ICS 83.180  
 
Reference number  
WD 480 -3: 2022  
© RSB 2022  
  
 RWANDA 
STANDARD  DRS  
480-3 
 
First edition  
2022 -mm-dd 
 
Wood adhesives  — Specification  — 
Part 3: 
Polyvinyl acetate  (PVA)  based glue  
   
WD 480 -3: 2022  
©RSB 2022  - All rights reserved                  ii 
 In order to match with technological development and to keep continuous progress in industries, 
standards are subject to periodic review. Users shall ascertain that they are in possession of the latest 
edition  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
© RSB 2022  
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized 
in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without 
prior written permission from R SB. 
Requests for permission to reproduce this document should be addressed to : 
Rwanda Standards  Board  
P.O Box 7099 Kigali -Rwanda  
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E-mail: info@rsb.gov.rw  
Website: www.rsb.gov.rw  
ePortal: www.portal.rsb.gov.rw   DRS 480-3: 2022  
iii                ©RSB 2022  - All rights reserved  
 Contents  Page 
Foreword  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  iv 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  1 
3 Terms and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  1 
4 Requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  2 
4.1 General requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  2 
4.2 Specific requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  2 
5 Packaging and labelling ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  3 
5.1 Packaging  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  3 
5.2 Labelling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  3 
6 Sampling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................  3 
 WD 480 -3: 2022  
©RSB 2022  - All rights reserved                  iv 
 Foreword   
Rwanda Standard s are prepared  by Technical Committees and approved by Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) 
Board  of Directors in  accordance with the procedures of RSB, in compliance with Annex 3 of the WTO/TBT 
agreement on the preparation, adoption and application of standards.  
The main task of technical committees is to prepare national standards.  Final Draft Rwanda S tandards 
adopted by Technical committ ees are ratifie d by me mbers of RSB Board of Director s for publication and 
gazettment as Rwanda Standards.  
DRS 480-3 was prepared by Technical Committee RSB/TC 056, Paints, Varnishes, Adhesives and Related 
Products  
In the preparation of this standard, reference was made to the following standard:  
IS 4835 : Specification for Polyvinyl acetate dispersion based adhesives for wood  
The assistance de rived from the above source is hereby acknowledged with thanks.  
DRS  480 consists of the following parts, under the general tit le Wood adhesives  — Specification : 
⎯ Part 1: Casein -based  glue 
⎯ Part 2: Urea -Formaldehyde Resin -based glue  
⎯ Part 3: Polyvinyl acetate (PVA) -based glue  
Committee membership  
The following organizations were represented on the Technical Committee on Paints, Varnishes, Adhesives 
and Related Products  (RSB/TC 056) in the preparation of this standard.  
University of Rwanda/College of Sciences and Technology (UR/CST)  
University of Rw anda/College of Education (UR/CE)  
EARTHENABLE  
Standards for Sustainability (SfS)  
AMACO Paints  
Rwanda Inspectorate, Competition and Consumer Protection Authority (RICA)  DRS 480-3: 2022  
v                ©RSB 2022  - All rights reserved  
 REX Paints  
Star Construction and Consultancy Ltd  
IPRC Kigali  
MEI Paints  
Rwanda  Standards Board  (RSB) – Secretariat  WD 480 -3: 2022  
©RSB 2022  - All rights reserved                  vi 
 Introduction   
The use of adhesives offers certain advantages over other binding techniques such as sewing, mechanical 
fastenings, or welding. These include the ability to bind different materials together, the more eff icient 
distribution of stress across a joint, the cost -effectiveness of an easily mechanized process, and greater 
flexibility in design.  
Adhesives are typically organized by the method of adhesion followed by reactive or non -reactive, a term 
which refers to whether the adhesive chemically reacts in order to harden. Alternatively, they can be 
organized either by their starting physical phase or whether their  raw stock is of natural or synthetic origin.  
Wood glue is an adhesive used to tightly bond pi eces of wood together. Many substances have been used as 
glues.  Polyvinyl acetate and other polyvinyl acetate dispersion -based adhesives have come into considerable 
use in th e industries based on timber, plywood and furniture. Such adhesives are coming to be widely used for 
joinery work, lipping work, core assembly of block boards, veneering of furniture, etc.  
 
