Water-Based Polyurethanes (PUD): Eco-Friendly and High-Performance Adhesives

At PURIN, we design continuous new products using PUD production technology, which we employ as polyurethane, and we present these new, environmentally friendly products to different sectors. In brief, we can say that our products consist of polyurethane polymers synthesized in water. You can learn about our production technology and why this technology is different by reading our previous articles. In our daily lives, we are constantly in contact with various chemicals. It is of course impossible to eliminate these chemicals from our lives, but we need to examine whether we can replace each chemical used with equivalent products. By doing so, we reduce or completely eliminate the negative effects of chemicals. If we make a simple comparison here, when we want to bond two materials using a solvent-based adhesive or a water-based adhesive, the advantages of the water-based adhesive would be as follows. When we compile these advantages, they come together on two fundamental issues: people and environment. Both of these issues are truly very important, and by considering them, we can improve our personnel's working conditions and offer a livable environment. After presenting the above advantages of water-based products from an ecological perspective, let us briefly examine the products.

According to the Global Water-Based Adhesives Market 2019 Research Report (1), it is projected that by 2023, PUD adhesives will account for 33% preference among water-based adhesives.

Despite their high cost, we can interpret the high market size of water-based polyurethane (PUD) adhesives as being due to the high performance of the products and their compliance with legal requirements. The other water-based products mentioned above are widely preferred in simple applications where high performance is not required, due to their price advantage. However, with the effects of globalization, it has become easier for customers to reach supplier companies. Rather than sourcing products from local regions, accessing international suppliers has become a more attractive option. As a result, producers' perspectives have expanded, and the thought of creating a difference in the global market or adapting to the global market has driven them toward high-quality production. For example, a textile company will perform fabric lamination but will offer these products to a market with special sensitivities like Europe or to a major brand. Should a solvent-based product or a water-based product be used? When using a water-based product, how will the desired adhesion performance and wash fastness be achieved? There is no doubt about the performance of solvent-based products, but passing the necessary tests will not always be easy. For water-based products, adhesives other than PUD do not have sufficient performance and lack wash fastness. This is where the high performance of PUD products stands out. For manufacturers, all types of modifications or designs are possible when synthesizing polyurethane. For this reason, we can design application-specific products for each use. In textile applications, high wash fastness is generally preferred. To provide this property, we use raw materials that provide high hydrolysis resistance during design. Here we need to briefly examine a few properties of the raw materials.

Design begins with raw material selection specific to the application surface and the desired performance criteria. Of course, the selection is not limited to raw materials alone. The production method to be applied and the production process are also very important.

For these reasons, in textile products, the use of other adhesives in water-based adhesive selection is only possible in simple productions such as single-use hotel slippers. As PURIN, we supply PUD adhesives to many areas and continuously design products for new applications: In conclusion, as PURIN, we provide high-performance products that will meet our sector's needs through our PUD production technology investment, and we continuously work on different new products. New special applications open new horizons for us and contribute to our production volume. We currently export PUD coatings and adhesives to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Arab countries. In Turkey and neighboring countries, you will encounter us in many places with our PUD products in the near future. Over time, our goal is to further expand our PUD working areas, reduce our dependence on foreign sources, and become a preferred brand abroad.

Sources 1) https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/water-based-adhesive-market-6987

    İbrahim Kecin Senior Chemist General Manager PURİN Polyurethane