What Chemicals Are in a Glue Stick?
Glue sticks were invented by the German company Henkel in 1969. Inspired by the design of modern lipstick applicators, the Pritt Stick was introduced as the first brand of glue stick on the market. Elmer's, Ross and various other more generic brands have developed their own glue stick products since then, most using particular ingredients to distinguish their product from the rest.
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Synthetic Polymer
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An example of a synthetic polymer used for the making of glue sticks is caprolactum-eta. This compound is considered mildly toxic and can irritate the skin at high levels of concentration. Also used by some glue stick manufacturers are acrylic polymers, the same compounds that make up plastics. The benefit to using acrylic polymer is its fast drying characteristic and the greater strength of the bond.
Polyethylene Glycol
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Also used in medicinal products, polyethylene glycol (PEG) helps to bind the material in the glue stick to create a more viscous texture. This compound also is added as a lubricant to keep the glue stick moist. PEG is found in skin creams, ointments and medications, in addition to being used as an emulsifying agent in detergents and other cosmetics. PEG is neutral, nontoxic, nonvolatile and nonirritating to the skin.
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Sodium Stearate
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Found mainly in different types of soap, sodium stearate is the product of combining stearic acid with sodium hydroxide. This compound is considered to have a strong binding effect on the composition of glue sticks, allowing them to stay rigid in their "stick" form. Stearic acid also is used in many solid deodorants and skin lotions, and can be made into stearyl alcohol for industrial lubricants.
Hydrogen Peroxide
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This naturally occurring compound is odorless and colorless, with many beneficial properties when applied to combating infection in the human body. Hydrogen peroxide actually oxidizes bacterial cells and destroys them upon contact. White blood cells have been observed to produce hydrogen peroxide naturally for the very reason of staving off bacterial infection. It is used by glue stick manufacturers generally as less than one percent composition of glue sticks.
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