Timbond PVA improved the bonding process for a leading UK furniture manufacturer in this featured article.

Purchase PVA Glue

Fancy trying this for yourself? Adkwik offers Timbond D3-rated PVA Adhesive in different sizes to suit your specific needs: 

• 1kg – Sold as Singles or Cases of 12
• 5kg – Sold as Singles or Cases of 4 
• 25kg 
• 1080kg IBC

For effortless decanting of the 25 litres of PVA, consider our efficient Metal Drum Tipper.

This tool is ideal for precise glue flow and can be easily mounted on the wall or floor of your factory or workshop to streamline production. 

Contact Adkwik Today

If you’re contemplating whether a Formaldehyde-free adhesive is the right choice for your production, please contact us for more information.

Get in touch by calling 01223 412373 or leaving a message via our helpful online contact form. The friendly Adkwik technical team will be more than happy to assist with your queries.

Products highlighted in this article:

• Timbond D3-rated PVA Adhesive

• Metal Drum Tipper