Are you still one of those people who go to shops and department stores to buy food, clothes, and electrical appliances, etc.? Or are you a user of the modern, virtual shopping malls that are open at any time of the day or night and whose range of goods far surpasses that of physical shops? Whichever group you belong to: just read on.

Online trading and shipping

Online trading is growing every year. Unlike in local shops, however, the customer cannot simply take the goods home after giving them a thorough inspection; instead, they must be brought to the customer. For large products, such as refrigerators, this is done by a forwarding agent, for smaller articles, in a parcel, and for small, flexible products, such as textiles, in an opaque plastic or paper envelope which is sealed with an adhesive.

Temperature-resistant adhesive for padded envelopes

This envelope has several functions at once, e.g.

• It must be opaque so that no one can see which product is contained within.
• It must protect the product against environmental influences.
• It must be closed in such a way that nobody can take or add anything unnoticed.

And this at any time of day or night and in summer as well as in winter!

These requirements also place high demands on the adhesive, which is responsible for the secure closure of the envelope.

On the one hand, the adhesive, which is simply coated onto the closure flap of the envelope as a narrow strip a few millimeters wide, must have a high initial adhesion. This is because the envelope is filled, sealed, labelled and shipped immediately. There is no time to press the closure tab of the envelope firmly and wait until the adhesive finally sticks. Afterwards, the envelope will go on journeys all over the world. In tropical regions with high temperatures and high humidity or in areas as cold as the Arctic. And the adhesive must always keep the envelope neatly sealed.

This requirement can only be met with carefully selected and tested adhesive formulations. An incorrectly selected adhesive will see the padded envelope open during transport. The goods will fall out and get damaged or get lost. Complaints are inevitable.

Although it is only a matter of sending goods or simple documents, the requirements placed on the envelope are already very high.

Adhesive applications for shipping in the security sector

Applications in the security sector have even higher requirements. Here we are talking about the dispatch of cash, highly valuable documents or forensic samples. You can read about the requirements placed on an envelope in this sector and the special solutions that exist in our blog “What is important when transporting money and valuable items?”

Summary

I'll sum it up:

• Padded envelopes made of plastic must fulfill several functions.
• The adhesive must ensure the secure closure of the envelope.
• It must do so in regions with extremely hot or cold conditions.
• Applications in security areas require special solutions.

Talk to our adhesive experts to find the right adhesive for your application. We look forward to hearing from you and are at your disposal.

UV curable adhesives are a modern adhesive technology that offers many advantages. We at artimelt can look back on more than 20 years of experience in the development of radiation curable UV adhesives and are happy to pass on our artimelt knowledge to you for the switch to UV technology. This artimelt blog is intended to help processors of adhesives make the decision to switch to UV technology.

Change from rubber-based hot melt to UV-curable adhesives

artimelt assumes that, up to this point, you have been processing classic rubber-based hot melt. In this case the step to UV curable adhesives is a small one. You will already be familiar with hot melt, know how it is processed and have the appropriate equipment, such as a barrel melter, buffer tank and a coating plant in-house. You will also be familiar with the advantages and disadvantages of rubber-based hot melt, such as easy processing, good adhesion at low temperatures, or low weather resistance or temperature resistance. The first question to be answered now is whether you need the positive properties of UV curable adhesives for your products, such as:

• High temperature resistance up to 200°C
• High chemical resistance
• High UV resistance and therefore suitable for outdoor applications
• Approval for direct food contact
• Good punching properties

artimelt UV adhesives fulfill all these positive properties. In close cooperation, artimelt develops tailor-made UV adhesives for you, which are perfectly suited to your processing possibilities and fields of application.

Upgrade your coating systems with UV lamps

You can continue to use your existing coating system, but you will have to “upgrade” it. artimelt recommends the following: Talk to a UV equipment manufacturer and tell them what you want to do. Tell him you need UV lamps that emit in the UVC range so that artimelt adhesives can be cross-linked. Also consider the following points:

• How wide is my system?
• At what speed do I want to operate my system?
• How high is the coating weight going to be?
• How much space do I have on my existing hot melt system for UV lamp installation?
• Would I like to have the latest measurement and control technology that measures the UV output during system operation and adjusts it to the target value, or would I like to check and readjust it manually?

All these points ultimately have an influence on the entirety of the equipment and thus also on your investment costs.

