Which water-based adhesive fits my line?
It depends on the stock and the job. Best for folding carton on coated or UV stock: 8272. Best for corrugated or litho laminating: 8252. Best for glue lap: 8281. Best for padding: 8288. Best for envelope front seals: 8297, a remoisten-able grade. Best for core winding: 8364. Best for tapes and labels that need tack: 8241, a water-based acrylic PSA. With no melt tank, it cleans up with water before it dries. Call 800-249-0337 for a grade or a custom match.
Water based adhesive uses water as the carrier. No melt tank. Low VOC, see SDS. We formulate for fast set and bonds to porous and non-porous stock: UV, clay-coated and SBS papers, films, foils, woods, plastics, corrugated, coated board, vinyl.
Some food-packaging grades can be formulated to meet FDA adhesive rules for food packaging. Confirm the grade with us. We manufacture hundreds of water-based formulations.
Packaging, labeling, converting, wood
Folding carton and corrugated laminating; glue lap; bottle and container labeling; padding and core winding; envelope remoisten-able seals; wood edge gluing where a water-borne system fits the line. Cohesive / cold seal for food wrap and protective packaging stays in this family — see cohesive adhesives.
We can formulate
Viscosity for your coater or wheel; wet tack and set speed; adhesion to UV, clay-coated, SBS, film, and foil stocks; remoisten-able vs permanent; FDA-aware food-packaging grades when the end use requires it (confirm the grade — do not assume every WB is food-contact). Clean-up with water before full dry.
Water-based chemistries we supply
- Polyvinyl acetate (PVA homopolymer)
- VAE and VAA copolymers
- Water-based acrylic adhesive
- PU dispersions (PUDs)
- Polychloroprene
- Casein
- Dextrin/starch
- Natural rubber latex cohesive
- Synthetic latex cohesive
- Heat-seal, laminating, PSA, and remoisten-able dispersions
Chemistry by application
Find your job in the first column. Then call us with the grade. We will match the chemistry to your stock.
| Application | Product number | Chemistry | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tapes, labels, films | 8241 | Water-based acrylic PSA | High tack. |
| Corrugated and litho laminating | 8252 | Ask us | For litho-laminators. |
| Resin/dextrin laminating | 8275 | Resin/dextrin | Laminating. |
| Folding carton | 8272 | Ask us | Coated stock, including UV. |
| Glue lap | 8281 | Ask us | Also for laminating. |
| Padding | 8288 | Ask us | ~4000 cps. |
| Envelope front seal | 8297 | Remoisten-able dispersion | Remoisten-able. |
| Core winding | 8364 | Ask us | Core winding. |
| Furniture wrap | 8221, 8223 | Cohesive | Fast initial tack. |
| Bubble wrap | 8222 | Cohesive | Fast initial tack. |
| Cohesive wraps | 8217 | Cohesive | Viscosity can be adjusted. |
| Candy bar wrappers | 8209 | Cohesive | Viscosity can be adjusted. |
Cohesive grades are on the cohesive adhesive page. Not sure which chemistry fits? Call 800-249-0337.
Packaging
5-gallon pails, 30/55-gallon drums, totes, bulk tank wagons.
Product numbers
| Product number | Use |
|---|---|
| 8223 | Cohesive, furniture wrap, fast tack. |
| 8241 | WB acrylic PSA, high tack, tapes, labels, films. |
| 8252 | Laminating, corrugated / litho-laminators. |
| 8272 | Folding carton, coated stock including UV. |
| 8275 | Resin/dextrin laminating. |
| 8281 | Glue lap or laminating. |
| 8288 | Padding, ~4000 cps. |
| 8297 | Remoisten-able, envelope front seal. |
| 8364 | Core winding. |
Cohesive / cold seal stock grades are on the cohesive adhesive product page. Chemistry stays in this water-based family. For coating those chemistries onto facestock, see adhesive coating services.
Specialty notes
Need heat-seal or PSA dispersions in water? Those sit at the edge of this family and may land on heat seal or PSA pages depending on activation. Send the substrate and activation method.
How to run water based
How to use cohesive · How to run cohesives on flexo and gravure presses · How to choose bottle labeling adhesives for breweries · How to solve container labeling problems · How to solve common edge gluing and laminating problems with wood glues · Check list for running a hot melt, water-based, or solvent-based adhesive
Related: hot melt when a melt tank is preferred · packaging adhesives · adhesive coating services.
Call 800-249-0337. Send the board, coat, and viscosity you run.
Water based adhesive FAQ
What is water based adhesive?
Water based adhesive uses water as the carrier. There is no melt tank, it is low VOC (see SDS), and it cleans up with water before full dry. Cattie formulates for fast set and bonds to porous and non-porous stock.
Which water-based chemistries does Cattie supply?
Polyvinyl acetate (PVA homopolymer), VAE and VAA copolymers, water-based acrylic, PU dispersions (PUDs), polychloroprene, casein, dextrin/starch, natural and synthetic latex cohesive, plus heat-seal, laminating, PSA, and remoisten-able dispersions. Cattie manufactures hundreds of water-based formulations.
What substrates and applications are water based adhesives used for?
Substrates include UV, clay-coated and SBS papers, films, foils, woods, plastics, corrugated, coated board, and vinyl. Applications include folding carton and corrugated laminating, glue lap, bottle and container labeling, padding and core winding, envelope remoisten-able seals, wood edge gluing, and cohesive / cold seal.
What package sizes are available?
5-gallon pails, 30/55-gallon drums, totes, and bulk tank wagons.
How do I get a water based grade or custom match?
Call 800-249-0337 or email sales@cattieadhesives.com. Send the board, coat, and viscosity you run. Cattie Adhesives is based in Quakertown, PA 18951.
