What is hot melt adhesive?

1. What is Hot Melt Adhesive?

Simply put, hot melt adhesive (HMA) is an adhesive that is solid at room temperature, melts into a liquid when heated for application, and then quickly solidifies again upon cooling, forming a strong bond. It does not use water or solvents as a carrier, but instead melts into a liquid state through heating, wets the substrate surface, and then rapidly solidifies during the cooling process to create adhesion.

2. Core Features and Advantages

100% Solid Content: Contains no volatile organic compounds (VOCs), no solvent pollution, no fire hazard, and complies with international environmental standards.

Instant Curing: Adhesion occurs upon cooling, with curing speeds typically ranging from a few seconds to tens of seconds, greatly improving the efficiency of automated production lines.

Compatibility: Exhibits good wettability on various difficult-to-bond materials (such as plastic films, metals, glass, and wood), and performs particularly well on non-polar materials (such as PE and PP).

Storage and Transportation Resistance: Stable performance at room temperature; unlike water-based adhesives, it does not freeze and become ineffective, nor does it dry out easily like solvent-based adhesives.

Excellent Die-Cutting Performance: In label processing, high-quality hot melt adhesives do not ooze, have clean edges, and are suitable for high-speed die-cutting.

3. Main Composition

The performance of hot melt adhesives can be precisely controlled by adjusting the "formula":

Polymer (main resin): Provides strength and toughness (e.g., EVA, SBS, SIS, PO, etc.).
Tackifier (resin): Reduces melt viscosity and improves the "grip" on the substrate.
Wax: Controls solidification time and fluidity.
Antioxidant: Prevents the adhesive from oxidizing, discoloring, or carbonizing during high-temperature heating in the melting machine.

4. Common Classifications

Based on chemical properties and application scenarios, hot melt adhesives are mainly divided into the following categories:

5. Wide Range of Applications

Due to its versatility, hot melt adhesive has penetrated almost all manufacturing industries:

Label Printing (Your company's core business): Thermal paper labels, logistics labels, tire labels (requiring high viscosity), glass and cardboard labels, etc.

Packaging Engineering: Gift box manufacturing, automatic carton sealing, beverage bottle labeling. Logistics and Transportation: Sealing of courier bags, tamper-evident seals, and bonding of paper/plastic cushioning materials.

Hygiene Products: Structural bonding of diapers and sanitary napkins.

Industrial Manufacturing: Automotive carpet bonding, air filter frames, and shoe assembly.

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