Invest for the future: more UV lamps, separate barrel melting units, buffer tank and hose lines

A very important artimelt tip: Don't just have the UV system designed to meet your current needs. Think about the future and invest in more lamp units than you need today. This has the following advantages:

• You can coat a higher coating weight and network safely.
• You can increase the coating speed.
• If the existing lamp fails, you can switch on the spare lamp and continue production.

artimelt also recommends investing in separate barrel melting units, buffer tanks and hose lines to the application head. UV curable adhesives are not compatible with other hot melt systems and can lead to gel formation when mixed, resulting in a poor coating appearance.

With this additional equipment you can kill several birds with one stone:

• You can very quickly switch from classic hot melt to UV adhesives.
• You will save yourself the time-consuming cleaning of barrel melter, buffer tank and hose lines every time the adhesive is changed.
• You will avoid the risk of gel formation.

Summary

artimelt has summarized the most important points for you:

• First answer the question whether you need the properties of the UV adhesives.
• You will need lamps that emit in the UVC range.
• Think about the future and invest in more lamp units than you need today.
• Invest in additional peripheral equipment such as a barrel melter, buffer tank and hose lines.

artimelt has comprehensive know-how regarding UV adhesives and the best contacts to equipment manufacturers. Let your artimelt Key Account Manager advise you.

UV-curing adhesives can now be used for a wide range of applications. Although originally developed to replace solvent-based adhesives, UV adhesives can do much more. Due to the artimelt base polymer formulations, removable adhesives and adhesives with a strong bond can be manufactured using one and the same raw adhesive mixture. artimelt UV adhesives can therefore be used in a wide range of different applications.

Applications of artimelt UV adhesives

A typical example of the way in which UV adhesives can be used is in the manufacture of removable labels for wet-wipe packaging. In this application, the adhesives comes into contact with the wet wipe materials, which can include alcohols, perfumes, paraffin oils and emulsifying agents. All of these constituents do not impair the functionality of the artimelt removable UV adhesives. Even after being opened and closed dozens of times, the adhesive retains its original properties with barely any changes.

Another interesting example of the way in which UV adhesives can be used is in washable bottle labels. Glass bottles are very frequently recycled. As part of the bottle cleaning process, the labels must be able to be removed from the bottle without leaving any residue. This is not always possible with every type of adhesive. Many adhesives form a bond that is too strong and thus prevent the labels from being able to be removed cleanly.

Due to their low weight, plastic bottles (PET) are also being used increasingly in the drinks industry. These also feature labels, but are shredded instead of being reused. The PET flakes generated in this process are reused to manufacture PET bottles and other items made from PET. However, due to labels and adhesives having a negative effect on the PET recycling process, they both must be removed from the PET flakes. This is where artimelt comes in.

Due to the careful selection of raw materials used, artimelt UV adhesives can also come into direct contact with foodstuffs. For example, labels for resealable cookie packaging, as are commonly used nowadays, are manufactured using artimelt UV adhesives.

As the UV adhesives are resistant to light and ageing, they can also be applied to transparent film materials. Even after spending several months in storage, they remain transparent and do not turn a yellow color. Thanks to artimelt’s high level of specialist knowledge in the development of adhesives, the same raw adhesive mixture can also be used to manufacture adhesive tapes. The adhesives used in these tapes must have totally different properties, e.g. the ability to form a strong adhesive bond on a wide range of surfaces, a high level of resistance to shear stress and a resistance to high temperatures. For example, adhesive tapes can be produced for use in the automotive industry.

A great many strongly adhesive labels are also used in this industry. The labels used here feature important information and must not be able to come loose, otherwise this information will be lost. An example of such an application would be car battery labels. These labels are exposed to high temperatures and the effects of chemicals in the engine area, e.g. battery acid, engine oil, fuel, cold cleaning solvent, etc. The adhesives must ensure that contact with none of these substances will cause the label to come loose and fall off.

artimelt UV adhesives are the right solution for this job, as they form a strong adhesive bond on a variety of surfaces and are resistant to high temperatures and chemicals. This resistance to chemicals is also extremely important for labels affixed to chemical containers. Just imagine, you order a number of different chemical and upon receiving them, you find that there is no way to differentiate between the containers, as the labels have fallen off. You won’t know which chemicals are stored in each container. You won’t know how dangerous each substance is. And you won’t know how to handle each chemical. By using the right artimelt UV adhesive, you can make sure you do not run any risks in such situations.

artimelt has the right solutions for you.

