What hot melt adhesive particles are used for repairing and renovating old books in the library? 12000 centralized repair records

The most suitable way to repair and renovate old books in a library isBooks and periodicals with good flexibility, slightly longer opening time, and low odorHot melt adhesive pelletsBecause the old book paper is brittle and the spine is deformed, manual alignment is necessary during repair, and the new adhesive layer cannot be made harder than the original book – otherwise, it will crack again at the junction of old and new when flipped over. The following is the actual repair process of a university library in Guangzhou.

Background: 12000 old books, three types of damage

In the first half of 2026, the library will carry out centralized repairs on the largest circulation of social science books, totaling 12000 volumes. The damages are concentrated in three categories: broken spine glue and loose pages (about 60%), detached cover and book core (about 30%), and detached inner page edges and corners (about 10%). Originally outsourced to a small workshop, using universal rubber sticks, nearly 20% of the pages were again scattered within less than half a year after repair.

Difficulty: Old books and new books are completely different

• The paper has oxidized and become brittle, and the milling back cannot be too deep. The paper fibers available for gluing are limited.
• The old adhesive layer remains on the spine of the old book, and if the compatibility of the new adhesive is poor, it will form a “two-layer skin”.
• The reading room is enclosed and sensitive to odors and volatile substances. Teachers and students have complained about a pungent odor once.

Solution: Change the adhesive in stages, trial before laying

After contacting Guangzhou Sunlife Trading, the museum adopted a method of dividing the supply of adhesive in a sequential manner: the spine main adhesive uses Sunlife hot melt adhesive with high flexibility for book and magazine shapes, with a moderate softening point and the ability to fold repeatedly after curing; Use a model with a slightly longer opening time for the cover shell, leaving about 10 seconds for manual alignment; For corner sticking, use small packaging universal type, in conjunction with handheld devices for operation.

Before officially laying out, take 200 copies for trial repair: remove the old adhesive residue layer, apply new adhesive, let it stand for 48 hours, and then conduct 50 tests of 180 degree folding. Only after there are no cracks can mass construction be carried out.

Result: The repair rate has decreased from 20% to within 3%

The project leader feedback that what really works is not a “magical model”, but rather the disassembly of different processes, the use of different adhesives, and a strict trial and verification.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can old book repairs be directly covered on old glue?
Answer: Not recommended. The old glue has become brittle and may not be compatible with the new glue. The remaining layer should be milled or scraped off before applying the glue.

Q: What equipment does the library need for manual repair?
Answer: A small glue pot or handheld gluing device is sufficient, with small packaging of glue particles; The key is stable temperature control, do not use open flames for heating.

Q: How long after the repair can it be put on the shelves for circulation?
Answer: After conventional book and magazine type rubber particles are pressed together, they basically reach the design strength within 24 hours. It is recommended to let them stand for 48 hours before putting them on the shelf for more stability.