What is Pressure Sensitive Hot Melt Adhesive?

What is Pressure Sensitive Hot Melt Adhesive? (iSuoChem Adhesive Manufacturer)

Definition: Pressure sensitive hot melt adhesive are sensitive to pressure. They form a bond immediately when pressure is applied. Unlike traditional adhesives, Pressure sensitive hot melt adhesive do not require heating or curing. It is made by mixing synthetic rubber, resin, and rubber oil. These materials are heated into a molten state. Then, they are coated on substrates like cotton paper, cloth, or plastic film.

 iSuoChem Marketing Department / Edited by Jason

What are Features of pressure-sensitive hot melt adhesive?

1. Environmental protection and safety: Hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive is solvent-free, which is more conducive to environmental protection and safe production.

2. High production efficiency: Due to its simple production process, the production efficiency is relatively high.

3. Low cost: Compared with other types of pressure sensitive adhesives, hot melt pressure sensitive adhesives have lower costs.

4. Affected by temperature: Its viscosity is significantly affected by temperature, which is one of its main defects.

What is Composition of Pressure Sensitive Hot Melt Adhesive?

The composition of hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive mainly includes base material, tackifier, plasticizer and filler.

- Base materials: Synthetic rubber or resin.

- Tackifier: It has a wetting effect on the adhered object and can produce high adhesion under certain conditions. The selection of tackifiers needs to consider its compatibility with the main resin, adhesion and durability.

- Plasticizer: Plasticizer is used to improve the softness and processing performance of pressure-sensitive adhesives.

- Filler: This solid material does not chemically react with the main material. It can change properties and reduce costs. Fillers can be inorganic or organic and come in powder, fiber, or flake forms.

How does pressure-sensitive hot melt adhesive work?

Pressure-sensitive adhesives work by the principle of viscosity, which means that they will bond immediately after pressure is applied. This bonding can be achieved without external heating or long drying. This means that it can form a bond when pressed on a plastic, paper or metal surface. The bond strength depends on the applied pressure and the formulation of the adhesive.

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Is pressure sensitive adhesive permanent?

Yes, pressure-sensitive hot melt adhesive can maintain a permanent bond. Although the word "permanent" is a bit exaggerated, but in theory, the answer is yes.

Traditional hot melt adhesives require high temperatures for heating and cooling.

But, pressure-sensitive hot melt adhesives (PSAs) are a unique class of adhesives that instantly adhere to a wide range of surfaces at room temperature. It is precisely because of the physical property of pressure-sensitive hot melt adhesive that it will not completely solidify, but will remain in a delicate sticky state. This property almost ensures that pressure-sensitive hot melt adhesive will remain sticky permanently.

Their long open time (how long they can bond) makes hot melt PSAs ideal for pre-coating, which means that the adhesive needs to remain tacky after application. For products such as sticky notes, tapes and sanitary napkins, it is crucial that bonding can be performed completely independently of the adhesive application.

Materials used in PSA formulations

PSA is usually composed of a combination of synthetic rubber, resin and polymer. These ingredients provide the necessary tack and elasticity:

Synthetic Rubber: Offers flexibility and a strong bond.

Resins: Enhance adhesion, especially on difficult surfaces.

Polymers: Such as styrene-butadiene, provide improved strength and performance.

Different formulations allow PSAs to be tailored to specific substrates and environments, providing optimal performance depending on the application.

Types of Pressure-Sensitive Hot Melt Adhesives

There are several types of PSAs, depending on the formulation:

Rubber-based Pressure-Sensitive Hot Melt Adhesives: Suitable for general-purpose bonding, with elasticity and durability.

Resin-based Pressure-Sensitive Hot Melt Adhesives: Provide stronger bonds and are often used in industrial or high-demand environments.

Bio-based Pressure-Sensitive Hot Melt Adhesives: Environmentally friendly alternatives are gaining popularity due to sustainability issues.

What are the Applications of Pressure-sensitive Adhesive?

Pressure-Sensitive Hot Melt Adhesives have a wide range of applications, including:

Packaging products: PSA is widely used on packaging materials, from boxes to labels. They can be firmly bonded without heating, which is very useful for high-speed manufacturing. Such as BOPP tape, sealing paper tape, etc.

Hygiene products: Women's sanitary napkins, baby diapers, sanitary mattresses, etc. use Pressure Sensitive Hot Melt Adhesives for reliable bonding and easy use.

Electronic products: PSA helps assemble precision parts that require precise and instant bonding.

Adhesive labels: used for commodity price tags, cosmetic labels, etc.

Medical supplies: such as medical breathable tape, medicine patch, disposable surgical gowns, etc.

Textile products: such as car seat carpet composite fabric, carpet backing glue, etc.

Daily necessities: Pressure-Sensitive Hot Melt Adhesive can be used for stationery tape, adhesive plastic hooks, etc.

Special uses: such as flame retardant tape, luminous tape, magnetic tape, etc.

Challenges of Pressure-Sensitive Hot Melt Adhesives

Despite their wide use, Pressure-Sensitive Hot Melt Adhesives face limitations like temperature sensitivity. Extreme heat can reduce viscosity, making them unsuitable for high-temperature applications unless specially formulated. Pressure-Sensitive Hot Melt Adhesives may also struggle on very smooth or greasy surfaces, limiting their use in some industries.

How to choose the right Pressure-Sensitive Hot Melt Adhesive for your needs

Choosing the right pressure-Sensitive Hot Melt Adhesive depends on a variety of factors, such as substrate type, environmental conditions, and the pressure required for bonding. For example, rubber-based PSAs perform better in colder environments, while resin-based PSAs may be more suitable for heavy-duty applications such as industrial assembly.

iSuoChem: your better choices for high-quality hot melt adhesives

If you would like to learn more about pressure sensitive hot melt adhesives, please feel free to contact us! iSuoChem is a leading supplier of high-quality, environmentally friendly adhesives in China. Our experts are happy to answer any questions you may have and help you choose the right adhesive for your needs. Or you can contact Spiderbond directly, which has its own R&D center in North America.