What Are The Adhesive Choices?
To choose a label adhesive you have to determine the following characteristics to make the correct choice: environment, permanence, application surface, ease of use, and cost. Considering these factors will also help you choose the right label type for your product and also help you choose your label material.
Below we will go over the different adhesive types and the factors to consider when choosing which is the best adhesive for your label.
Rubber Based Adhesives
Commonly used for a wide variety of products due to its ability to stick well to multiple surfaces such as rubber, silicone, teflon, and plastics.
This material does have low heat tolerance, and ultraviolet rays (UV) so this material is not suited to be stored for long periods of time outdoors.
Acrylic Based Adhesives
While acrylics do not stick as well as rubber adhesives in a controlled environment, they do provide more durability against extreme temperatures such as cold, moisture, solvents, and ultraviolet rays (UV).
Making this material more ideal for storage and use in the outdoors or environments where the climate cannot easily be controlled. Acrylic adhesives can be used on multiple surfaces such as glass and metal.
Acrylic/ Rubber Blend Adhesives
Offers a combination of rubber and acrylic performance depending on blend and are typically more expensive as they are custom made to user specification.
Label Adhesive Characteristics & Environmental Analysis
Label adhesives have 2 types and 2 categories: weatherproof / not weatherproof and permanent / removable.
Weatherproof labels can resist significant temperature & moisture ranges as well as UV exposure whether they be natural (outdoors) or manmade (freezer, washdown, etc).
Permanent Adhesives
If your label needs to stay on the product for long periods of time then this label is just for you.
Permanent labels cannot be removed without destroying the label and the surface area on which it is applied. This type of label is the most common labeling adhesive in every market.
Removable Adhesives
This adhesive is commonly used for temporary informational labeling. This type of label is not meant for permanent application.
Removable adhesives are best suited for food products, clothing tags, coupons, or promotional stickers since when removed, they leave no sticky residue.
Label Adhesives By Application Surface
When you are deciding on the best adhesive label to use, the surface of the product to be labelled should be one of the first things to consider. Product surfaces can vary between cardboard, plastic, glass, and rubber each with its own unique properties.
As these surfaces vary so will the bond between the product and label. For best results, the label adhesive should mesh with the surface of the product to be labeled.
Smooth Glass, Plastic, Or Metal Surfaces
If your label needs to stick to smooth metal, glass, or plastic you have many choices as these materials offer the ideal maximum surface area for adhesive contact.
Any choice of adhesive should work as long as it meets your other adhesive criteria.
Textured and Porous Product Surfaces, HDPE, Corrugate, or Rough Metal
Textured surfaces reduce the amount of surface area for an adhesive label to stick to. If you look closely to a textured or porous surface you will notice indentions and bumps throughout the surface. An adhesive will cling to the bumps throughout the product surface, but may not stick to the indentions.
For better results, using a thicker and softer adhesive such as a permanent adhesive with a rubber base will help to stick to the product's surface area.
Label Adhesive Choice Chart
Learning about the types of label adhesives, how the product surface area affects adherence, and environments can give you confidence when purchasing label adhesives.
If in doubt, then our trained professionals are available through email or phone to answer any questions you may have.
