Glue sticks are commonly made of polyvinyl acetate (PVA) blended with several other materials, including water, glycerin, or coloring for colored glue sticks.
Glue sticks are also made of wax. More specifically, ethylene-vinyl wax (EVA) is a type of wax.
PVA is a versatile and strong adhesive. This type of adhesive glues well both on paper and fabric. It is considered a relatively non-toxic ingredient.
EVA, on the other hand, is a synthetic rubber. This type of adhesive is mainly used in gluing items such as footwear.
These glue sticks are usually clear with a smooth texture. EVA is also used to make packaging materials and medical devices.
Some glue sticks are made with a different blend, using ingredients such as resins, waxes, and oils.
Glue sticks are common in schools and used in various school projects. They are also commonly found in homes as kids (but adults as well) like to glue things together on various DIY and gluing projects.
These items come in different sizes and colors.
The Advantages Of Glue Sticks
Are glue sticks better than traditional liquid glues? Definitely, and here is why.
Glue sticks have four major advantages, especially when compared to traditional liquid glue:
- Easy to use
- No accidental spilling
- More precision and more control
- Faster drying time
Glue sticks have a smart and easy-to-use design that prevents unwanted spilling or over-usage. It comes in a convenient twist tube that allows you to easily push out a small portion of it.
You hold onto the tube while you apply the glue onto the paper without your skin coming in contact with it.
Glue sticks are much better for school or at-home projects.
They also offer you more precision for your projects. If you use liquid glue and press on the tube harder than you should, you will have excess glue spilling over your project.
Glue sticks, on the other hand, offer more precision and, therefore, more control over your gluing situation.
Glue sticks also dry faster and easier. You won’t have to wait long for your project to be ready.
How Are Hot Glue Sticks Made?
Hot glue sticks are an innovative type of adhesive recommended for adult use. The hot glue gun uses a very high temperature to melt the glue sticks.
So let’s see what hot glue sticks are made of. In the making of hot glue sticks, additives and polymers are used.
Hot glue sticks usually contain the following types of polymers:
- Ethylene-methyl acrylate (EMA)
- Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA)
- Polyesters
- Polyethylene
These polymers are repeated molecules that form in long chains. Depending on the polymer type and the length of the chain, this will offer the glue sticks varying properties, such as:
- Heat resistance
- Flexibility
- Strength
A higher polymer content usually results in hot glue sticks with higher strength, flexibility, and viscosity levels.
And what about the additives? Again, different additives will offer the hot glue sticks different properties.
The following are the most commonly used additives in the making of hot glue sticks:
- Wax
Is wax an important additive in hot glue sticks? Yes, it is.
The wax is an additive with significant effects. It determines how long it will take for a bond to be formed and the time it will take for it to form a bond that will have sufficient (good enough) strength.
Besides this, wax can also determine the hot glue sticks’ heat resistance.
Hot glue sticks with a lower wax content will not bond as fast or as strong and will have a lower viscosity.
Conversely, a higher wax content will result in a stronger and more resistant bond with greater flexibility and viscosity.
- Resins
More specifically, tackifying resins. These influence the tack and adhesive properties of the glue. What does this mean? This additive determines how sticky the hot glue stick will be and how long it will bond.
Low resin content results in a tougher and stronger adhesive, while a higher resin content will have a reduced tack but a faster drying and bonding time.
- Antioxidants
Antioxidants are quite helpful to have in hot glue sticks. They prevent the adhesive from degrading.
- Plasticizers
These additives offer more toughness and flexibility. Plasticizers help the glue sticks to melt faster.
- Biocides
These prevent bacteria from growing in the glue over time.
- UV Stabilisers
These protect the adhesive from the unwanted effects of UV light.
- Colored pigments and glitter
Once the mixing is finished, the mixture gets shaped and then left to cool after the glue sticks have cooled down.
Hot glue sticks come in different sizes and even in different colors. Some glue sticks even have glitter in them.
Conclusion
Glue sticks contain various materials, including wax, polyvinyl acetate, water, glycerin, dyes, resins, and oils. Not all glue sticks have the same list or amount of ingredients.
Glue sticks are easy-to-use at schools for art projects and even at-home projects. They offer several advantage points in comparison to traditional liquid glues, such as:
- They are very easy to use
- Convenient design
- No accidental spilling
- More precision and more control
- Faster drying time
As for hot glue sticks, they come in different forms, including:
- Clear
- Coloured
- Glitter sticks
- Glow-in-the-dark sticks
The crafts you can do with hot glue sticks are almost endless, from gluing plastics, wood, fabric, paper, and other materials to creating art and several DIY projects.
Are Glue Sticks Toxic?
As a parent, you may be concerned about whether kids’ glue sticks use toxic. Or, perhaps you wish to understand this question for your glue practices better.
Glue sticks are adhesives commonly used in school art projects or at home. Glue creates a lasting bond between two materials, keeping them glued together.
The glue sticks commonly used in schools are usually non-toxic. The types of glue sticks that are designed for heavy-duty projects could contain at least one toxic ingredient.
Glue sticks may contain different materials. The most common ones are wax, water, solvents, and latex. Latex is the key ingredient that holds it all together, while the solvents help the latex to be sticky.
The adhesive present in a glue stick is generally made of rubber cement. Rubber cement usually contains volatile organic compounds and xylene.
There is an ingredient present that is considered toxic. This ingredient is referred to as toluene.
When exposed to higher quantities of these glue sticks over extended periods, toluene may cause dizziness, headaches, and nausea. Being exposed to high levels of toluene is dangerous.
If you use glue sticks often and for extended periods, work in a well-ventilated area where airflow is good. Always wash your hands after each use. Do not inhale or eat glue sticks.
