Product Knowledge
BIT 20% for Adhesives & Inks: A Preservation Guide
Water-based adhesives and printing inks face many of the same microbial spoilage risks as paints, with their own formulation constraints. This guide covers how BIT 20% protects these categories and what to check when formulating.
Published 2026-01-15Updated 2026-07-27By Vasudev Chemo Pharma Technical TeamReviewed by Vasudev Chemo Pharma Formulation & Regulatory Affairs Team, Industrial Chemistry, Biocide Formulation
How Does BIT 20% Preserve Water-Based Adhesives?
BIT 20% protects PVA, acrylic, and synthetic latex adhesives from bacterial spoilage at 0.1%-0.3% dosage. Adhesives with high starch or protein content — a rich microbial food source — need dosing toward the upper end of this range.
Water-based adhesives — particularly PVA wood glues, acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesives, and synthetic latex construction adhesives — are highly susceptible to microbial spoilage because many formulations include starch, protein-derived tackifiers, or other biodegradable raw materials that support bacterial growth.
Unprotected water-based adhesives can develop a sour or putrid odour, lose viscosity as bacterial enzymes break down thickener molecules, and in severe cases separate or gel unpredictably — compromising shelf life and bond performance. For adhesives with particularly high starch or protein content, or those manufactured with recycled process water, dosage toward the higher end of the typical range, combined with good manufacturing hygiene, is often necessary.
How Does BIT 20% Preserve Printing Inks?
BIT 20% dosed at 0.1%-0.25% prevents viscosity drift, colour shift, and odour development in aqueous flexographic, gravure, and digital printing inks caused by even minor bacterial activity during storage and transport before use.
Aqueous inks used in flexographic, gravure, and digital printing require preservation against both visible spoilage and subtler quality issues, since even minor bacterial activity can shift ink viscosity or colour over a production run or storage period.
BIT 20% prevents viscosity drift (affecting print quality and consistency), colour or hue shift (from bacterial byproducts interacting with pigments or dyes), and unpleasant odour development — particularly undesirable in inks used for food packaging or consumer-facing print applications. Formulators using recycled or bioburden-prone water for hydration should validate dosage with efficacy testing rather than defaulting to the lower end of the range.
| Product category | BIT 20% dosage range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PVA wood adhesives | 0.1%-0.3% | Starch content raises microbial nutrient load |
| Acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesives | 0.1%-0.25% | Verify compatibility with acrylic emulsifier package |
| Aqueous flexographic/gravure ink | 0.1%-0.25% | Watch for viscosity drift over storage |
| Digital printing ink | 0.1%-0.2% | Confirm no interaction with pigment dispersants |
What Formulation and Storage Practices Improve BIT 20% Performance?
Add BIT 20% at the final production stage to minimise thermal and shear exposure, and maintain strict dispensing hygiene on bulk containers opened repeatedly, since each opening introduces fresh contamination that the chemical preservative alone cannot fully offset.
Both adhesives and inks benefit from adding BIT 20% at the final production stage — after major mixing and dispersion steps — to minimise thermal or shear exposure that could reduce active content before packaging.
Storage-related spoilage risk increases significantly if a container is opened, partially used, and resealed repeatedly, since each opening introduces fresh microbial contamination opportunities. This is a particular concern for bulk adhesive and ink containers used over an extended period; good housekeeping (clean dispensing equipment, minimising air exposure, avoiding cross-contamination) complements the chemical preservative rather than replacing it.
Frequently asked questions
What causes water-based adhesives to spoil during storage?+
Water-based adhesives contain water and often starch or protein-based tackifiers that support bacterial growth without adequate preservation, causing sour odour, viscosity loss, and gelling. An effective in-can preservative like BIT 20% prevents these failure modes.
How much BIT 20% should I use in an ink formulation?+
Typical dosage for aqueous printing inks is 0.1%-0.25% BIT 20% on total formulation weight. Inks made with recycled or bioburden-prone process water may need dosage toward the higher end — confirm with preservative efficacy testing.
Can BIT 20% cause colour shift in printing inks?+
BIT 20% has a slight light-yellow tint that should be checked against colour-sensitive ink formulations at your specific dosage. Significant colour shift is typically a symptom of insufficient preservation rather than a direct effect of the biocide.
Is BIT 20% suitable for food-packaging adhesives and inks?+
BIT 20% is used across many industrial adhesive and ink applications, but food-contact uses are subject to specific regional regulatory requirements. Confirm current food-contact compliance for your target market before finalising a formulation.