Flooring adhesives have evolved quite significantly over the years. Early compositions often included asbestos to strengthen and bind the raw materials, and solvents to combine these materials, enhance adhesion to surfaces, and to make the adhesive dry faster.
In the 1980s and ’90s our society became more aware and focused upon the health hazards associated with these materials, and the flooring industry moved to eliminate both asbestos and solvents from the formulations. Terms such as respiratory irritants, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and indoor air quality (IAQ) entered our consciousness.