 WD 480 -3: 2022  
1                ©RSB 2022  - All rights reserved  
 Wood adhesives  — Specification  — Part 3: Polyvinyl acetate (PVA) 
based glue  
1 Scope   
This Draft Rwanda Standard specifies requirements, sampling and test meth ods for thermoplastic synthetic 
emulsion adhesives based polyvinyl acetate dispersions for use as a n adhesive in the wood, veneer and 
furniture industries.  
2 Normative references   
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of  their content constitutes 
requirements of this document.  For dated references, only the edition  cited applies. For undated references, 
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.  
ASTM D907 , Terminology for Ad hesives  
ASTM D1583, Test methods for hydrogen ion concentration of dry adhesive films  
ASTM D905, Test method for strength properties of adhesive bonds in shear by compression loading  
ASTM D906, Test method for strength properties of adhesives in plywood ty pe construction in shear by 
tension loading  
ASTM D905, Test method for strength properties of adhesive bonds in shear by compression loading  
ASTM D906, Test method for strength properties of adhesives in plywood type construction in shear by 
tension loadin g 
ISO 3251 , Paints varnishes and plastics — Determination of non - volatile matter content  
ISO 15605, Adhesives  — Sampling  
ISO 10364, Structural adhesives — Determination of the pot life (working life) of multi -component adhesives  
ASTM D1084, Test methods for viscosity of adhesives  
RS OIML R 87 , Quantity of product in pre -packages  
3 Terms and definitions   
For the purposes of this standard, the terms and definitions given in ASTM D907  and the following apply .  
©RSB 2022  - All rights reserved                  2 
 3.1 
polyvinyl acetate based glue  
a rubbery synthetic polymer prepared by polymerization of vinyl acetate , used as an adhesive  for light 
materials such as paper, wood and cloth.  
4 Requirements  
4.1 General requirements  
4.1.1  The polyvinyl acetate -based glue  shall be rubbery synthetic polymer made of vinyl acetate monomer, 
water, dispersing agent, polymerization starter, and other auxiliary materials mixed together through emulsion 
polymerization . 
4.1.2  The polyvinyl acetate -based glue  shall be capable of being adjusted for its consistency by addition of 
a small amount of water according to the instructions of the manufacturer for brush or roller application.  
4.1.3  Odour — The polyvinyl acetate -based glue  freshly prepared film shall not  emit any trace of 
putrefactive odour.  
4.1.4  Colour — The polyvinyl acetate -based glue  shall not stain or discolour or in any other way damage 
the material on which it is applied.  
4.1.5  Build -Up Properties — The polyvinyl acetate -based glue  coat shall dry quickly and tacky enough so 
that the assembly formed shall have sufficient green strength to permit immediate handling.  
4.2 Specific requirements  
The polyvinyl acetate -based glue shall comply with the requirements given in table 1 when tested in 
accordance wit h the methods prescribed therein.  
Table 1 — Specific requirements for polyvinyl acetate -based glue  
S/N Parameters  Requirements  Test methods  
1 pH 5 – 7 ASTM D1583  
2 Total solids, % by mass, min.  40 ISO 3251  
3 Ash content, % by mass, max.  2  
4 Bulk density, g/l, min.  0.9  
5 Working life, hours, min.  5 ISO 10364  
6 Viscosity at 25 ± 0.25 °C, cp.  3 000 – 15 000  ASTM D1084  
7 Block shear (compression), dry at 1 and 4 h, 
N/mm2,   20  ASTM D905  
8 Plywood 
(tension), N/mm2 Dry at 1 and 4 hA 2.5 ASTM D906  Soak, 48 -h at 1 and 4 hA 1.0 
9 Storage life  B - 
A – One and four hours refers to age of adhesive after mix.  
B – A lot of the designated adhesive shall be tested for all the required tests after aging for the desired storage life time. 
The longest shelf life tested which passes all the minimum requirements shall be the storage life certified by the 
manufacturer.  WD 480 -3: 2022  
3                ©RSB 2022  - All rights reserved  
 5 Packaging and labelling  
5.1 Packaging  
5.1.1  The polyvinyl acetate -based glue  shall be packaged in a suitable container that prevents it from 
deterioration during storage, transportation and normal handling.  
5.1.2  The quantity of product packaged in a container shall be in accordance with the requirements of RS 
OIML R 87.  
5.2 Labelling  
5.2.1  Each container shall be labell ed legibly and indelibly with the following  information in any of 
languages officially accepted in the Republic of Rwanda Any other language may be optional.  
a) name of the product ; 
b) name and address of the manufacturer and/or registered trader mark;  
c) net content ; 
d) batch number  
e) manufacture and expiry d ates; 
f) instructions for use and disposal;  
g) special precautions related to toxicity or flammability;  
h) storage condition  
6 Sampling  
Sampling shall be done in accordance with ISO 15605 . 
 
 
   
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  WD 480 -3: 2022  
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 Bibliography  
[1] ISO/IEC Directives, Part  2, Rules for the structure and drafting of International Standards , 2016  
[2]  
 DRS  480-3: 2022  
 
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