User tips
Reliable bonding of synthetic resins to non-absorbent substrates
How to apply synthetic resin to a pre-coated panel:
- Calibrate the backing plate.
- Clean the surface to ensure it is free of dust and grease.
- Adhesive selection for two non-porous surfaces:
either contact adhesive or, for a better and more durable bond, a two-component silane-epoxy such as Collano RS 8505 or Collano RS 6400. - Apply a sufficient amount of adhesive using the appropriate trowel.
Collano RS 8505 and Collano RS 6400: Aluminum trowel 190 g/m², white trowel 220 g/m², blue trowel 300 g/m², green trowel 350 g/m². - Apply the synthetic resin covering from one side, press it down while avoiding air pockets, and smooth it out toward the edges.
- Secure the panel with sufficient pressure; an additional layer such as cork or desktop underlay can help compensate for even the slightest unevenness.
- Follow the fusing times (as specified in the technical data sheet).
Collano RS 8505: 20 °C: > 6.5 hours | 40 °C: > 3.5 hours | 60 °C: > 1.75 hours
Collano RS 6400: 20 °C: > 8.5 hours | 40 °C: > 4.0 hours| 60 °C: > 1.5 hours
Special considerations for bonding mirrors with water-based adhesives
When installing mirrors, keep the following points in mind:
- Surfaces must be flat, dust-free, and dry.
- Adhesives must be specifically designed for mirrors. Ingredients in unsuitable or untested adhesives could damage the mirror coating.
- Apply the adhesive in beads vertically at intervals of 10–20 cm.
- Do not apply the adhesive around the edges of the mirror, as the lack of airflow will prevent the adhesive from curing.
- Never cover the entire surface of the mirror with adhesive. Depending on the substrate, this could cause stress cracks in the mirror.
- If a seal is required between the mirror and the substrate, apply it no sooner than 7 days after installation. This allows the mounting adhesive sufficient time to cure.
Bonding at low temperatures
1C polyurethane adhesives
To cure, 1C PUR adhesives require moisture from the material or the air. Since wood-based materials have low moisture content during the winter months due to low air humidity, the curing process slows down. Low temperatures further slow down this process.
When applying water-based adhesives, you must strictly adhere to the minimum application temperature specified in the technical documentation. If this is not possible, especially during the winter months, the following points must be observed.
- Storage: Store adhesives at room temperature (15–20 °C). Lower storage temperatures cause the viscosity to increase, making the adhesive difficult to apply.
- Rule of thumb for pressing times: At a room or ambient temperature of 10 °C, the pressing time at least doubles.
- Temperature < 10 °C:
- Do not apply adhesive at such low temperatures. The moisture content of the wood or other material required for the reaction is usually low at low temperatures. The curing process is significantly delayed by both the low temperature and the low moisture content of the material. The desired final quality may not be achieved.
- The curing time is also significantly longer. The following applies to moving or repositioning bonded components:
- Reposition them either within the open time of the adhesive or after the curing time specified in the technical data sheets.
- If repositioning occurs before the pressing time has elapsed, the adhesive structures will be permanently damaged. The final strength will not be achieved.
Water-based adhesives – observe the minimum application temperature
When applying water-based adhesives, the minimum application temperature must be strictly observed (see technical documentation). If the temperature falls below this minimum, the adhesive may dry, but the polymer particles will not form a film, and the adhesive film will turn white. The bond strength will be completely inadequate and will not withstand even light loads.
Preventing joint marks in solid wood installations
Wood is hygroscopic and reacts to changes in humidity by swelling and shrinking. The resulting stresses in the adhesive joints are absorbed to varying degrees by the adhesives. Emulsion adhesives are thermoplastics. They cannot absorb high levels of stress. This compromises the surface quality, and the joints become visible.
For visually demanding joint bonding applications, we recommend using 1C PUR adhesives. This helps prevent or at least significantly reduce the risk of joint marking.
