Insulation foam is an ideal material to create cosplay props from, with uses including creating horns, headwear, costume details and more. Unfortunately, however, this rigid material can be tricky to glue down as some adhesives may react negatively with it.
Foam insulation adhesives specifically tailored for this use exist and typically provide 15 minutes of workable time, are water resistant and suitable for multiple surfaces.
Spray Adhesive
Spray adhesive is an efficient and simple solution for adhering foam insulation to a variety of materials, particularly light materials like paper and cardboard, or connecting dissimilar surfaces like rubber to wood.
Loctite PL 300 Low VOC Foamboard Adhesive is a premium grade formulation specifically developed to quickly bond foam board insulation to interior or exterior surfaces without degrading its effectiveness. Furthermore, this adhesive adheres well to various construction materials like wood, gypsum board and concrete brick reducing fastener needs and cost.
Gorilla Heavy Duty Construction Adhesive is another fantastic choice for foam insulation projects. This high-strength spray adhesive features a webbing spray pattern to provide more coverage in less time, setting in just 20 minutes and being fully cured within seven days. Water resistance means this adhesive can be used indoors or outdoors and even under damp conditions, resisting oil, fats and gasoline while withstanding temperature fluctuations.
Wood Glue
Wood glues can be effective tools in bonding foam to itself or other materials. 3M’s Insulation & Polystyrene 78 Spray Adhesive offers one such wood glue that excels at bonding foam to itself or other substrates; its strong formulation resists dissolving or degrading foam substrates, and gives up to 15 minutes of working time with its lace spray pattern, guaranteeing comprehensive coverage while requiring minimal cleanup afterwards.
Titebond white glue offers fast setting times and long pot life; they’re also odorless, nonflammable and waterproof once cured – ideal for indoor projects that won’t be exposed to rain or other weather elements.
These glues work best when applied to dry wood with moisture levels ranging between 6-8%. Any moisture levels above or below this can cause swelling in the wood, straining its glue bonds. The improved wood glue of the present invention contains a polyvinyl acetate homopolymer or copolymer emulsion with additives and an aluminum chloride/dicarboxylic acid crosslinking catalyst (oxalic acid). Crosslinking rates can be tailored specifically for assembly applications as required by this invention.
Hot Glue
Hot glue is used in many manufacturing processes and holds together some of our everyday items. While it works on most surfaces, greasy, waxy or silicone materials should not be subjected to its application.
Hot glue adhesives are composed of solid glue sticks fed into a lightweight hot glue gun for application. Once heated up, this liquid hot glue adheres quickly to any surface it comes into contact with before solidifying into an impactful bond.
Hot glue comes in both low- and high-temperature varieties, including clear, glitter, colored, and even glow-in-the-dark varieties. It can also be mixed with other materials for special applications like abrasion resistance and strength; drying quickly; creating tamper-resistant seals quickly; being easy to use, safe for children, with long shelf lives; all of these qualities make hot glue an attractive option for crafting and hobby projects as well as some light industrial uses.
Other Options
If you’re seeking eco-friendly alternatives to spray foam insulation, there are two viable solutions. Greensulate, made of seed hulls and fungal mycelia, or Gramitherm, produced from grass are both suitable options if used appropriately in specific environments. Although neither option has widespread availability like spray foam does, both work effectively when utilized appropriately.
Loctite PL 300 Construction Adhesive offers another viable solution, adhering foam insulation boards together and to timber, drywall and masonry surfaces such as timber studs. Additionally, this glue can also be used around cold services penetrations like water pipes or electrical conduits and its low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) levels make it suitable for use in knee walls or crawl spaces with limited ventilation.
BSI offers an economical alternative to high-end construction adhesives with their 142 Foam Cure product – an economical foam glue which still provides outstanding adhesion while remaining resistant to weather, temperature fluctuations and oil and fats.