Spraying Contact Adhesive – A Guide
Contact adhesive can be difficult. It is not easy to clean up can easily create a mess and can ruin spray equipment if it is prematurely exposed to air. However, spraying contact adhesive allows for faster production and a uniform application of the contact adhesive. While it can be challenging spraying contact adhesive it can be done. We will cover common ways and things to consider when spraying contact adhesive.
Considerations when Spraying Contact Adhesive
If you are spraying contact adhesive it is critical to determine if your contact adhesive is water or solvent based. The main reason is that this will influence the type of material the equipment will be made of. For water based it can be important to have stainless steel fitted equipment to prevent issues with corrosion. You also want to ensure that you keep contact adhesive away from air as it can begin drying and create issues including ruining your spray equipment. If you have these challenges addressed your next factor is to choose an appropriate spray gun and fluid delivery option for your needs which are covered below.
Option 1 for Spraying Contact Adhesive – A Conventional Spray Gun and Pressure Pot
The first option you have for spraying contact adhesive is to use a pressure pot with an appropriately set up spray gun. For contact adhesive a 2100 gun is a great option. If the material is thinner adhesive the common setup is a 63BSS – 66SD 2100 Gun setup. For thicker or water based adhesives it is common to use a 66SD x 66SD-3 setup.
The pressure pot is often sized based on your needs but for water based adhesive you want to consider a stainless steel fitted pressure tank. For solvent based a standard galvanized pressure pot is usually correct. The Binks 98Z-357 is zinc plated and would work with solvent based material and is prepackaged for a reasonable price. It also includes air and fluid hose for your spraying needs.
Option 2 – A conventional spray gun with a Fluid Transfer Pump
This setup is ideal for larger spray needs. Common applications would be when you are applying contact adhesive in a fairly heavy production facility, often working out of a 55 gallon drum. If this is your application it is common to select a 2:1 or slightly higher ratio fluid pump and a conventional spray gun. The 2:1 pump would deliver adhesive to the gun from a 55 gallon drum. This allows for consistent spraying of adhesive without stopping to refill a pressure pot.
Option 3 – A diaphragm pump with a Conventional Spray Gun
A third option that you can consider when spraying contact adhesive is using a diaphragm pump with a conventional spray gun for adhesives like a 2100 spray gun. A diaphragm pump can work with a variety of adhesives but may not move highly viscous adhesives as it Is limited in the amount of pressure that it can move material at. Additionally due to the lower pressures that the diaphragm pump supplies material at it may not be able to deliver adhesive over longer distances. The benefit to a diaphragm pump is that it can come ready to mount on a 5 gallon pail which makes it a nice solution if you would be doing the majority of your adhesive spraying out of a 5 gallon pail.
Ultimately spraying contact adhesive is a unique application that requires appropriate equipment selection to ensure that you can effectively spray your adhesive. By considering your options for fluid delivery and the spray gun you can ensure that you are able to easily and effectively spray your adhesive. If you need additional help, a transfer pump, diaphragm pump, or pressure pot we can help.