Importance of Adhesives in Wetsuit Manufacturing

The wetsuits are typically made of neoprene, a synthetic rubber foam that is flexible and heat-insulating. Since the neoprene must be connected seamlessly to prevent water leaks and ensure durability, then high-performance adhesives are essential.

Traditionally, solvent-based adhesives have been widely used as their strong bonding and fast drying speed. However, these adhesives contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which pose risks to workers' health and harm the environment.

Therefore, the water-based adhesives come out to deal with this situation in the past few years.

Water-based Adhesives: A Sustainable Alternative

Water-based adhesives use water as a carrier, then compare to harmful solvents. They offer many advantages in wetsuit production:

1) ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY: Since they don’t contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) virtually, so that they reduce air pollution and workplace hazards.

2) SAFETY: They are non-flammable and less toxic, making them safer for factory workers when producing.

3) COMPATIBILITY WITH NEOPRENE: The newer water-based adhesives can achieve a strong bond with neoprene, but may require longer drying times.

However, water-based adhesives also have some limitations:

1) DRYING TIME: They dry more slowly than solvent-based adhesives, which may slow down production.

2) WATERPROOFING: Some formulations may require additional treatment to ensure complete waterproofing.

3) HIGH COST: As the material problems, then the cost is higher than solvent based adhesives.

Application in wetsuit production

For the wetsuit production, there are several processes, using the water based adhesives to glue the wetsuit is in the last part, it is usually for GBDS (Glued Blind Double Stitching) or GBS (Glued Blind Stitching), it means that during wetsuit gluing, water-based adhesives are applied to neoprene seams before sewing or heat sealing. There are two ways the workers often use to improve performance:

1) PRESSURE-SENSITIVE ADHESIVES (PSAS): Allow for repositioning before final bonding.

2) HEAT-ACTIVATED ADHESIVES: Bond better when heated.

Some wetsuit brands also mix water-based adhesives with additives that enhance water resistance and flexibility, in order to ensure that wetsuits remain durable in harsh marine conditions.