From a chemistry point of view, Drying and Curing are two words with different meanings that we regularly see people confuse when referring to the use of PU laminating adhesives.
Drying means the loss of liquid components of the adhesive. It is the evaporation of the carrier like the solvent or water added to make the adhesive liquid, which result in a solid film. The adhesive is chemically unchanged from the process, and the dried product remains soluble in the original solvent. This terminology generally refers to solvent-based adhesive and water-based adhesives.
Curing refers to a chemical reaction that occurs during the application or use of the adhesive. It is the result of two-components reacting or cross-linking, resulting in a physical change from a liquid to a solid. This process is irreversible. This terminology refers to moisture-curing polyurethane adhesive, two-component solvent-free adhesives. It is important to understand the difference between drying and curing for product selection. Adhesives that cure have higher temperature and water-resistance compared to products that dry. So ensuring you have the correct adhesive type required for the specific application is vitally important.
