DOW Robond Rhoplex Compounding Bases

Acrylic compounding bases give adhesive formulators a practical starting point for building waterborne adhesive systems with targeted adhesion, cohesion, tack, filler compatibility, water release, and application properties. Compounders can start with DOW’s ROBOND™ or RHOPLEX™ acrylic emulsions and modify the system with tackifiers, fillers, rheology modifiers, plasticizers, defoamers, or other additives to meet end-use requirements. 

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What Are Acrylic Compounding Bases? 

Acrylic compounding bases are waterborne acrylic polymer emulsions used as the primary binder or performance component in an adhesive formulation. In an adhesive compound, the acrylic emulsion provides the film-forming polymer network that contributes to bond strength, flexibility, cohesive strength, tack, water resistance, and long-term durability across substrates such as wood, concrete, polyolefins, paper, and film. The compounder then adjusts the formulation around that base to meet a specific substrate, application method, cost target, regulatory requirement, or performance profile. 

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Why Use Dow’s ROBOND™ and RHOPLEX™ 

DOW ROBOND™ and RHOPLEX™ acrylic emulsions provide adhesive compounders with a practical platform for developing waterborne formulations that require more than basic adhesion. Their acrylic chemistry supports resistance to aging from heat, UV exposure, and oxidation, along with water and alkaline resistance for flooring, construction, mastic, and wall covering applications. These grades can be selected or blended to balance adhesion, cohesion, tack, wet-out, viscosity, filler acceptance, and durability in compounds exposed to porous substrates, high filler loading, variable humidity, or demanding service conditions. 

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Applications and Performance Benefits 

• Flooring adhesives: Acrylic compounding bases help formulators bond to construction substrates such as concrete and wood while maintaining rheology for spreading, notching, or other application methods. They can also support high filler loading when the binder system needs to maintain cohesive strength after drying. 
• Mastic sealants and construction adhesives: These formulations often require adhesion to multiple building materials, flexibility, water resistance, alkali resistance, and durability under temperature or humidity exposure. Acrylic bases provide formulators with a waterborne platform that can be adjusted to control viscosity, filler level, elongation, tensile strength, and final bond profile. 
• Wall coverings and related construction formulations: Acrylic emulsions can help balance adhesion, cohesive strength, water resistance, and processability. Their wet-out, film formation, substrate adhesion, and resistance to water and aging make them useful in formulated adhesives that must be applied consistently in manufacturing or job-site conditions. 

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Product Grades and Selection Guidance

DOW ROBOND™ and RHOPLEX™ compounding options differ in adhesion, cohesion, solids, viscosity, Tg, and formulation fit. Grade selection should start with the required bond profile, substrate set, filler package, application method, and service environment. The following grades are commonly used as bases for adhesive compounding.

For flooring, construction, and mastic formulations, RHOPLEX™ N-1031D and RHOPLEX™ N-580 are useful starting points when cohesion, filler compatibility, and balanced adhesion are central requirements. RHOPLEX™ N-619 can be considered when higher tack or more aggressive adhesion is needed, while RHOPLEX™ N-495 is more specialized for quick-grab systems. ROBOND™ PS-90AF and ROBOND™ PS-7860 may be useful where high shear, high-speed coatability, or a specific adhesion-cohesion balance is required. 

Processing requirements should also guide selection. Low-viscosity grades are better suited to coating methods such as gravure, Meyer rod, or similar low-viscosity processes. At the same time, higher-viscosity systems may be suitable for roll, knife, comma, trowel, or gunning applications after formulation adjustment. Because compounders frequently modify viscosity with thickeners and fillers, the base emulsion should be evaluated in the full formulation rather than by neat-emulsion properties alone. 

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Summary 

DOW ROBOND™ and RHOPLEX™ acrylic compounding bases provide adhesive formulators with a flexible platform for developing waterborne adhesive compounds with targeted adhesion, cohesion, tack, filler acceptance, and processing behavior. For compounders working in flooring adhesives, mastic sealants, construction adhesives, wall coverings, and related applications, the right acrylic base can reduce formulation complexity while still allowing meaningful control over the final adhesive profile. 

Contact ChemPoint to compare DOW ROBOND™ and RHOPLEX™ acrylic compounding bases, request a quote or sample, or speak with a technical specialist about selecting a grade for your adhesive formulation.