Summary

To summarize:

• artimelt UV adhesives can be used for both removable and permanently affixed labels.
• artimelt UV adhesives are characterized by their resistance to high temperatures and chemicals.
• artimelt UV adhesives can be used in the manufacture of products that come into direct contact with foodstuffs.

If you require more information on finding the right adhesive for your application, our adhesive experts would be happy to help.

Infographic artimelt UV adhesives and their Fields of Use

A large number of medical products are packaged and sterilized, including plasters, medical tape, surgery drapes and ECG electrodes. All of these products use an adhesive. The packaging is also often closed or sealed with an adhesive. The adhesive must be able to withstand the sterilization processes commonly used without its properties changing. Furthermore, the sterile properties of the product must remain the same over a long period of time.

There is a difference between adhesives that form direct bonds on the skin and those that are used as laminating adhesives and do not come into direct contact with human skin. Adhesives that are allowed to come into direct contact with skin are used in the manufacture of plasters, such as artimelt M11.1506, which is ideal for contact with sensitive skin. Surgery drapes are often made up of multiple layers. The individual layers are stuck together using a laminating adhesive such as artimelt M12.317. Sometimes, a self-adhesive edge strip is applied to ensure that the drape can be affixed to the patient’s skin. artimelt M11.1566 is very well suited for this purpose.

Laminating adhesives are also used in the manufacture of ECG electrodes in order to ensure that the individual components remain reliably and constantly stuck together. At room temperature, these adhesives are dry and non-sticky. However, once they are warmed up, they become soft and their adhesive properties are awakened. The adhesive subsequently forms a bond to the substrate when pressure is applied. These adhesives are different from pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSA) that are constantly sticky and must be covered with a release liner.

During the sterilization process, the question of “what happens to the adhesive?!” is always asked. Does the form, color, smell, etc. of the adhesive change? artimelt carried out a comprehensive study and subjected selected artimelt adhesives to individual sterilization methods:

• Ethylene oxide sterilization (EtO)
• Gamma radiation
• X-ray radiation

The results from the investigation into artimelt M11.1566 – an adhesive for plasters and tapes – are listed as an example.

Extract from the results for the artimelt M11.1566 adhesive

The chart shows the change in the adhesion and cohesion values following sterilization.

The “0-value” values show the adhesive properties prior to sterilization. Depending on the method used, barely any differences were recorded. This means that the adhesive almost retains its original properties. The sterilization process can even be said to have positive effects on the adhesive, as the cohesion – and therefore the internal strength – increase and the adhesion remains the same! Based on this study, we can say that the artimelt adhesives are ideally suited for sterilization.

artimelt adhesives

In addition to high-quality raw materials, extensive specialist knowledge is also required to manufacture premium products for medical applications. artimelt has over 30 years’ experience in the development and manufacture of adhesives for medical applications. artimelt adhesives form a secure bond and can still be removed from human skin without causing any pain or leaving any residue behind. In addition, the special formulations are breathable and thus prevent the skin from macerating. It comes as no surprise that artimelt adhesives are tested for their suitability for coming into contact with human skin and are classified as being harmless.

artimelt meets the high standards demanded in the heavily regulated market for medical and sterile applications. We also offer the right products for related markets in which there are high safety standards, such as in the foodstuffs and cosmetics industries. artimelt customers are not only able to choose products from the existing range – artimelt can work in close coordination with customers to develop tailor-made adhesive solutions that are a perfect fit with their processing methods and fields of application.

If you have any questions related to adhesives for use in a sterile environment, please do not hesitate to contact us. The artimelt team would be delighted to hear from you.

Labels in the supermarket

When walking through the supermarket, have you ever noticed how many products feature labels? By labels, I don’t mean the small price tags – these have in recent years been almost completely done away with and prices are instead displayed on shelves – but rather the larger labels that are used as an advertising medium and to display the product information. 

If you look closely, you will see that a large number of products – mainly sausages and cheese – are labelled in this way. This is not the only place in which these labels are used – in the fruit and vegetables section, you choose your products, weigh them and stick the price and product label that is printed at the scales to the plastic bag in which they are weighed or even directly to the fruit or vegetable.

