The packaging industry accounts for one of the largest markets for industrial adhesive. Everything you purchase, from frozen food to car parts, comes in some form of packaging. With all of these products on the market, it’s necessary for manufacturers to use the most effective adhesive for different packaging materials.
Plastic Packaging
Plastic is the most widely used material for packaging. Low-density plastics are typically used for trash bags and carrier bags, while high-density plastics are found in bleach and shampoo bottles. When choosing the right adhesive for plastic packaging, bond strength is usually the top priority. UV curable adhesives work well with each type of plastic. Some special grades of plastic may require an epoxy-based adhesive to provide a higher level of flexibility. Some pressure sensitive hot melts are use to bond plastic materials as well as PUR polyurethane moisture curing hot melts.
Paper Packaging
Corrugated boxes, boxboard or paperboard, and paper bags are all everyday uses for paper in packaging. Depending on the use, the best types of adhesives for paper packing are water-based, solvent-based, and hot melts. For food-related applications, both water-based and hot melt adhesives are the safest. Labels and seals for cartons and cases are usually manufactured with solvent based adhesives. Finally, hot melt is best for automated applications, including erecting and sealing cartons and cases.
Foam Packaging
Foam packaging is widely used for protective purposes. Any time you order something fragile like electronics or glass, it usually comes wrapped in a layer of foam. For foam with a smooth surface like charcoal or poly, pressure-sensitive adhesives work well because of their long open time and strong peel and shear characteristics.
For corrugated foam surfaces like the pick and pull grid or eggcrate, hot melt adhesives are the best because of their wet tack, heat stability, and long open time.
Aluminum Packaging
Aluminum foil is used in various applications for food packaging, like beverage cans. It’s also used for packaging medication and in the automotive industry. Because of its chemical properties, aluminum allows adhesive to retain all of its bonding strength. Epoxy-based adhesives withstand exposure to many acids, bases, and solvents. Polyurethane reactive hot melts are also excellent for aluminum because of the incredibly strong bond that they create.