Whether it’s a new building, an expansion or a renovation, every construction project comes with hundreds of decisions about the products and materials that will be used in the design. One factor that’s playing an increasingly important role in product selection is sustainability.
Sustainability is particularly significant in relation to building envelope products like adhesives, as these products are ubiquitous across the building industry and serve as the first line of defense in protecting the health and safety of the building’s occupants, as well as the long-term performance of the building itself.
The demand for more sustainable building envelope products has pushed UV-cured acrylic adhesives to the forefront of adhesive technology over other adhesives designed for building envelope applications. With a wider temperature range, better adhesion and greater durability than rubberized asphalt and synthetic rubber adhesives, UV-cured acrylics are poised to become the adhesive of choice for building envelope product manufacturers. In addition to their performance benefits, UV-cured acrylic adhesives offer the advantage of no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and no need for primers, which further distinguishes them from other commonly used adhesives in the building envelope.
To understand what differentiates UV-cured acrylic adhesives from other adhesive options, here’s a closer look at some key points of distinction.
Strong Primerless Adhesion
Primers are often needed during the installation of flashing tapes and self-adhering water-resistive barriers (WRBs) on low surface energy materials like exterior glass faced gypsum, highly textured materials such as concrete, and in cold environments. Certain UV-cured acrylic formulations are designed to ensure strong adhesion without primers. UV radiation combined with acrylic adhesive chemistries crosslinks the polymer chains creating strong molecular bonds that maintain their stability, even in extreme temperatures. These adhesives are resistant to oxidation, chemicals and the destructive effects of long-term weathering. They do not break down like rubberized asphalt and synthetic rubbers do under these exposures. Bonds that last longer and stay stronger have a direct impact on the overall performance of other building envelope components, as well as the longevity of the building itself.
Resilient Adhesive Bonds
All building envelope components move over time due to temperature and climatic fluctuations. The job of the adhesive is to minimize the impact of building component movement by creating strong bonds and flexibility that are resilient to these forces thus helping to ensure that the materials don’t separate contributing to the long-term durability of the building.
UV-cured acrylic adhesives maintain their adhesion over time and under extreme conditions due in large part to their ability to perform across a wider temperature range of 0 F (-18 C) to over 240 F (115 C). The pliability of acrylics allows them to adapt continuously to temperature changes and naturally occurring movement while maintaining position with minimal shifting. UV-cured acrylic adhesives also help to preserve the aesthetic of a building’s exterior by keeping materials in place.
No Solvents or VOCs
Because UV-cured acrylic adhesives do not include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as chemical solvents, they are considered more environmentally friendly than other adhesives used in building envelope applications. For example, as VOCs in rubberized asphalt off-gas, the adhesive dries over time, resulting in a loss of pliability and flexibility. This loss becomes problematic over the life of the building, as building components shift over time with climatic changes. When the VOCs contained in some building products off-gas, they can cause negative environmental effects such as photochemical smog, as well as adverse health effects, like headaches, nausea and memory impairment. Solvents in adhesives can also shorten the performance life of other materials that they may come in contact with. For example, the solvents in rubberized asphalt can react with sealants and caulking, causing them to chemically breakdown and compromising the performance of materials, the durability of the application and negatively impacting the environment. This reaction reduces the adhesive’s effectiveness and can also cause damage that can result in litigation.
Overall Longer-Term Durability
With the combination of no VOCs, strong crosslinked polymer chains and resilience to building component movement, UV-cured acrylic adhesives contribute to longer-term building durability when compared to other building envelope adhesive options. Greater durability translates to a longer period between repairs and replacements and reduced material waste over the building’s lifespan.
Ultimately, building envelope product manufacturers and their contractors, builders and occupants can enjoy healthier, more sustainable building material options with the use of UV-cured acrylic adhesives.
Interested in learning more? Find out about all of the benefits of UV-cured acrylic adhesives for building envelopes.