By Jeff Johnson
Traditional adhesives for solid sheet vinyl used in commercial settings often do not withstand the high pressures of heavy rolling loads that can exist in these locations. Hospital beds are usually very heavy, and the only way they can be moved easily is to equip them with very narrow wheels, which apply all the weight onto a very small area, making them easier to move. This can wreak havoc on the resilient flooring.

To solve this, manufacturers have developed adhesives based on either two-component epoxy or urethane. They are more expensive than traditional adhesives, and they often affect air quality as they contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

New technologies, such as Mapei’s recently developed Ultrabond ECO 360, produce a harder-setting adhesive that can withstand deformation from heavy rolling loads. These products come premixed and ready to use, in comparison with the ones that must be mixed on-site.

Since the new generation of adhesives do not have pot-life issues, they do not come with the problem of waste. Two-component adhesives, when mixed, must be completely used within a very short period of time. If any two-component glue is left in the pail, it can react and form a solid block that cannot be remixed or re-used. After the new acrylic adhesives are used, they can be reclosed and used again. They are also easy to apply using standard trowels and do not require special handling.

Low in VOCs and approved by the Carpet & Rug Institute, the acrylic adhesives are suitable for use in the most demanding applications. Plus, they are less expensive than two-component epoxy- and urethane-based adhesives.

Jeff Johnson is the product manager for Mapei Floor Covering Installation Systems.