Lab Capabilities

Your Production Partner for Adhesion Testing & Troubleshooting

Full-Service Adhesive Evaluation & Support

Our in-house North Carolina lab provides adhesive testing and problem-solving support for packaging, bookbinding, and industrial applications. Whether you’re struggling with bond failures, switching substrates, or optimizing a new production line, our team delivers data-driven recommendations tailored to your operation.

Dyne Testing: Understanding Surface Energy

To create strong adhesive bonds, understanding surface energy is essential. That’s where dyne testing comes in.

What is a Dyne Test?

A dyne test evaluates a material’s surface energy to determine whether it can support a strong adhesive bond.

How the Test Works

Special ink pens are drawn across a surface.
If the ink beads up, it means low surface energy.
If the ink spreads smoothly, the surface is more adhesive-friendly.

Why Surface Energy Matters

For glue to bond well, it needs to wet out the surface. This requires the glue’s surface tension to be lower than the substrate’s surface energy.

Our Advantage

We identify hard-to-bond surfaces and choose the ideal adhesive to ensure maximum performance and bond strength.

Glue-Up Testing: Evaluating Adhesive Performance

Once we’ve selected a glue, we run a glue-up test to evaluate its performance on your substrate.

The Glue-Up Process:

Cut substrates into sections.
Apply glue evenly using a Mayer rod.
Press with a speedball roller.
Let the bond cure at room temperature for 24 hours.
Test the strength by pulling the materials apart.

Interpreting the Results:

Fiber Tear: A sign of a strong mechanical bond. The glue fully integrates into the material’s fibers.
Suction Bond: A weaker bond where the glue sits on the surface without penetration—less reliable long term.

This test helps us identify how quickly glue sets and how durable the bond will be in real-world use.

Environmental Testing: Simulating Real-World Conditions

To ensure adhesives perform reliably, we simulate the harsh conditions your product may face in the field.

Heat & Humidity Test

Substrates are placed in a chamber with:

High humidity (up to 100%)
Temperatures up to 120°F or more

After 24 hours, we check for bond stability, curl, and strength.

Force Test

We apply a slow, steady pull to bonded materials using a spring scale.

Measures the exact amount of force needed to separate the bond.
Results are recorded in pound-force or newtons.

Freezer Test

For cold storage applications (like food packaging), we test:

Adhesive flexibility at temperatures as low as -40°F
Bond strength and durability after freezing

Why LD Davis Glues Work Better

“Congratulations to LD Davis on 100 incredible years in business! As a young guy still learning the ropes, I know I can always count on LD Davis—and especially Bill McCalla—for guidance and support. I’m proud to be using their glue in our plant. Their products are consistently reliable, just like the team behind them. I truly value the relationship we've built and look forward to continuing our partnership for years to come. Once again, congratulations on your continued success!”

“We’ve partnered with LD Davis for decades. Since buying our first Emmeci in 2000, we’ve relied on their glue and technical support for specialty bonding. Sixteen years later, we’re still happy customers and proud to be part of their 100-year history.”

“LD Davis has supplied our company with hot melt adhesives for over 15 years. Their products give us the flexibility to deliver durable, unique solutions while keeping costs under control. Their reliable supply chain and support give us a real competitive edge.”

Ready to Improve Your Adhesion?

If you’re facing bonding challenges—or just want the best glue for your production line—we’re here to help.