EVA/Polyolefin Hot Melt Adhesives
What is a Hot Melt Adhesive?
A hot melt adhesive (HMA) is a 100% solids bonding agent applied in the molten state that forms bonds when cooling.
Its formulation always includes three main raw materials:
- Polymers such as ethylene, copolymers etc. They are the backbone and provide cohesive or internal strength. They dictate the level of performance of temperature considerations and toughness, durability, and flexibility of the bond.
- Natural or synthetic tackifying resins.
- Plasticizers (mostly waxes and paraffin). These enable the adhesive to adapt to different open times and setting times.
In particular, rheology plays an important role in determining how they will perform for a specific application. Rheology relates to how well the adhesive will flow, wet out and adhere to a certain substrate. For example, elasticity, viscosity and modulus are related to its rheology.
- Elasticity is the adhesive’s ability to store energy and use that energy to retain original shape when moved.
- Viscosity is the adhesive’s resistance to flow.
- Modulus is the adhesive’s flexibility levels after it sets.
What are the benefits of EVA/Polyolefin Hot Melt Adhesives?
These adhesives offer the following benefits:
- Improved End of Life: They are able to replace solvent-based adhesives, offering compatibility with bio-based and renewable materials, which improves recyclability levels. They also offer a long shelf life and decreased adhesive consumption compared to other technologies, which reduces waste.
- Reduced Environmental Impact: Formulated with non-hazardous materials, they comply with strict regulations, minimizing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and overall harmful emissions.
- Enhanced workability: They are low odor and can be easily sprayed, improving working conditions.
- Streamlined operational efficiencies: These adhesives don’t require stop-start operations, are fast setting and require little maintainence, which increases efficiencies and improves lean manufacturing.
- Enhanced design possibilities: EVAs and polyolefins can bond to multiple substrates, which increases design options.
- Increased safety: As a moisture-free bonding option, they reduce bacteria and virus contamination, allowing them to be able to be food grade and compatible with pharma white rooms.
What are Bostik's innovations about EVA & Polyolefin Hot Melt Adhesives?
Bostik’s sustainable hot melt adhesives improve production operations and end-use products across markets. Additionally, they are available in a high diversity of materials and colors. Here are some of our latest innovations:
- The Case and Carton Sealing Hot Melt Adhesive for High-Temperature Applications
Kizen PROS is a robust case and carton sealing adhesive designed for an array of package types to keep your production lines moving and streamline your inventory. Able to reliably bond to the most challenging substrates, including coated, highly recycled or ones that vary over time, Kizen PROS eliminates pop-opens that cause downtime and field failures that increase cost. Additionally, its broad temperature range makes it suitable for many applications within case and carton sealing, consolidating SKUs while improving end-use performance.
Contact us if you want to know more about our hot melt adhesive innovations.
What are the main applications of EVA & Polyolefin Hot Melt Adhesives?
Consumer Goods
For Consumer Goods, EVA and Polyolefin Hot Melt Adhesives, including Metallocenes, are appreciated for their multi-purpose, fast setting time, hot and cold temperature resistance, food safety compliance, and compatibility with difficult substrates. Hot Melt Adhesives improve efficiency and speed-up production by forming a bond quickly without needing time to cure or dry. They are mainly used for carton closing, box closing, wrap, trays, etc.
Why choose Kizen Force adhesive instead of conventional EVA and Metallocene for Case & Carton sealing?
Kizen Force adhesive provides similar performance as metallocene near the cost of EVA and can be foamed. The comparison of Kizen Force, EVA, and metallocene performances are given in the opposite graph.
Kizen adhesives also allow you to make considerable savings on your adhesive consumption. Calculate your savings.
Pulp & Paper
Bostik EVA and Polyolefins Hot Melt Adhesives, including Metallocenes adhesives, reduce environmental impact and increase operational efficiencies, design opportunities, performances, and quality.
THERMOGRIP 43298 is a high-performing compostable hot melt adhesive used for various paper and fiberboard packaging.
Assembly
In Assembly, Hot Melt EVA & Polyolefins Adhesives can be used in filters, foams & mattresses, bottle caps, and cosmetics. Bostik provides both sprayed and corded adhesives to adapt to your needs.
- Filtration
- Foam & Mattress
- Bottle Caps
- Cosmetics
Our amorphous polyolefin hot melt adhesive, XT19067/1, is versatile for all mattress applications. It has excellent cohesion and a long open time.
Building and Construction
Hot Melt Adhesives are mainly used in glass wool for roofing and woodworking (edge bonding and soft forming) in building and construction. These adhesives are suitable for a wide variety of substrates. Their non-VOC properties make them safe for use in buildings.
The Bostik Hot Melt EVA ARDAL range is designed for high-performance bonding to wood. ARDAL T 228M is a hot melt adhesive for profile wrapping. It has a very short open time and is applied by slot.
Automotive
For the automotive and transportation industries, we offer APAO (Amorphous Poly-Alpha-Olefins) Hot Melt Adhesives. They are appreciated for their foamable compatibility, high heat resistance, UV resistance, and optimized viscosity for fast line speed, making them ideal for many applications in automotive.
TRESOL FP520 is a sprayable adhesive, with very high initial cohesion with long open time, for automotive, foam and textile applications.
