Universal PVA
Application Guide and Further Data

Description

Polybond is a universal product for use with practically every type of building material. It is a safe, effective and easy to use adhesive, an efficient sealer and a cement additive producing concretes of quite exceptional quality and adhesion. It is non-toxic, non-inflammable and almost odourless.

Main uses and Advantages of Universal PVA

• Will provide an immediate key on any existing sound surface to enable cement or plaster renders to be applied with the knowledge that these renders will hold positively even under the most severe conditions.
• Does away with the time and labour costs involved in 'hacking' surfaces to provide a key.
• Added to a standard cement mix, it will ensure tough 'dust free' concrete, having a greatly enhanced strength and wearing quality plus a better resistance to mild acids, alkalis, lactic acid, animal urine, oils etc.
• Makes repairs to concrete, stone and granite supremely easy and sure.
• Diluted, it will prime, seal and stabilise all porous surfaces ready for painting.
• High quality, low price fillers, tile adhesives and emulsion paints can be made up using Polybond Universal PVA.
• It is very cost effective. For nearly all applications, the product is diluted with water before use.

Application

Polybond Universal PVA may be applied by brush, roller, spray gun, squeegee, soft broom etc. All equipment should be washed thoroughly with clean water immediately afterwards. When using the product as an adhesive, the bond should always be made whilst still wet and tacky.

Preparation

It is important that surfaces are clean, sound, and grease free. Loose materials, powders, oils and greases should be completely removed using Concrete Cleaner whilst Fungicidal Wash is the ideal product for killing fungi and stopping mould growth. All porous surfaces should be primed with a solution of one part PVA to five parts water by volume brushed well into the surface and allowed to dry. Iron and steel must be treated with a rust inhibiting primer paint or treated with Polybond Rust Converter.

Dilution and Coverage

Solution	Typical Uses	Approx Coverage
Full Strength	Sticking non-porous surfaces - glass, formica, metal etc. Sealing rope ends 10m² per litre
1 part + 1 part	Wood and joinery adhesive. Adhesive for paper and card. Emulsion paint additive. Binding carpets. Base for plastic woods / fillers. 22m² per litre
1 part + 2 parts	Primer for non-porous surfaces. Slurry coat additive. 27m² per litre
1 part + 3 parts	Bonding agent. Repair mix. Filler additive. Bitumen Sealer. Wallpaper protection. Stabilising solution. 35m² per litre
1 part + 5 parts	Admixture to plaster and sand cement renders. Primer and sealer coat on concrete, plaster. 45m² per litre
1 part + 10 parts	Admixture for plastic screeds. Primer on very porous surfaces. 55m² per litre

Use as a General Adhesive

Every type of building material except polythene and thin rubber can be successfully stuck with Polybond Universal PVA. Many workers simply apply undiluted to both surfaces, wait till tacky then bring together under hand pressure only. It is generally recommended however, that surfaces should be given a priming coat diluted with water prior to applying the product neat. Porous surfaces should be primed with Polybond Universal PVA as per the table above. Bare steel should first be primed with a suitable metal primer. The product can be applied direct to galvanised steel. Do not over clamp as with old fashioned glues. Tight clamping may drive the adhesive out, particularly at the edges and weaken the bond.

