Adhesive and Physical Characterization for Adfors Wall Finishing

ADFORS Wall Finishing (AWF) is a novel woven material with enhanced properties compared to a traditional painted finish used to reduce interior finishing times in off-site home manufacturing (OSM) by up to 50% and realize a >10% overall productivity gain. However, no commercially available adhesives have been recommended for use resembling that in OSM, as the finished modules can be stored in harsh environments for up to a year. Without a prescribed adhesive and standard procedures, adverse effects on AWF adhesion have been observed after as little as three months. Using a full factorial experimental design – varying environmental aging, adhesive type, and application methods – the recommendation was narrowed down to two adhesive candidates for the system. Larger-scale samples have also been used in a screening study to find possible delamination causes, determining the probable cause of system failure as adhesive misapplication. Furthermore, AWF properties were characterized using permeability, impact resistance, washability, and infrared thermography using chemical engineering fundamentals such as heat and mass transfer, in addition to quantifying aesthetic qualities including color, gloss, and roughness. Having confirmed the crucial points of AWF’s value proposition and aesthetic suite, it was soft launched into OSM with strongly positive feedback and substantial time savings.