Bonding to Plastics with Waterborne Adhesives

Bonding to low energy plastic surfaces can be a challenge.  Doing so with waterbased adhesives can make that challenge even more difficult.  We’ve all experienced the benefits to a treated plastic surface for most plastic films be it polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polyester or other, however, what happens when in-line treatment or aged pre-treated surfaces come in to play.  The use of superior (and more costly) polymeric backbones can help and the use adhesion promoters or co-solvents can enhance the waterbased products and boost the performance to acceptable adhesion levels.

I would be interested in hearing from you on the issues you may have encountered and the solutions used to solve the challenge.

GreenBond Scorecard

I am pleased to announce that the Adhesives & Sealant Council (ASC) has picked up the GreenBond Scorecard and linked it to their website in the “Green” section.  Although it is password protected the article is for general consumption is a first attempt at quantifying “Green” efforts to make our industry more environmentally friendly.  Let’s not forget that in general, adhesive manufacturer’s have been wonderful at addressing environmental issues from the get go.  I would estimate (with of course no supporting data) that well over 1/2 of the technical personnel in the adhesives industry have their positions based strictly on developing environmentally friendly and greener materials.

I invite you to join in the GreenBond Scorecard idea and bring it to the next level.  Details of the scorecard can be found on our website at http://www.wisdomadhesives.com/products/sustainable.scorecard.htm

Warping & Curl

It is getting to that time of the year, which tends to be the 180 degree opposite of February, where warp and curl become prominent issues for the packaging/paper converting and bookbinding/graphic arts industries. There are many factors that play a significant role and include operating conditions, substrates/bonding surfaces and their properties – be it a paper to paper situation or paper to film applications, adhesives, inks, coatings, application equipment and just about anything else that is used in the manufacturing process.

The purpose of this entry is to get you the blogger involved, I would love to hear your tips and what you consider best practices for prevent and controlling warp and curl.

Thanks.

Tom

Memorial Day & Adhesives

I would like to wish everyone a happy Memorial Day weekend. As we reflect on and thank those veterans who served our country and our people so well, I am also thankful for the coming of Spring and Summer to the Midwest. Warmer weather is very much welcome to this region after another long winter. Warmer weather also reminds me of ever changing conditions in many operations where adhesives are used. I am certainly biased, but I do think that in general adhesives are one of the most consistent and finely specified materials used in the manufacture of parts and materials using the adhesive. However, even with such tight control, ambient temperature and humidity conditions can play a significant role in the performance of the adhesive and are variables that are in need of consideration.

Please have a safe and happy Memorial Day Weekend.

Why We Need Sustainable Adhesives

Why We Need Sustainable Adhesives

Eventually things will get back in order and the world economy will pick up and once again oil prices will rise and thus a premium will be placed on raw materials for adhesives. Let’s face it, the vast majority of industrial adhesives are derived in one form or another from fossil fuels. The Adhesives Industry needs to rely on fossil fuels for now while continuing the path of developing better ways to make adhesives more sustainable. Additionally, improving the “quality” of the adhesive to make it perform better at a lower usage rate, like an automobile going from 20 miles per gallon of gasoline to 100 miles per gallon of gasoline, is a must for future survival. The manner in which adhesives are produced also matters. Producing a “better” adhesive with less energy consumption is critical. Finally, how the adhesive product is used is probably the single biggest essentially untapped area of improvement for adhesive conservation and optimization to tackle.

So let’s think positive about the present and plan ahead for an eventual and sustainable future.

Introduction

Wisdom Adhesives, North America’s top mid-sized adhesive manufacturer, has been producing environmentally safe and compliant waterbased and hot melt adhesives for industrial users throughout the world since 1875. Wisdom supplies adhesives to a wide range of industries – Book Binding, Converting Tissue and Towel, Graphic Arts, Packaging, Product Assembly, Textiles and General Purpose.