Concrete, Cement and Plaster

1. Bonding New Concrete to Old - Polybond Universal PVA provides an immediate key between new and old concrete. Note that no hacking or joint raking is required.
   Method: Thoroughly clean the surface of oil, grease and excess laitance etc. Thin some PVA with five parts water, apply and allow to dry. Brush on another coat, thinned with three parts water, allow coat to become tacky then float on the new concrete mix.
2. Bonding Concrete or Plaster to Asbestos, Brickwork, Blockwork, Metals, Wood
   Method: As Above.
3. Repairing Concrete Floors and Stairs - Repairs can be made from a feather edge to an inch or more thick. They will be tremendously strong and stand the hardest wear.
   Method: Thoroughly clean surfaces to remove oil, grease and dirt. Seal the surfaces with a mixture of PVA with five parts water. Allow to dry. Take require amount of dry sand and cement and mix PVA with three parts water, make this into a workable mass. Apply the cement mix and lay-off with a steel trowel.
4. Filler for Gaps, Cracks, Holes Etc. - Polybond Universal PVA makes an ideal filler for joints, gaps, cracks, holes etc on all types of building surfaces. Its use substantially reduces the shrinkage experienced with some fillers.
   Method: Make up an adhesive mix of either cement, plaster, wood flour or branded filler using PVA to three parts water.
5. Mortar Joints and Pointing - To improve mortar joints and pointing in new and old brickwork.
   Method: As 1.
6. Plastering and Rendering Without Keying - The product bonds all plasters to surfaces rough and smooth. These include shuttered concrete, glazed bricks, tiles and painted brickwork.
   Method: All types of plaster and render may be bonded to normal porous surfaces by using method 1. When plastering or rendering over non-porous surfaces or for renders greater than 12mm thick, make sure the surfaces are clean, dry and grease free. In the case of tiles or ridged laminates etc, clean carefully. Mix two parts of sharp washed sand and one part cement, wet down with PVA to two parts water. Apply as a slurry with a fairly stiff brush of 6mm notched trowel. Rub up and score. Allow to dry thoroughly for at least 24 hours. Apply new plaster or render.
   Note : Polybond Universal PVA complies with BS 5270:1976 Polyvinyl Acetate (PVAc) Bonding Agents for internal use with gypsum building plaster.

Admixtures with Polybond Universal PVA

When added to ordinary plaster or sand-cement renders, it ensure that the finished plaster/render will have a fineness and toughness which improves its resistance to penetration by damp and other liquids. It will also enable subsequent decorative treatment to be carried out without the necessity for any special priming costs.

Method : Simply substitute the normal gauging water with PVA and five parts water. Added to standard concrete mixes, it gives vastly improved properties to the concrete. The concrete is dust free, has greater resilience and tensile strength. There is no change in the rate of curing. PVA should be added at the rate of from 1.5 litres to 10 litres per standard (50kg) bag of cement depending on the quality required, together with water and aggregate in accordance with normal building practice. Alternatively, substitute the usual plain gauging water for a mixture on one part PVA and from three to five parts water.
Note : Add the PVA first to the dry mix and then add the required gauging water. This avoids making the mix too wet.

Concrete Floors

Bonding a New Concrete Floor and Screed to an Old Sub-Floor

When laying new concrete on old, all hacking to obtain a key is unnecessary. Application method is per 1 overleaf. Lay section by section whilst the bonding coat is still tacky. If the bonding coat is allowed to dry out first then the plain gauging water of the mix must be substituted by PVA diluted with three parts water. Plain cement floors generally have a number of disadvantages. Polybond Universal PVA overcomes these. Incorporated in a standard mix, it produces a floor having increased resilience and resistance to attack by many common substances to which concrete is prone i.e beer, yeast, milk, acids, urine, water etc. The presence of the PVA ensures that the new floor will adhere soundly to the old floor and will also be dust free. Almost any type of sub-floor is suitable for supporting a new Polybond Universal PVA floor. It must however, be sound and clean and have an effective DPM. It is essential that no oil or grease be present and laitance be removed as far as possible. A commercial cleaner such as Polybond Concrete Cleaner will assist in thorough preparation.

Feather Edging

One of the important advantages of a Polybond floor is that the thickness can be taken down to a feather edge. This is particularly useful when bonding a new floor to an existing worn surface and when the problem of differing floor heights may arise. Therefore, under doors etc a Polybond floor can be made as thin as necessary without risk of weakness or loss of adhesion.

Stronger Floors

New floors can be laid having a range of qualities depending upon the amount of PVA used in the mix. Substituting the usual plain gauging water in a mix by PVA and three parts water will produce a floor of exceptional strength and flexibility. This is the equivalent of about 6 litres of PVA per 50kg of cement and assumes that up to 25 litres of water are usually used with each 50kg of cement in an average cement,sand,aggregate mix of 1:2:4. As little as 1 litre of PVA to each 50kg of cement will product markedly improved concrete.
Note : not more than 10 litres of PVA to each 50kg of cement should be used.

