April 2020

In this issue, we share information on pressure-sensitive adhesives in packaging applications, stabilizers, bonding untreated polypropylene, monitoring flow characteristics, and more!

Advancing Adhesives

Making Adhesives Tougher with Weaker Bonds

Researchers have found that adding sacrificial weak bonds can improve the toughness of an adhesive system.

April 21, 2020

How do you make adhesives for electronics, vehicles, and construction tougher? By making them weaker.

Case Study

Controlling VOC Emissions from Silicone-Based Coatings

For processes such as tape manufacturing, a recuperative thermal oxidizer specially designed for high levels of silicone may be most effective.

Stephen H. Klostermeyer

April 23, 2020

Silicone-based coatings are among the most versatile materials used in a variety of industrial applications, including pressure-sensitive tapes, protective coatings, and the protection of printed text on packaging.

Advancing Adhesives

Legislation on GLYMO Will Shape Packaging in 2020

Epoxy silanes like GLYMO and GLYEO are adhesion promoters used in food packaging, but safety issues have prompted the development of new alternatives.

April 21, 2020

Consumers expect the food industry to provide safe products that comply with the latest regulations. FEICA, the Association of the European Adhesive and Sealant Industry, recommends avoiding the use of epoxy silanes in food contact applications, and the European Union is expected to set new limits during the course of this year. These limits will require complex testing methods that lead to challenges for converters and packaging manufacturers.

Advancing Adhesives

Elastic Strand Bonding without the Use of End-Block Resins

Styrene-isoprene-styrene polymers can be used to eliminate the need for end-block resins in elastic laminate bonding applications.

Paul Dalley J.D.

April 16, 2020

Styrene-isoprene-styrene polymers can be used to eliminate the need for end-block resins in elastic laminate bonding applications.

How Do Stabilizers Improve Durability in Adhesives and Sealants Formulations?

Raw materials in adhesives and sealants formulations are often protected from degradation by suitable stabilizer packages or through appropriate packaging.

Benno Blickenstorfer

April 9, 2020

Stabilizing additives such as antioxidants (AOs), ultraviolet (UV) absorbers, and hindered amine light stabilizers enable formulators to create durable adhesives and sealants, thereby extending the life of adhesively bonded goods.

Real-Time Monitoring of Adhesive and Sealant Properties

The correct adjustment of flow characteristics of sealants and thermosetting adhesives is crucial to their performance in automated, high-speed production environments.

Joe Goodbread

Sunil Kumar

April 14, 2020

The automated application of sealants and adhesives in settings such as automotive production requires that predictable, reproducible quantities are applied, and that they flow properly and remain in place during the final setting period.

Polyurethane Adhesive for Untreated Polypropylene

A new polyurethane-based adhesive has been developed to address adhesion challenges associated with bonding untreated polypropylene.

Yoshihiko Shiraki

Tadayuki Kawaguchi

Takaki Jono

April 6, 2020

Adhesives incorporating polyurethane resin have been widely used in industry due to many desirable characteristics, such as a high adhesive property, chemical resistance, and flexibility.

Changing the Packaging Landscape with Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives

Adhesive manufacturers are developing new technologies that converters can present to their packaged goods customers and enable them to capture more market share.

Chris Blackwell

April 1, 2020

Pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) continue to gain traction in the broad category of packaging. PSAs are rapidly changing the way goods are packaged and delivered to consumers in traditional retail and via ecommerce.

From the Editor

COVID-19 Coronavirus: Flattening the Curve

As I write this column, we in the U.S. are at a tipping point—doing our best to limit exposure and waiting to see if our efforts are successful.

Susan Sutton

April 1, 2020

I profoundly hope that you are reading this issue of ASI in good health and from the safety of your own home. The last few weeks have seen an unprecedented global response to the threat of COVID-19—from school, restaurant, and facility closings to innumerable event postponements and cancellations.

Ask Dr. Dave

How can we ensure full cure when using a UV-cured coating/adhesive on irregularly shaped parts?

Dr. Dave shares tips on avoiding blind areas that do not cure completely on irregularly shaped parts.

Dave Dunn Ph.D.

April 23, 2020

You need to look at so-called “shadow curing” options. Most UV-cured systems are based on acrylates and methacrylates and cure free-radically by the decomposition of a photoinitiator.

Strategic Solutions

Driving Innovation by Collaborating with Others: Know Your Areas of Focus

Scouting for collaboration opportunities outside your company is a process that begins with defining and prioritizing the market's needs in a way that anyone unfamiliar with your business can understand.

Victoria Scarborough Ph.D.

April 20, 2020

Meeting the technical and product needs of customers can be very challenging, especially if R&D resources are constrained or you do not have the right in-house expertise to deliver a timely response.