Glue stick
Glue sticks are solid adhesives in twist or push-up tubes. Users can apply glue by holding the open tube to keep their fingers clean and rubbing the exposed stick against a surface.
Applications
Most glue sticks are designed to glue paper and card stock together, and are not as strong as some liquid-based variants. They can be used for craft and design, office use and at school. There are now permanent, washable, acid-free, non-toxic, solvent-free, and dyed varieties. These are most commonly used today.Brands
In 1969 the German company Henkel invented the glue stick after studying the "twist-up ease" and convenience of lipstick applicators. The product was released under the Pritt Stick brand. By 1971 the Pritt Stick was being sold in 38 countries, by 2001 in 121. The first solvent-free, multipurpose glue stick that could be used for other materials was the "PowerPritt", which was put on the market in 2003. There is also a "Pritt X", launched in 2010.Glue sticks are made under many brands and each may have different features to it. Various brands, such as Scotch, Elmer's, UHU, Kores, Giotto, UFO, Snopake, and Bostik U-Stick make glue sticks. Generic brands like M&G also manufacture glue sticks, utilising the twist action.
Sizes
Glue sticks can come in many sizes, the most common ones are 8g, 25g, 36g, and 40g.Material
The most common glue stick nowadays are made of PVA or PVP.Composition
Glue stick compositions are often proprietary and vary by manufacturer and type. One style contains the following ingredients:| Name | % content | Purpose |
| Water | 40% | Evaporates to allow the glue to dry. |
| Acrylic polymer | 40% | Polymerizes to solidify dried glue. |
| Sodium stearate | 10% | This soap helps emulsify the acrylic, and lubricates the glue to apply smoothly. |
| Polyethylene glycol | 3% | Keeps dried glue somewhat moist and flexible. |
| Polyoxyethylene monooctylphhenyl ether | 2% | Emulsifier. |
| N-vinylpyrrolidone polymer | 2% | Polymerizes as the glue dries. |
| 2-amino isobutanol | 2% | pH buffer, to neutralize acid. |
| Sodium hydroxide | 0.3% | Alkali, to keep stick pH above 10. |
The reportable composition of a Pritt Stick is as follows:
| Name | EC number | CAS number | % content | Risk Statements |
| Caprolactam | 203-313-2 | 1 - 5% | Xn;R20/22 Xi;R36/37/38 | |
| Hydrogen peroxide solution...% | 231-765-0 | < 1% | O;R8 C;R34 | |
| Sodium hydroxide | 215-185-5 | < 1% | C;R35 |
Other brands use, e.g., polyvinylpyrrolidone as the glue substance.