In this test, we'll look at what happens to Titebond Ultimate III ( D4 grade) when left in the cold. We tested how the adhesive behaves when exposed to -5°C. Sometimes wood glues are not shipped in winter because they can freeze, which can cause the glue to clump, reduce its strength or separate its components.
Test with Titebond III Ultimate:
1) We put a small amount of Titebond in the freezer for 3.5 hours at -5°C. We wanted the sample to be rapidly cooled and constantly exposed to frost.
2) After removing from the freezer, we checked how the glue looked. It remained liquid and looked no different than before freezing. It had no frozen bits or discoloration. One sample was frozen glue and the other was fresh glue.
3) Then we made a joint with this undercooled glue. We did this right out of the freezer so the glue wasn't at room temperature. This violated two rules of gluing - that the glue should not be frozen and that the temperature of the glue and the material should be the same. The difference in temperature was about 20°C, which is not ideal as it can cause the material to expand and condensation to form on it. We let the joint dry for 24 hours.
4) At the same time, we created another joint in ideal conditions - with the adhesive and material at room temperature. We also let it dry for 24 hours.
5) Once completely dry, we tore both joints apart to determine their strength.
The test results showed that the joint with fresh glue was very strong - it even broke outside the glued part. On the other hand, the joint with the adhesive that was in frost had a strength of about 75% compared to the ideal one. This joint showed that it was glued and in one place a piece of wood had even broken off.
The conclusion of the test is that although Titebond Ultimate can withstand freezing without changing its consistency, it is important to follow the correct bonding procedure and temperature conditions for best bond strength.