Fresh cheese and sausages are placed in a plastic bag at the deli counter, weighed and a self-adhesive label on which the price information is printed is used to seal the bag. Other products, such as seasoning sauces, spice jars and drinks bottles also feature labels that are used as advertising media.

You have, however, probably never thought about whether the adhesive used in these labels is allowed to be used for this purpose. We at artimelt deal with this on a daily basis.

Regulations for materials/adhesive that come into contact with foodstuffs

There are strict regulations for the packaging and materials, including adhesive, that are allowed to come into contact with foodstuffs! Within the EU, these regulations are set out by the European Commission. The Swiss Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office and the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) are responsible for this task in Switzerland and the US, respectively. For artimelt it is a matter of course to adhere to these regulations and to develop and produce the adhesive accordingly.

Approved lists for direct and indirect contract with foodstuffs in the US

Although there are differences between the regulations and legislation, there are so-called approved lists in the US. These lists define the materials (including adhesive) that are permitted to come into contact with foodstuffs as well as the ways in which they are allowed to be applied to foodstuffs. The lists also specify whether the materials are permitted to come into direct or indirect contact with foodstuffs.

Direct contact with foodstuffs means that the adhesive is allowed to touch the foodstuff itself. Indirect contact is where the adhesive is applied to another material that comes into direct contact with the foodstuff.

For example, you create a label that you want to attach to an apple. The label comes into “direct” contact with the foodstuff when applied. Another label is stuck to the packaging for a piece of cheese. This means that the label does not come into direct contact with the foodstuff, but with the packaging instead. This is what is referred to as “indirect” contact with foodstuffs.

The FDA only approves substances that have undergone thorough prior testing which shows that no components of the substance that could pose a hazard to the health of consumers are transferred to foodstuffs.

artimelt must therefore know exactly whether the adhesive comes into direct or indirect contact with foodstuffs. This is the only way to ensure that artimelt select the right raw materials for the adhesive mixture.

Regulations in Europe

In Europe, the distributor of the foodstuff must prove that the foodstuff and the packaging including adhesive in which the foodstuff is contained are safe and the consumption of the foodstuff does not pose any risks to consumers.

In order to help with this, there is also a wide range of resources available for the distributor to use, e.g. approved lists for plastics that are permitted to come into contact with foodstuffs (EU Regulation 10/2011). This regulation clearly stipulates the raw materials that have been tested and have been found to be suitable for coming into contact with foodstuffs. These raw materials are subsequently allowed to be used in the manufacture of foodstuff packaging made from plastic, provided that they also comply with global migration values and/or specific migration limits. The limits specify the maximum amounts of substances or of a specific substance that are allowed to be transferred to foodstuffs.

Testing by independent institutes

It has become common practice for suppliers to support the distributors by having the individual components of foodstuff packaging tested by independent institutes to prove that the components supplied by them are safe. artimelt thus also has selected adhesive tested to determine whether it can come into contact with foodstuffs.

For the purpose of this testing, artimelt sends the testing institute samples of the adhesive and information on the exact way in which it is intended to be used. The testing institute then carries out its testing in accordance with the generally binding testing standards to determine whether components of the adhesive are transferred to a food simulant. The food simulants used in the testing include, for example, olive oil (which simulates contact with greasy foodstuffs) and Tenax® (which simulates contact with dry foodstuffs).

The institutes’ testing programs and final reports

Depending on the conditions in which the foodstuffs are stored (sausages and cheese are usually stored in a fridge, while biscuits are usually stored at room temperature), a wide range of testing programs can be selected. At the end of the test series, the institute draws up a final report as well as a certificate which specify the types of food (dry, wet, greasy) to which the adhesive is permitted to come into contact.

This ensures that only adhesive that do not release any substances that could negatively affect the health of consumers is used.

Summary

In summary:

• Labels are attached to a great many foodstuffs and foodstuff packaging nowadays.
• The adhesive (and its components) used for these labels must be tested to determine whether they can come into contact with foodstuffs and assessed as being safe.
• Approved substances lists make it easier to select the right components in the development of the adhesive.

Our brochure about the UV-technology is available in the download zone.

If you require more information on finding the right adhesive for your foodstuff application, our adhesive experts would be happy to help.

What is important when transporting money and valuable items?

 If you are a forward-thinker and are already using cashless payment methods, then you can stop reading here. If, however, you belong to the generation that thinks that “cash is king”, then this blog will definitely be interesting for you.

