Hot melt adhesives – three short words that contain a lot of intricacy. This technology has revolutionised bonding across multiple industries, with its versatility and performance opening a wide range of applications. Understanding the ins and outs of these powerful adhesives can significantly enhance production processes and product quality.
A Brief History of Hot Melt Adhesives
The exact origins of hot melt adhesives are unclear, dating back to the mid-20th century. Some sources claim that this technology was invented during the 1940s by a man called Paul Cope, an employee at Procter & Gamble, but earlier references to similar products can be found. In the 1950s, the discovery of polypropylene by US chemists Hogan and Banks opened new industrial applications, and in the 1960s hot melt adhesives began to be widely used in the packaging sector.
In terms of adhesive applicators, it wasn’t until 1954 that the item often considered to be the first industrial glue gun was created by George Schultz. However, this design has some significant differences to the technology that is commonly used today, and took repeated iterations by multiple people before what could be called a modern glue applicator was created.
How Do Hot Melt Adhesives Work?
Hot melt adhesives are unlike other adhesive formulations in that they exist as 100% solids at room temperature. These products are designed to be solvent-free and do not contain water. When heated above their melting point, they transform into a liquid, enabling easy application to a surface. The adhesive rapidly solidifies as it cools, generating strong bonds with high cohesion and adhesion.
Building Blocks of Hot Melt Adhesives
Hot melt adhesives are typically composed of three main components: polymers, resins, and waxes. Each of these elements plays a vital role in supporting adhesive performance:
- Polymers form the backbone of the hot melt adhesive providing cohesion and viscosity.
- Resins enhance the adhesive’s ability to adhere to surfaces and provide immediate hot tack.
- Waxes control viscosity and setting speed.
The solid formulation of hot melt adhesives means that compared with solvent-based adhesives, they offer reduced or eliminated VOC emissions. Adhesive formulations can be tailored for specific applications, by adjusting the chemistry of the formulation to achieve the desired properties.
Industries and Applications
Hot melt adhesives have seen widespread adoption across a range of industries. With rapid bonding and setting times, these products can significantly reduce production idle time, and their ability to bond with a wide variety of materials grants them unmatched versatility across multiple applications.
Packaging: Hot melt adhesives are often used for sealing cartons, corrugated boxes, and other packaging materials, with fast setting times making them ideal for high-speed production lines.
Construction and trade: The strong bonds created by hot melt adhesives make them useful for joining surfaces in everything from woodworking and carpentry to precast fabrication.
Industrial and manufacturing: Hot melt adhesives are core to securing materials within composite manufacture and are widely used to fix and protect electrical componentry.
Product assembly: From mattresses to automotive components, hot melt adhesives are commonly used for fast, efficient bonding across a range of consumer goods.
DIY, home, and recreation: The ease of application for hot melt adhesives means they can be easily used for home improvement tasks, repairing sports equipment, and even arts and crafts.
Power Adhesives Hot Melt Solutions
Power Adhesives offers a comprehensive range of solutions tailored to meet the diverse needs of our customers. Our products offer superior bonding strength, and a wide range of open and setting speeds that excel across challenging applications. In addition, our selection of application equipment ensures optimal performance and efficiency, making adhesive use a breeze.
With a wide range of products, we can offer a hot melt adhesive tailored for any solution. To find out more about which hot melt adhesive is right for your needs, contact our sales team by emailing sales@poweradhesives.com
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