Temperature resistance and durability of hotmelts

The paper presents investigation of various types of hot melt adhesives, with emphasis on the application of the new types of hotmelts in furniture production and manufacturing of other final wood products. Investigation embraced adhesives on the following basis: 
- ethylene/vinyl acetate (EVA) 
- polyamide (PA) 
- polyurethane (PU) 
- polyolephine (PO).
The adhesives were comparatively tested for their resistance to changes of temperature and climatic conditions. Ali the bond strength tests were performed on T-shaped shear samples (DIN/EN 204). EVA, PA, PO and PU hot melt adhesives exhibit different characteristics under the conditions of - temperature changes - prolonged elevated temperature - cyclic climatic changes. PO and PU adhesives show greater resistance to all of the mentioned conditions, the PU adhesives proving the best in ali the tests. EV A adhesives are least resistant to low temperatures. EVA and PA adhesives show significant decrease in strength with prolonged elevated temperature and cyclic climatic changes. Their use for the production of furniture that is to be exposed to adverse conditions is therefore disputable. The experiment has been conducted on solid wood samples which had not been glued in the edgebonding machine. In practice, however, other materials, besides solid wood, are regularly applied.Therefore the affinity of the adhesive and other materials in specific technology should be further investigated.