Packaging is the largest application for adhesives in the world. Over 70% of adhesives used globally are for packaging applications including case & carton closure, flexible packaging, folding carton, envelopes, and corrugated converting. In the hot melt adhesive industry there is a trend towards high quality packaging adhesives resulting in cost benefits in use and improved performance characteristics.

A new development in packaging adhesives is low temperature hot melts providing the case and carton sealing performance of adhesives applied at 160°C, but at reduced application temperatures of only 120°C. They are safer to use, easier to clean up, can lower operating costs, and may run significantly cleaner than traditional adhesives. Costs of overall maintenance and replacement parts are reduced and downtime is dramatically decreased providing greater production efficiencies.

Key technical requirements for packaging applications are:

• Precise viscosity control for optimized adhesive application.
• Open and setting time.
• Correct adhesion/cohesion balance.
• Good heat resistance.
• Good low temperature performance.
• Adhesion to a variety of dissimilar substrates.
• Aging stability.

Eastoflex amorphous polyolefins are an ideal choice as the base polymer for pallet stabilization hot melt adhesives.