Adhesives are the unsung heroes of timber floor installations, and their evolution over the past 30 years has transformed the industry. Silane based adhesives are the market leading technology and are Bona’s sole range focus. The Bona silane based adhesive range is celebrated for its durability, tension absorption, and ability to resist water vapour.

Silane based adhesives however are not the only type available on the market, and understanding the difference in products and the benefits of one type over another can make an enormous difference to the quality of the final job.

An evolving product

Contractors who have worked in the industry for some time will know how adhesives have changed beyond recognition over the years. Solvent-based synthetic resin adhesives, 1 and 2 component PUR adhesives, and dispersion adhesives were readily available and used in various countries around the world until Silane adhesives were introduced to the flooring industry in the 1980s, and then subsequently became the popular choice for several reasons. In contrast to other products, silane adhesives offered a hard-elastic bond without plastic deformation. This allowed the absorption of any tension or movement in the floor and meant that the adhesive retained its form and could maintain its stress-relieving properties for years.

Furthermore, the rapid strength development and high level of ‘green grab’ was a huge bonus, counteracting the formation of hollow spots to create a more secure installation.

Also, some silane-based adhesive formulations have a much higher resistance to water vapor diffusion. This counteracts the movement of moisture from the subfloor, reducing the expansion of the wood and the stresses on the floor.

Bona Silane adhesives

Bona’s focus on silane adhesives is an important part of our strategy to deliver modern adhesive technology with expanded application possibilities and the desirable sustainability aspects of more environmentally conscious products. Bona’s ongoing research is focused on further reducing toxicity, increasing durability, and minimising volatile organic compounds (VOC) whist making the installation process even easier.

Additionally, recent tests have proven that Bona adhesives offer true 3-in-1 performance for the floor installation by reducing noise transmission and adding protection against moisture vapour transmission.

How to decipher the choices

A myriad of silane-based systems adorn the market, so what’s the best way to decipher the quality and long-term performance of these products?

The basic structure of products described as silane adhesives is broadly the same: polyether, with silane end groups attached. All the available systems cure by absorbing moisture, from the air, the substrate and the wood, and releasing small amounts of methanol during this reaction.

Bona’s silane adhesive systems however, are complex formulations designed to achieve specific desired technical properties with the main components consisting of the polymer, plasticisers, fillers, a catalyst, and various additives such as an oxidation stabilizer. Bona’s in house testing and R&D is second to none.

It’s important to remember that if the formulation is incorrectly developed, not tested sufficiently or the required characteristics are not achieved, the adhesive may be inferior. For instance, adhesives that suffer from oxidative degradation crumble into dust over time due to a reaction with the air, which has caused major failures of floors in some countries.

Value and performance

To be able to make a judgement, contractors must both understand the properties of an adhesive and also that the value and performance of a product is more important than the price. The practical characteristics of Bona adhesives, such as the green grab level, ease of application, open time and drying/curing time are key drivers to inform choice, in addition to the price.

As well as the characteristics of Bona adhesive there are also benefits outside of this with our silane-based adhesives having extensive environmental certification, including GREENGUARD GOLD, which allows a safe and healthy environment for contractors and clients both during and after installation. Other environmental and sustainability benefits include the use of layered foil tubular bags which reduces our waste from packaging to a minimum; rather than having bulky plastic buckets to dispose of there is literally a handheld ball of foil to put into the bin. This also means that there is no loss of adhesive due to product hardening in the bucket as the Bona tubular bags are easy to reseal with a zip-tie for the next job, keeping Bona adhesive in the best possible condition – enabling contractors to use what they need, save the rest and maximise cost-effectiveness.

Above all though, the quality and performance of Bona silane adhesives are the most important factors to ensure a premium job for clients, and for contractors to be confident knowing the floor installation will be durable and secure.

View Bona Adhesives Product Range