A Complete Guide to Adhesives Commonly Used in the Footwear Industry

Shoes consist of many components, each with different adhesive requirements, and there are numerous types of adhesives available. Adhesives used in shoe manufacturing can be classified in various ways.

Solvent-Based Adhesives

Solvent-based adhesives for footwear are formulated by dissolving high-molecular-weight polymers in organic solvents and blending them with various additives. The solvents primarily used in solvent-based adhesives for footwear include esters (such as ethyl acetate and dimethyl carbonate), ketones (such as acetone and butanone), toluene, and gasoline. The solvent content typically exceeds 75%. These solvents generally have boiling points ranging from 50 to 120°C and dry quickly, meeting the fast-paced production requirements of the footwear industry.

Solvent-Based Neoprene Adhesives

Neoprene adhesives are primarily classified into solvent-based and emulsion-based types. Solvent-based neoprene adhesives are further divided into standard and grafted types, and they are widely used in the footwear industry. However, standard and grafted neoprene adhesives have different applications within the footwear industry; grafted neoprene adhesives are mainly used as outsole adhesives, while standard neoprene adhesives are used in other applications.

Hydrogenated Terpene Resin CAS 529-23-7

2-Ethoxyethyl Acetate CAS 111-15-9

2-Butoxyethyl Acetate CAS 112-07-2

Solvent-Based Polyurethane Adhesives

The solvents primarily used in solvent-based polyurethane adhesives for footwear include esters (such as ethyl acetate and dimethyl carbonate), ketones (such as acetone and butanone), and toluene. In solvent-based polyurethane adhesives for footwear that are free of triphenyl compounds, toluene is replaced by substances such as methylcyclohexane. Solvent-based polyurethane adhesives for footwear typically have a high solvent content, often reaching around 85%.

SBS Adhesives

SBS adhesives are primarily composed of SBS/SIS (SBS is the abbreviation for styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer, and SIS is the abbreviation for styrene-isoprene -styrene block copolymer; both are thermoplastic synthetic rubbers), tackifying resins, solvents, antioxidants, plasticizers, and fillers. These components are processed through dissolution, blending, melt mixing, and graft copolymerization. SBS adhesives exhibit excellent bonding strength even in a non-crosslinked state.
Solvents used in SBS adhesives for footwear include toluene and solvent oils, while tackifying resins include rosin, rosin-based resins, and terpenes. SBS adhesives for footwear are primarily used as welting adhesives, edge-sealing adhesives, and lining adhesives.

Solvent-Based Natural Rubber Adhesives

Solvent-based natural rubber adhesives for footwear are formulated by dissolving natural rubber sheets in solvents such as gasoline and blending them with tackifying resins (such as rosin). The natural rubber is typically milled, and additives such as magnesium oxide, zinc oxide, and antioxidants may be added during this process. Solvent-based natural rubber adhesives for footwear are generally used as fabric bonding adhesives.

KT101 Rosin

Special Grade Rosin

Refined Light-colored Rosin

Fully Hydrogenated Rosin

KT160 Hydrogenated Rosin

Colorless Hydrogenated rosin resin