Money transporters

Although cashless payment methods using Maestro Cards, credit cards, smartphones and other means are on the rise, a large share of purchases made within Europe are still paid for using cash. As at the end of December 2018, there were 22.62 billion bank bills worth EUR 1,231.1 billion in circulation in the eurozone. Many of these bills change owners every day and are taken to banks to be stored securely. As an individual, you carry your bills in your wallet or purse and take them to the bank to be paid in. How though does a department store that takes tens of thousands of euros every day do this? This is the reason that money transporters exist. They pick up the cash and take it to the bank. However, they do not keep the cash in a normal envelope or a bag, but rather a specially designed and manufactured security bag. Stitched into this bag is a great deal of expertise and development work.

The security bag

You can think of the security bag as being similar to the jiffy bags in which items of clothing are sent – but with significantly more security features. After the cash is placed in the bag, it is sealed securely in the same way as a normal envelope – via an adhesive applied on the closing flap. The flap now has to form a seal so strong that it cannot be opened without being detected both immediately after being sealed and until the bag is delivered to its destination. This is achieved by using an adhesive that has a very strong initial bond, also known as the tack, and high adhesive strength. Once the bag is en route with the transporter, there are further dangers lying in wait for the contents of the bag. Resourceful people keep employing a wide variety of methods to try to open the bag without getting caught.

The security features of the bag

This is why it is important to equip the bag with a great many security features.

• Security printing
  If an attempt is made to open the bag without using any tools, the bag film will either become heavily distorted and even rip, or security printing applied to the bag will be triggered, displaying a legible message – frequently “VOID” or “STOP”. This provides clear evidence that an attempt has been made to open the bag. As simply tearing the bag open is not an effective method of opening the security bag without being detected, other tricks and tools are used.
• Color change when exposed to warm temperatures
  Anyone who has tried to remove labels from surfaces in the past knows that they are easier to remove if you use a hot air gun or a hairdryer. This trick works with both labels and shipping bags. Once applied, the heat causes the adhesive to melt and lose its adhesive strength and cohesion, which makes the bag much easier to open. A security feature is thus needed to reveal whether high temperatures have been used in an attempt to tamper with the bag. This feature is realized through the use of special imprints that change color irreversibly when exposed to high temperatures. Once the imprint changes color, it cannot be changed back to the original color, thus providing evidence that high temperatures have been used in an attempt to tamper with the bag.
• Color change when exposed to cold temperatures
  What happens to the bag if it is exposed to cold temperatures? Anyone who has placed an object bearing a label in the freezer will know that this can make the label easier to remove and it sometimes even falls off by itself. This is because the adhesive becomes hard and brittle, losing its elasticity and tack. This also holds true with the security bags, which is why security features have also been designed with this fact in mind. Specifically, a component included in the adhesive that changes color when exposed to cold temperatures. Once effected, this change in color likewise cannot be reversed. The use of such special components that change their color when exposed to high and low temperatures provides a high level of security against tampering.
• Imprints
  Attempts are frequently made to dissolve the adhesive using solvents. There are, however, some great solutions that show when solvents have been used in an attempt to tamper with the bag. An example of an ideal security feature in this respect would be an imprint that dissolves in the solvent.

There are a wide range of solutions available on the market which demonstrate whether attempts have been made to tamper with security bags using heat, cold, solvents and mechanical force. When selecting these solutions, it is extremely important to know that all of the security features used must be able to work properly together! This is the only way to ensure that attempts to tamper with the bags can be reliably detected. The aim of using all of these features is not to prevent the security bags from being tampered with, but to make it possible for the recipients of the bags to see when attempts have been made to take or add items from and to the bags.

Different uses of the security bags

These security measures are not only used for transporting money now. Have you ever bought a bottle of spirits or perfume from the duty-free shop in an airport? Such purchases are often placed in a security bag that is sealed with an adhesive tab. This prevents the liquid from being replaced with another kind of liquid. Premium replacement parts for vehicles are now also delivered in security bags that reveal when attempts have been made to tamper with them.

Summary

In summary:

• The transport of cash and valuable items is a sensitive matter that requires a high level of security
• Cash is sent in security bags that reveal when attempts have been made to tamper with them
• Security bags are designed in such a way that they can reveal when attempts have been made to tamper with them using heat, cold, chemicals and mechanical force
• All of the components must be able to function properly with each other
• Absolute security is not possible

If you require more information on finding the right adhesive for your application, our adhesive experts would be happy to help.

