Physical curing (drying)

Physically curing adhesives harden by losing solvents. In this process, the binding agents are present as polymers dissolved in solvents or as a dispersion. Due to the loss of solvents after applying the adhesive, the binding agent molecules approach each other. As the reduction of solvents progresses, the molecules form a film. When the residual solvent is fully reduced (coalescence), the binding agent molecules merge with each other and the bonded materials. Since the solvent needs to escape from the system, as otherwise the curing process cannot take place, at least one of the materials must be absorbent.