[BKARTS] Moldy PVA

["Talas Inc." <info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

As a fairly large purchaser / distributor of PVA, specifically our Jade 
403, I think I may be able to shed some light on this situation. 

About four or five years ago manufacturers of these adhesives which are 
used commonly in the food packaging industry, were forced to remove 
trace amounts of formaldehyde that they were adding to adhesives to 
prevent the growth of mold.  This is a good thing as far as health goes, 
but it doesn't mean that a bottle can sit on the shelf for two years and 
be usable after such a period of time (though it is possible.)  It also 
means that any sort of contamination, either from putting brushes, 
fingers, etc into a master container, or even airborne spores that enter 
the container while open can cause mold growth.  To the person who 
changed brands of adhesive, I am also sorry to say that I do not believe 
this will alleviate the problem.  Mold growth can happen even with the 
best of practices in place, and simply purchasing from a vendor who 
knows to rotate stock and has a quick turnover  is the best possible 
solution, as all PVA can have this problem.

One suggestion that I have come across is the addition of a fungicide to 
prevent this mold prone environment from taking shape, similar to the 
way the product was made years back.  A simple addition of Thymol (an 
anti fungicide we sell) which can be dissolved in a small amount of 
alcohol from the drug store would prevent all but the most extreme 
cases.  Only very small amounts are necessary, and is a nice insurance 
policy if purchasing in large amounts to save money.

We have been told by the manufacturer that this product has a typical 
shelf life of six months, and should only be ordered in quantities that 
can be used within this period of time.  I will be happy to answer any 
other questions that people may have regarding the use, storage, and 
handling of this product.

Regards,
Aaron Salik

Talas
20 West 20th Street
New York, NY 10011
212-219-0770 Phone
212-219-0735 Fax
http://talasonline.com

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