Service

delficare products are suitable for almost all solid or load-bearing smooth and rough surfaces. They are particularly ideal for high-quality materials such as stone, ceramics (tiles), glass, concrete, metal, and wood, which are typically materials you’d prefer not to drill into and damage.

Conversely, loose plaster, wallpaper, and textile surfaces (e.g., carpet) are generally unsuitable for this kind of surface mounting due to their lack of strength and load-bearing capacity. No adhesion is provided on polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE, Teflon).

As we can only cover a – though extensive – selection of suitable surfaces or surface treatments with our advice, it is the user’s responsibility to conduct preliminary tests on other surfaces.

The nwb adhesive’s bonding capability is not affected by the surface texture, provided the surface is flat and does not have large gaps that might allow the adhesive to escape from under the adhesive ring of the adapter.

In fact, the adhesive holds even better on slightly roughened surfaces due to the additional mechanical interlocking. Surface texture, however, does make a difference when it comes to removing the adhesive.

Removing the silicone-like adhesive from the gaps and pores of rough surfaces requires silicone remover, pure alcohol, and a scrubbing brush, unlike on glass or smooth tiles. Nevertheless, the adhesive can usually be removed without leaving any residue.

Absolutely! The adhesive is rot-proof, UV-resistant, water-resistant, and not susceptible to frost (the application temperature should be between +5 and +40 degrees Celsius).

No! The adhesive should not be permanently submerged in water.

No! The adhesive does not adhere sufficiently to acrylic.

In our experience, when our products fail to perform as expected, it is usually due to one of four reasons, all related to improper conditions for adhesive bonding, which can be easily identified by the so called “fracture pattern” of the adhesive on the back of the adapter.

a) Voids in the adhesive

Out of habit, users sometimes tend to press the adapter down again after applying the adhesive. However, with our adhesive system, this does not improve the bonding, but rather the opposite: pressing the adapter causes the still uncured adhesive to be pushed out through the fill holes, creating voids in the adhesive layer (Fracture Pattern 4), which reduces the system’s load-bearing capacity.

b) Insufficient curing time

Impatience is perhaps the biggest enemy of success. If the adhesive is not allowed the full 24-hour curing time as specified in the instructions and the product is loaded prematurely, Fracture Pattern 2 (see below) is usually the result: partially cured adhesive that has developed some, but not sufficient, holding power. Under high stress, the adapter will detach, showing an incomplete cohesive fracture pattern, unlike the fully cohesive fracture pattern that results when the correctly installed system is dismantled using pliers (Fracture Pattern 2).

c) Surface contamination

Many users tend to want to clean the surface thoroughly before applying the delficare products – sometimes, unfortunately, contrary to the instructions in the manual, using conventional household cleaners that often contain grease-dissolving or water-repellent ingredients. These not only prevent grease and water from adhering to the surface but also the nwb adhesive. If this might have been the cause of the poor adhesion in your case, you will recognize it by the fracture pattern of your adapter: If the adhesive-covered back of the adapter looks as smooth as in Fracture Pattern 3, the adhesive didn’t adhere.

Next time, just wipe the surface with a clean, dry cloth! Exceptions confirm the rule: On specially treated surfaces (e.g., waxed or oiled natural stone or wood) or surfaces with production-related release layers (e.g., hard PVC, as used in window frames), you must remove the release layer with a special cleaner, acetone, or alcohol, but let the surface ventilate thoroughly afterward for the above mentioned reasons! We must also mention another exception: On tiles with a so-called lotus or beading effect, the release layer cannot be removed with chemical means; however, simply extending the curing time, e.g., doubling it, is usually sufficient for the nwb adhesive to work.

d) Unsuitable substrate

Although our products are suitable for almost all commonly used load-bearing surfaces, there are certain plastics on which the nwb adhesive definitely does not adhere. These are primarily polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE, Teflon). The adhesive will show Fracture Pattern 4 on these surfaces as well.

If you are unsure about the suitability of a surface, we are happy to provide further information.

Fracture Pattern 1 | Cohesive fracture after correct installation

Fracture Pattern 2 | Partially cured adhesive

Fracture Pattern 3 | No adhesion, surface contamination

Fracture Pattern 4 | Air pockets after pressing the adapter

No. We are not aware of any load-bearing material that the nwb adhesive would chemically attack. However, given the wide variety of possible surfaces, we cannot guarantee that the adhesive can always be completely removed without leaving any residue. For open-pored surfaces, it is recommended that users conduct preliminary tests. To avoid damaging the substrate, special care should be taken when removing the system or adhesive from open-pored or soft surfaces. Where a glass scraper works well on glass or smooth tiles, a plastic spatula is the better choice for delicate surfaces like wood or laminate.

No, although it is certainly not intended for consumption. Contact with the adhesive is completely harmless: simply wash it off with water and soap. If it comes into contact with your eyes, rinse thoroughly with plenty of water for several minutes while keeping the eyelid open, and consult a doctor as a precaution. If swallowed, seek medical advice immediately.

Yes.

Hardened or dried adhesive residues can be disposed of in small quantities with household waste. The same applies to the adapter after dismantling.

The adhesive itself is non-degradable and therefore has an unlimited shelf life. However, since it is very difficult to store the adhesive in a completely airtight condition, it may gradually cure in the tube over time. The minimum shelf life is 12 months. The expiration date of this 12-month period is embossed on the tube seal in the format DDMMYY.

No, the adapter is not reusable. Even if it is not destroyed when removed from the wall, it is almost impossible to remove the cured adhesive so thoroughly from the adapter that its airtightness is restored. Therefore, adapters and adhesive are only available as a complete service pack for the respective product.

Yes, for a large portion of our grab bar variants, lengths of up to a maximum of 100 cm are possible. However, the maximum load capacity is reduced accordingly. Rule of thumb: 10 kg per 10 cm. (The rule of thumb applies to grip bar lengths from 50 cm onwards.)

Our products are available at medical supply stores. Please visit our medical supply store finder to easily locate the nearest retailer where you can purchase our products.

Application temperature: +5 to +40 degrees Celsius
Operating temperature: -40 to -100 degrees Celsius
Short-term (up to 1 hour): +120 degrees Celsius
Recommended storage temperature: +15 to +25 degrees Celsius
Storage time: up to 12 months (expiration date see tube seal)