September 2021

2021 Distributor Roundtable

Leaders in raw materials and chemicals distribution share their insights on key issues impacting the adhesive and sealant industry.

Susan Sutton

September 2, 2021

What do distributors of raw materials and chemicals consider to be the primary challenges facing materials producers and purchasers? How can distributors help companies all along the supply chain understand and navigate the various forces impacting the industry? To find answers to these questions (and others), we reached out to leaders in the distribution industry.

Hot-Melt Adhesives’ Role in the Packaging Industry Evolution

Adhesives producers are helping to drive a vibrant and continuous innovation journey in the packaging industry.

Christina Frutuoso

September 17, 2021

In the past few decades, the evolution of marketing has significantly transformed packaging’s role in companies’ value chains. The packaging industry has taken a giant step and affirmed its role in the economy, not only within the supply chain but also in the fields of communication, brand awareness, quality control, and environmental concerns.

Case Study

Improving Supply Chain Visibility through Digitalization

An ongoing, award-winning project highlights next-generation possibilities for the raw materials and chemicals supply chain.

September 16, 2021

Earlier this year, BASF received the German Innovation Award 2021 in the Excellence in Business to Business-Chemical Industry category for a project involving the use of smart intermediate bulk containers (IBCs). These awards are presented by the German Design Council to recognize aspects of product innovation within different industries that offer additional benefits compared with previous solutions.

The Importance of Uniform Light Delivery from UV Curing Systems

Beyond peak intensity and curing area, differences in uniformity can impact the delivered UV light dose and change the optimal setup for flood-curing systems.

Jason Tomei

September 13, 2021

When selecting a UV flood-curing system, it is relatively easy to compare the advertised curing area and the peak intensity of the different systems and assume that higher values mean higher light delivery.

"Your Design Here" Circle Graphic on Pavement

Understanding Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives for Graphics Applications

Selecting the optimal pressure-sensitive adhesive for each of the many different—and new—applications across the graphics market is key to helping ensure the end products’ success.

Zhaohui Sun

September 7, 2021

Pressure-sensitive graphic products are ubiquitous in today’s world. The market continues to grow and evolve, requiring adhesive manufacturers to constantly innovate solutions for new materials (e.g., semi-flexible olefin films) and surfaces.

Composition Adjustments to Drive Polyolefin-Wax Interactions in Hot-Melt Adhesives

The proper interaction between polymer and wax is required to achieve specific properties in hot-melt adhesives.

Juan Tuberquia Allan McLennaghan Kyle Anderson Jozef Van Dun

August 30, 2021

Hot-melt adhesives (HMA) are formulated systems with extensive use in packaged goods, particularly in the bonding of cardboard boxes.

From the Editor

Moving the Adhesives and Sealants Industry Forward

The adhesives and sealants industry relies heavily on distributors for far more than simply raw materials and chemicals shipments.

Susan Sutton

September 23, 2021

According to a recent report from Grand View Research, the global chemical distribution market was estimated to be $247.1 billion last year and is projected to see robust growth (5.4% CAGR) to 2028. The distribution of specialty chemicals, such as those used in CASE (coatings, adhesives, sealants, and elastomers) and other sectors, is expected to be the fastest-growing segment of the market, reaching $139 billion in that timeframe.

Ask Dr. Dave

Bonding Fluoroplastic Parts to Metals

We manufacture PTFE and other fluoroplastic parts. We have been requested to make parts that can be bonded to metals. Is there a good adhesive, some sort of additive to the PTFE, or a surface treatment that we can use?

Dave Dunn Ph.D.

September 21, 2021

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a high-performance plastic used in a variety of industries, particularly for its heat and chemical resistance and “non-stick” properties. However, PTFE has a low surface energy that does not allow adhesives to wet its surface and subsequently bond.

Strategic Solutions

Weighing the Cost Benefit of Complex Design in 3D-Printed OEM Parts

Adhesive bonding opportunities are exponentially increasing with the design complexities of polymer and metal additive manufacturing.

Aggie Lotz

Jillian Gorsuch

Gregory Dudder Ph.D.

September 10, 2021

Additive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, has seen increased adoption across industries and regions for producing a variety of end-use parts.

In this webinar, Raphael Schaller, CTO of Collano, shares how his team envisioned their data to make it usable for AI-driven materials discovery. He reflects on what he would do differently if starting over, and how adopting the Citrine Platform has accelerated learning, collaboration, and innovation across the organization.