Pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) are used in applications ranging from labeling food packaging to assembling electronic devices to mounting graphics displays. Although they have been around for decades and their use is widespread, manufacturers, converters, and printers may not understand the key differences between the adhesive choices available, how they’re constructed, or which are best suited for a particular job.
When adhesive tape is found as evidence at a crime scene, it is the forensic scientist’s job to match it to its source with little or no knowledge of tape construction.
The criminal element has discovered the thousands of uses for adhesive tape, and it is being found more and more often as trace evidence at crime scenes. By far the most common tape found as evidence in two out of three cases involving adhesive tape is duct tape.
Many biodegradable polymers are suited for adhesive applications, such as environmentally friendly packaging, recyclable envelope adhesives and biomedical devices.
Significant advances have been made over the past 20 years in the development of biodegradable polymers. These materials have been developed in a variety of forms, and thus have potential use in a range of industries, including adhesives.
Starch- and dextrin-based adhesives play a large part in industrial production, especially the packaging industry.
August 1, 2005
This article provides an overview of the raw materials that go into starch and dextrin adhesives, the methods of adhesive manufacture, and the additives that are commonly used in formulations for improvement of specific properties.
To answer our questions on the outlook for the industry, we leaned on members of our editorial advisory board and others representing raw material and equipment suppliers, adhesives manufacturing, product development, technical service, business management and consulting.
Tap into the expertise of an impressive group of professionals specializing in adhesives and sealants, ask them to predict the future for the industry, spice it up with their opinions on some hot topics, and you come up with a good read.