Plasters are found in virtually every home first-aid kit. They are available in all shapes and colors and in many different materials, such as fabrics or synthetics. Some plasters have a strong bond and some can be removed easily, while others have additional functions such as antibacterial properties, padding, absorption of wound secretions or for administering medication. What is clear is that the demands on modern plasters have increased. Below, you can find a summary of the most important requirements.

Skin

All of these different plasters are affixed to the skin, which is the largest organ in the human body. The skin is a very special surface when it comes to attaching things to it. On an adult human, the total surface area is around 1.7 m² and total weight between 10 and 14 kg. It consists of several different layers, with the epidermis the outermost layer. The skin has a range of different functions, including the exchange of substances. In other words, substances are both absorbed and emitted to different degrees through the body surface. A typical example here is perspiration during sport. The sweat glands produce sweat in order to prevent the body from overheating. The skin is also a very individual organ and behaves differently depending on the age of the person, the climate in which they live and their habits. It can thus be the case that an adhesive for a plaster works perfectly in Europe, but the bond is too strong in Asia and leads to skin irritation when the plaster is removed.

Substrate

The substrate used also plays a significant role in the overall performance of a plaster. Depending on the application, the substrate can be up to 50% responsible for whether the end product ultimately has the desired properties or not. As a result, we recommend carrying out a screening process for those substrates that come into question early on in the development phase. Trial coatings at the laboratory can be a good indicator as to whether the adhesive strength is sufficient or whether the adhesive and substrate are compatible with one another.

Adhesion

Adhesion varies greatly depending on the intended application and target group. For example, surgical drapes that are affixed to the patient or operating table require a different product compared to eye plasters for children. The application weight and coating pattern are other variables that have an effect on adhesion. In most applications, an application weight of between 25 and 40 gsm is sufficient. Full-surface coating is also made in the majority of cases. This is not a significant problem in short-term applications. As before, rubber-based adhesives are most commonly used. These have no moisture vapor permeability, which can lead to maceration of the skin. When using rubber-based adhesives, this can be minimized by applying the adhesive freely, for example in dots or strips.

UV-curing adhesive systems

A more elegant method is to use UV-curing adhesives instead. These systems have a significantly higher moisture vapor permeability, meaning the skin function is not restricted. While human skin has a moisture vapor permeability of around 200 to 400 g/m²/day, artimelt UV-curing adhesives have a moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) of 800 to 1,200 g/m²/day. These adhesive types can thus also be used for products in long-term applications. UV-curing adhesives also have other advantages. For example, they have better shear strength compared to traditional rubber products. This means that the products are also more suitable for applications where the patient is active. The water resistance is also higher, meaning the patient can take showers without the plaster losing its adhesive bond and falling off. The high MVTR also helps in this regard. Sweat can be transported away from the body and does not collect between the adhesive and skin, which also leads to a loss of adhesion.

Conclusion

To conclude, one can say that it is an advantage to know both the exact application and the main target group. Both of these factors provide important advance information on which materials should be used. This applies both to the substrate and the selection of the adhesive.

The artimelt team has many years of experience in this field and would be happy to help you find a suitable solution. Thanks to our comprehensive product portfolio and experience with the most diverse substrates, we can work together to find the right combination in order to meet all your product demands.

When you hear the term adhesive tape, the first thing most of you will probably think of is the traditional adhesive tape used in offices or packing tape used for sealing shipping cartons. This is no surprise. After all, these are the applications that we seem to come across the most in our everyday lives.

When using these adhesive tapes, it is important that they achieve a good bond on the corresponding surface. They usually only have to fulfill their function for a short time. The package is sealed, sent and opened by the recipient – mission accomplished! This means that such adhesive tapes only have minimal demands and comparatively cheap tape materials and adhesives are used.

Masking tape – suitable for everyday use

Removable adhesive tapes, however, have higher demands. One common example can be seen in classic masking tape. Anyone who has painted anything at home knows how important it is to use the correct masking tape. The tape has to meet several requirements here:

• It has to bond well with the substrate on which it is attached
• It must not become soft when painted over
• The bond must be only strong enough so that it can be removed cleanly and without residue from the substrate afterwards

If these requirements are not met, the following can happen:

• The edges become detached and paint runs behind the tape, or the tape falls off completely
• The softened tape tears during removal
• If the adhesive bond is too high, the tape cannot be removed from the substrate or the substrate is damaged on removal

It is thus important that all components – upper material, adhesive, substrate – are in perfect harmony.

