Formulation Material Selection

Smart Plasticizer Selection & Use for High-Performance Waterborne Adhesives

Smart Plasticizer Selection & Use for High-Performance Waterborne Adhesives
Language: English
Length: 90 min
Recorded on: 10 Jul 25

Package Includes

6 months access to Course Recording, Presentation Slides, Q&A Transcript

Course Description

Tackle slow drying and adhesion failures of your waterborne adhesives through incorporating the correct plasticizers according to your adhesive applications.


Gain expertise in selecting the right plasticizer to improve low-temp coalescence, enhance adhesion to challenging substrates, and impact critical adhesive properties. Equip yourself to optimize performance, reduce odor and meet environmental standards for your waterborne adhesives.


Join industry expert William Arendt, and revolutionize your adhesive formulations with the right plasticizer selection for your waterborne adhesives. This course will help you,

  • Select plasticizers that enhance flexibility, boost adhesion to difficult substrates like plastics and metals, and ensure coalescence in low-temperature environments.
  • Discover real-life case studies from packaging, wood glue, gum, and lamination applications.
  • Understand the trade-offs of emerging bio-based plasticizers and how to align your formulations with evolving VOC, regulatory, and customer sustainability demands.
5
40 Reviews
197+
Students
Intermediate
Level
William D Arendt
William D Arendt
Arendt Consulting, Inc.
0 courses

William Arendt is the Technical Director at Arendt Consulting, providing specialized technical services across a wide range of applications, including PVC, adhesives (waterborne, solution, hot melt, heat-activated, pressure-sensitive, and other types), caulks and sealants (waterborne and reactive), as well as coatings (waterborne, solution, powder, and alkyds), polyurethanes, and both castable and thermoplastic materials.

With decades of technical experience, William holds 24 U.S. patents, has authored numerous publications and presentations, and has conducted multiple short courses and webinars.

An honored Fellow of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE), he is also a long-standing technical contributor to ASTM (C24 on Caulks and Sealants and D01 on Coatings) and the Plastics Industry Association (SPI).

See Tutor Profile

Participants of this course includes

Why should you view this course?

Formulating waterborne adhesives today goes far beyond reducing VOCs , it’s about solving performance failures in the real world. Whether you're dealing with poor adhesion to plastics, slow drying under humidity, or balancing cost and compliance, this course helps you turn limitations into opportunities.

Join this course to discover what plasticizers can actually fix, how to select them for your specific system, and when alternative strategies are needed.

  1. Improve adhesive performance
    Learn how to enhance flexibility, strength, and low-temperature coalescence with the right plasticizer without increasing VOCs.

  2. Select plasticizers with confidence.
    Understand compatibility, trade-offs, and regulatory factors including insights on bio-based options, so you can choose what’s best for your formulation and market needs.

  3. Tackle substrate challenges head-on.
    Discover how to boost adhesion to tough surfaces like metals, treated plastics, and glass.

  4. Apply learnings to real adhesive applications.
    Explore case examples from wood glues, lamination adhesives, packaging, and more so you can replicate success faster.

Who should join this course?

  • This course is designed for professionals in the adhesives and sealants industry who are looking to improve the performance of their waterborne adhesive formulations

    • Formulators, R&D Scientists, and Technical Managers seeking practical strategies to enhance adhesion, flexibility, and low-temperature coalescence through the right plasticizer selection.
    • Participants working in packaging, woodworking, lamination, or industrial adhesive applications will gain immediate value by learning how to troubleshoot real-world failures and optimize formulations for today's performance and regulatory demands.

  • Complete the course and (unlock your personalized certificate)– your badge of accomplishment awaits!

  • This course is suitable for intermediate level proficiency
    Intermediate
Questions you will be able to answer after this course:

  1. How can I enhance flexibility and adhesion in my waterborne adhesive formulations?

  2. What plasticizers are best suited for improving low-temperature coalescence?

  3. How do I select the right plasticizer for specific substrates and applications?

Course Outline

Waterborne Adhesives Formulation Overview:

  1. Advantages & Disadvantages
  2. Applications
  3. Raw materials selection
  4. Formulation design
  5. Latest technologies

Plasticizers Selection for Waterborne Adhesives:

  1. Plasticizer Polymer Use Areas
  2. Types of plasticizers
  3. Important Plasticizer Considerations​
  4. Plasticizer compatibility

Utilising Plasticizers for Improving Waterborne Adhesive Properties

  1. Impact of plasticizers on adhesive properties
  2. Affect in drying properties
  3. How to improve adhesion to non-porous substrates
  4. How to improve coalescence at low temperatures

Green Polymers and Plasticizers:

  1. Available types in the Market
  2. Pros and Cons
  3. Performance
  4. Evaluation example

Testing and evaluation of Adhesive Performance

  1. Primary & Secondary Screening
  2. Plasticizer Partitioning
  3. Instruments used

Real-World Applications and Case Studies:

  1. Packaging adhesive
  2. Wood glue
  3. Adhesive front gum
  4. Lamination glue

Conclusions & Key-takeaways

Show More
Prerequisites for this course

It would be beneficial to have some prior knowledge of:

  • Different types of plasticizers and their general properties.
  • How adhesives are formulated, including the roles of various components such as resins, plasticizers, and additives.
Smart Plasticizer Selection & Use for High-Performance Waterborne Adhesives
€299
Currency Converter
Learning as a team? Checkout our Credit Options

Share this Course

Share this Course

https://courses.specialchem.com/products/waterborne-adhesives-plasticizer-selection