Plastic Floor Screeds

A plastic screed has only one third the thickness of a conventional screed and this brings real savings in time, labour, weight and cost with positive adhesion to the sub-surface. Therefore, the laying of a Polybond Universal PVA plastic screed instead of a conventional one is an obvious advantage to the builder. A 37mm conventional screed would be replaced by a 12mm Polybond Universal PVA Plastic Screed.
Method : PVA mixture with five parts water dilution is simply brushed on to the clean sub-surface and allowed to dry. This will obviate all hacking. The following screed is then mixed, 3 Parts washed sharp sand (by volume). 1 Part Cement (by volume). Wash down to trowelling consistency with PVA to 10 parts water and apply the screed in conveniently sized bays. Drying out should be controlled and the floor covered for 18 to 24 hours with polythene.

Dust Proofing Floors

To dust proof all types of cement/concrete flooring, apply one or two coats of PVA to five parts water.

Priming, Sealing and Painting Porous Surfaces

1. Polybond Universal PVA Stablising Solution - PVA and three parts water is the perfect sealing and stabilising medium for porous surfaces such as bricks, cement and concrete, plaster, asbestos, hardboard, chipboard etc. Any type of paint or emulsion paint may then be applied over the top. Crumbling, porous surfaces can be improved by using the following method - brush off loose dirt etc, apply a coat of PVA to five parts water and allow to dry. Then apply a second coat of PVA to three parts water. Allow to dry.
2. Emulsion Paint - Equal parts of PVA and water added to emulsion paint will make an undercoat that will ensure thorough binding of under surfaces and save a second finishing coat of emulsion.
3. Distemper - PVA will change ordinary distempers into inexpensive, high class emulsion paint. Simply add 500ml of PVA to every 5 litres of distemper.

Tiles

Fixing Tiles

Polybond Universal PVA offers by far the easiest and cleanest method for attaching tiles to any sort of surface. They can be laid on floors or walls, on flat or uneven surfaces. The method can be used for many types of tile including acid and alkali resisting, acoustic, cement, cement/asbestos, cork, glazed and quarry.
Method: Brush over the entire wall or floor area with a mixture of PVA to five parts water, allow to dry. This can be done at any time and left until ready. Use the same mix to prime the back and edges of the tile. Any number can be prepared and held in stock indefinitely. Make up a mix of PVA and three parts water and stir into cement for form a smooth workable mass. Apply this adhesive mix at no more than 6mm thick to the backs of the tiles, these can then be stuck straight on to the primed surface. There is a firm instantaneous bond but the tile can be slid into position. This method can also be used for replacing loose or broken tiles. If surfaces are smooth, undiluted PVA may be used as an adhesive.

Wood and Joinery Applications

Polybond Universal PVA is outstanding for bonding wood, hardboard, chipboard and composites to each other or to other materials including glass and metals. No heating or mixing is required and the dry bond never goes brittle. Tack is developed very rapidly, yet it is possible to adjust the assembly after the joint is made without difficulty. No excessive cramping is required and in many cases, hand pressure is sufficient to give a bond of enormous strength. When quite dry, the joint is stronger that the wood itself! It can be used on flat surfaces, edges and end grain. Bond strength on tenons, halving and flats exceeds 125.8kg/cm².
Method: Clean the surface to be coated. Apply PVA to 1 part water to both surfaces, allow to become tacky, then bring the coated surfaces together under moderate pressure. If surfaces are non-porous - use undiluted.

Plastic Wood

A first class plastic wood can be made up by adding wood-flour or sawdust to PVA and 1 part water.
Method: Make up a paste with sawdust or wood flour to the required consistency. Add strainers to tint if desired. Apply in the usual way and allow to dry off completely before working the surface.

Paper Sealer and Adhesive

Polybond universal PVA is a first class clear glue for sticking paper, prints, drawings, maps etc to boards and walls.
Method: Apply the PVA diluted with an equal volume of water to the surfaces it is desirable to stick. Allow them to become tacky and bring together. Expel any air bubbles outwards by means of a squeegee or roller or by smoothing with the hand. As an alternative, wait for the adhesive to dry thoroughly then iron onto the substrate using a medium heat and protective over-sheet.

