Why Hot Melt Adhesives Might be Better for Your Application
Many manufacturers choose water-based adhesives because:
- They offer good resistance to heat, chemical and water influences.
- They can be more economical than alternatives.
Hot melt adhesives set quickly and maintain strong bonds across a range of temperatures.
Before you place an order for your default water-based adhesive, consider whether the results you get are the results you want. Never stick with an adhesive simply because it’s what you traditionally used.
Talk to us about whether hot melt adhesive might be better for your use.
What Is A Hot Melt Adhesive?
Hot melt adhesives are actually the most widely used across all applications.
They’re solid at room temperature, after application as a molten film or as a series of dots or beads.
Since they don’t use water they have a quick cure and set time.
Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) hot melt adhesives are the most common variety. These work best with paper materials in packaging and assembly. Quick setting times and strong bonding is ideal in high throughput applications like:
- Paper and packaging.
- Woodworking
- Automotive assembly.
How does hot melt compare to my water-based adhesive?
Hot melt excels in high volume workplaces, while water-based adhesives take more time to set and are preferred in more niche applications (like those where a more flexible adhesive is required).
So does your current adhesive deliver the quality you want?
Every application is different, and the best adhesive depends on a whole bunch of factors.
Maybe a water-based adhesive worked with your assembly processes years ago, but your packaging changed or the packaging speed on your assembly line increased and the adhesive can’t keep up.
There’s no reason to stay loyal to one adhesive.
A particular adhesive may work in one situation, but not in the next.
When it comes to the right adhesive to choose – it all depends. The best thing to do is to talk it out with a pro. We are happy to offer advice.
Switching to hot melt might have a huge impact on your business, or you might need a custom formulation to get back on track.
Find the right adhesive today.
Learning the differences between adhesives is tricky, but we can help. Our expert staff is always happy to learn about your application and make recommendations based on experience across a huge range of industrial processes.
Whether you want to request a product quote or schedule an adhesive audit, we’ll get back to you with the answers and insight you’re looking for.