These are just two examples of where adhesive tapes are used in everyday life. However, tapes are also used on an even greater scale and under much stricter demands, including in products that we may not even think about.

Adhesive tapes in vehicles

Several meters of adhesive tape can be found in our vehicles, for example. Entire cable harnesses are wrapped in adhesive tape so they are easier to install. Many foamed adhesive tapes are also used. In this case, the tape is used for shock absorption and compensates for surface irregularities. These adhesive tapes feature high-quality solvent adhesives that have to maintain their function for many years and in the most varied conditions, from tropical heat in summer to Siberian winters.

Adhesive tapes and passenger transport

Applications in the field of passenger transport have very strict requirements in terms of flammability. Whether double-sided tape for fixing carpets or hook-and-loop tape for fastening headrest covers on aircraft or trains, the tapes must have flame-retardant qualities. In this case, the tape material and adhesive must contain additional flame-retardant components that ideally lead to a flame extinguishing on its own. This means an extremely important additional function also has to be met in addition to the traditional adhesive quality of bonding two materials together. This requires extremely comprehensive formulation expertise at the adhesive manufacturer. Finding the correct formulation brings with it high development efforts.

Adhesive tapes and electronics

Adhesive tapes are also found in our trusty companions – namely smartphones. For example, they are used for fixing the display securely in place. Also used are conductive adhesive tapes that are designed for earthing the devices. This means there are many other electronic appliances where adhesive tapes are required, including tablets, televisions and so on.

Adhesive tapes on the construction site

Adhesive tapes are also regularly used at construction sites. “Airtight construction” has become a common term in recent years. Put simply, this means that air is prevented from passing through the building when the doors and windows are closed. This leads to improved thermal insulation and prevents thermal bridges, which can cause the build-up of moisture and ultimately mold growth. Airtight construction is standard in today’s passive houses. One way in which this is achieved is by using adhesive tapes. Roof underlayments, which are used as a membrane for moisture exchange, have to be connected to one another so that they are airtight. This is ensured by using suitable adhesive tapes that permanently connect the underlayments together. These tapes are partially pre-integrated in the material lines, which makes laying and connecting much easier for the builder. As work takes place in all weather conditions, the underlayments also have to achieve a good bond in rain and cold. Moreover, the tapes also have to ensure that the lines remain airtight for several decades. Fortunately, there are high-quality adhesives available that meet these requirements! Additionally, vapor barriers are also installed under the roof of the house. These are special plastic films that also have to be stuck together reliably for years using adhesive tapes.

Different applications mean different requirements

All of these applications place different demands on the tape material and, above all, on the adhesive. For simple applications such as packing tape, rubber hot melts can be used. Meanwhile, acrylate adhesives are the correct choice for applications where extreme durability and high temperature and chemical resistance are of primary importance.

Summary

To summarize:

• Adhesive tapes are used in many areas of our everyday life, whether by us ourselves or in the things we use
• Adhesive tapes have to meet a wide range of different requirements – strong adhesion, easy to remove, able to cope with weather conditions or flame-retardant
• Rubber hot melts can be used for short-term and simple applications, while acrylate adhesives are preferred for high-end applications

If you require more information on finding the right adhesive for your application, our adhesive experts would be happy to help.

By the way, did you know that adhesive tape is also a great advertising medium? Your company logo or another slogan can be printed on the tape. Thanks to modern digital printing technology, small series of just a few rolls can be produced at relatively low cost.

Introduction

What is the MDR?

The new European MDR replaces the existing MDD (Medical Device Directive) and AIMD (Active Implantable Medical Devices), which will now be combined in the MDR in future.

The advantage of the regulation is that the same aspects apply uniformly for all EU member states. In the two former directives, these had to be implemented in local law. This in turn led to differing assessments in the individual countries.

The goal of the MDR is to increase product safety for patients, which is at the heart of the whole regulation. Transparency should also be increased. A central database (EUDAMED) will be established, where everyone (including private individuals) can obtain information on every medical product approved in the EU.