Sealer

A simple coat of PVA to three parts water applied to the surface gives permanent protection from dirt and grease. PVA diluted with three parts water used as a sealer will protect wallpaper from dirt and grease which can then be easily wiped off with a damp cloth.

Lapping Vinyl Wallpaper

Simply coat undiluted PVA onto both surfaces and bring together wiping away any excess before it dries. The product is recommended by leading wallpaper manufacturers for the lapping of vinyl papers.

Sealing and Binding Carpets

Polybond Universal PVA will bond carpets, sacks, mats, all trimmings and fittings.
Method : Apply a coat of PVA diluted with one part water to both surfaces, allow to become tacky and then bring together under moderate pressure.

Wilton Carpets

Cut the carpet from the back to the size required. Apply undiluted to the edge and back for about 25mm from the edge, allow to dry and the binding is complete.

Axminster Carpets - Fray out the carpet ends by pulling out the cross weft for about 25mm, apply PVA in a 25mm strip to the back of the carpet and fold the ends down on to this strip. To complete, paint over the ends and allow to dry. Bind the edges as with Wilton.

Coco Matting - Liberally apply PVA to the edge, taking it back about 50m to bind, allow to dry before use.

Rope Ends - These will never unravel once they have been twisted together and dipped in the PVA and allowed to dry.

Performance

Bond Strength

Wood to wood, wood to concrete, concrete to concrete and concrete to ceramic show shear failure at the substrate and not the bond line. Tensile tests on plaster to lightweight concrete blocks show loads of around 290kN/m² before failure.

Water

Renders formed from cement mortars or plaster containing the product have a high resistance to penetration by damp but must not be used in constantly wet conditions - ponds, pools etc.

Fire / Combustability

Non flammable in the liquid form and when dry.

Durability

Withstands all climatic conditions and does not become brittle with age when used as a surface sealer or admixture. Indefinate under dry conditions. Limited by hydrolysis in constantly damp conditions except when used as a concrete admixture.

Biological

Will not support the growth of moulds and fungi.

Odour

Slight odour in the liquid form, odourless when dry.

Chemical

The addition of the product to cement mortar increases the resistance of the mortar to attack by weak acid of alkali solutions, milk, beer, urine, oils and greases. PVA will not adhere to surfaces contaminated with oil or grease.

Temperature

The product is affected by frost when in liquid form but is unaffected when set. When dry it remains durable within the range -15°C to +60°C.

Handling and Storage

Store in dry conditions and protected from frost. The product then has a shelf life in excess of 12 months.

Setting Time

When used as an adhesive, the full bond strength develops after aprrox 9 hours or when completely dry. Does not affect the rate of cure of concrete when used as an admixture.

Limitation of Use

Will not bond PVC, ABS, thin rubber, polyethylene, polypropylene or related plastics and should not be used under conditions where continuous running water is encountered.

Packing

Supplied in polypropylene buckets and drums - 250ml to 25 litres.

Important Note

One of the uses of Polybonds Universal PVA is to provide a bond. If surfaces are badly prepared or inferior materials are present, it cannot do this. Certain substances, particularly distempers, lime washes and emulsion paints may in time be unable to bear the weight of renders, coats of cement etc. Unless firm and permanent surfaces are present we do not advise the use of this product.

Health and Safety

The product is non-toxic and does not create a health hazard under normal conditions of use.

Specifications

Type	Platicised Poly (vinyl acetate) homopolymer
Mechanical Stability	Good
Appearance	Milky liquid, clear when dry
PH	4 to 6
Typical Viscosity	100 poise @ 25°C (Brookfield RVT 5/20rpm)
Storage Stability	Excellent
Freeze-thaw Stability	Do not freeze liquid. Dry it is stable below 0°C
Specific Gravity	1.07 at 25°C

Versatile and Flexible

The claims made in this document are made in good faith and are based on exhaustive tests carried out over a long period.
Polybond Ltd., their agents and their distributors cannot accept any liability for the behaviour of their materials in individual cases.

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A Technical Reference Datasheet is Available here	A Health and Safety Reference Datasheet is available here