Traditional solvents

The formulation of a solvent-based adhesive requires both chemical solvents (oxygenated solvents for example) and diluents such as hydrocarbon solvents.

Hydrocarbon solvents are chiefly used in the following types of glues and adhesives:

• Polychloroprene: toluene, xylene and special-boiling-point spirits, naphthenic spirits,
• Polyurethane: toluene, xylene,
• SBR and natural rubber: special-boiling-point spirits,
• Acrylics: toluene, xylene.

 >> Download technical characteristics of the aromatics range

Naphthenic solvents (cycloparaffinic)

TOTAL Fluids provides naphthenic fluids, the SOLANE range, which offer three key characteristics:

• good solvent properties
• low toxicity (aromatic content less than 0.01%)
• excellent stability (resistant at low temperatures, below -40°C / -40°F)

These products offer an excellent technical alternative to aromatic cuts such as toluene or xylene in glues and adhesives.

Indeed, European regulations now affect the use of toluene and soon of xylene (because of the ethylbenzene contained in standard xylenes):

• toluene is listed among category-3 toxic products for reproduction, and toluene-based products must bear the appropriate label when toluene content is equal to or above 5%
• toluene content must not be equal to or above 0.1% by mass in adhesives intended for sale to the general public (2005/59/EC directive)
• ethylbenzene (and therefore xylene which contains it) may soon be included in the list of carcinogenic substances, in which case the labels of products containing it will have to be changed.

>> Discover TOTAL range of naphtenic spirits
>> Download technical characteristics of the SOLANE Naphtenic
>> SOLANE 75/95N and polystyrene supports
>> SOLANE 75/95N and polychloroprene glues