W
Water-based adhesive
Adhesive compounded with water as a diluent
rather than a volatile organic solvent. Water-based adhesives are mainly used
for carpet backing, construction, packaging and also in PSA labels and decals.
Water repellent
Hydrophobic substance resistant to penetration by water but not entirely
waterproof (polysiloxane liquids, fluoro-surfactants, soaps of multivalent
metals, metal-organics...).
Wax
Solid or semi-solid material derived from petroleum distillates or residues by
such treatments as chilling, precipitating with a solvent or de-oiling. It is a
light-colored, more-or-less translucent crystalline mass, slightly greasy to
the touch, consisting of a mixture of solid hydrocarbons in which paraffin
series predominates.
Weathering
Surface deterioration of a rubber article during outdoor exposure. The use of
antioxidants, UV light stabilizers, etc... permits to have a greater
weathering.
Note: Examples are checking,
cracking and crazing.
Syn. Aging
Wetting
(extended definition)
Thorough impregnation of a material by a liquid. (To know more about the
importance of wetting, visit the
Adhesion Guide
)
Wetting agent
(extended definition)
Substance used to reduce the
surface tension and thereby facilitate spreading or impregnation of a
surface. Additive that belong to the group of
surfactants.
Syn. Dispersing agent ,
Dispersant, Grinding aid, Milling aid
Working life
The period of time between the mixing and setting of two- or multi-component
adhesives, ie the period of time during which the mixture can be worked. Most
cold-setting adhesive systems have a short working life (minutes or hours),
whereas most warm-setting systems have a long working life (hours or days).
Syn. Shelf life