Changes compared to the MDD

There are several changes in different areas. Four of the most important ones are detailed below.

Expanded scope of application

The AIMDs are now also regulated in the MDR. Moreover, products that do not necessarily have a medical use are also covered by the MDR. Examples here include cosmetic contact lenses, lasers for tattoo removal and implants for body modification.

Classification

The MDR now includes 22 rules for classifying medical products. In the MDD, there were only 18. This is one of the reasons why each medical product has to be newly assessed and classified.

The rules are divided up as follows:

Clinical evaluation of medical products

The requirements for the clinical data required for approval of a medical product are now more stringent. The MDR also describes in more detail which quality the data should have for the clinical assessment. The goal of this is to prove that the claimed effectiveness also exists in practice. Moreover, it should also be possible to exclude any unexpected or unacceptable side effects.

Market surveillance

Post market surveillance (PMS) is now more important than was previously the case. The data obtained in this way must also be incorporated in the clinical assessment of the products, which is then updated accordingly. It is also not sufficient to only monitor one’s own products. Comparable products from competitors also have to be included in PMS. If incidents occur, consideration must be given as to whether measures also have to be taken for own products.

Timeline

How is artimelt dealing with the MDR

With this in mind, artimelt has also kept up to date with the MDR and its consequences via various seminars and through service providers. We are thus well aware of the importance of the MDR for our customers in the medical branch and are prepared to support them as much as we can and share what we know about the MDR.

artimelt has created its own database for products and raw materials in order to maintain an organized and easy to manage overview of the situation. This database should cover the different requirements of the various regulations, whether REACH, MDR, California Proposition 65 or individual queries such as the absence of heavy metals or other critical substances.

Furthermore, artimelt is also committed to making available as much data on biocompatibility as is necessary. This simplifies the creation of technical documentation in diverse product classes and is a good starting point for creating a clinical assessment of your medical product.

We are keeping our eye on the ball here, and are looking forward to sharing information on the MDR and how we can master these challenges together.

Nowadays, a wide range of different labels are available. In addition to various shapes and formats – such as round or rectangular labels with and without rounded corners – an unbelievable amount of different colors are on offer. Labels used in industrial applications are already available in all kinds of colors and printed with an array of motifs. Meanwhile, labels for private use are usually made of paper and are left blank in most cases. These paper labels can then be written on by hand or printed using a standard domestic inkjet or laser printer.

Affixing labels at room temperature
After printing or marking, the labels are then affixed in their intended position. In manual processing – such as in the home – these are usually items that are stored at room temperature. One example of this is removal boxes, which are made of cardboard and are stored in the home in everyday ambient conditions. A paper label attached to the cardboard surface only has to be pressed down firmly for it to remain securely in place.

A similar example is address labels for envelopes. These are either written by hand or printed, then removed from the silicone liner and affixed to the envelope.

In industry, labels for logistics applications are also applied at room temperature.

General purpose adhesives – suitable for use at room temperature – are used here. The formulation of these adhesives means they have to be affixed at temperatures above +10 °C. Below this temperature, the initial tack of the adhesive is insufficient to achieve a suitable bond on the corresponding surface. Once they have been affixed and their final adhesive bond has been reached after 24 hours, these labels remain securely attached to the surface when kept at temperatures ranging from around -10 °C to around +70 °C.

Semi-deep-freeze adhesives for applications at temperatures as low as -5 °C
However, not all applications are set up for labeling at +10 °C and above. In industrial applications, temperatures in unheated halls can fall below +10 °C in winter months. General purpose adhesives are too hard in such cases, meaning they can no longer achieve a suitable bond on the corresponding surface. In such situations, a softer adhesive formulation is required. These are often called semi-deep-freeze adhesives. Thanks to their special formulation, they are soft enough to achieve a good initial tack at temperatures as low as -5 °C. Labels with semi-deep-freeze adhesives can then be used for labeling plastic containers stored in the refrigerator, for example.

As these adhesives have an excellent initial tack, they are also often repurposed for applications at room temperature – such as on rough cardboard, for example. Here, the adhesives can also demonstrate their excellent adhesive qualities.

Labeling at -25 °C with deep-freeze adhesives
Foodstuffs such as meat and sausages are frozen for storage as they would otherwise spoil quickly. As these products also have to be marked accordingly, labels are also used here. However, the storage temperatures are significantly below -5 °C – freezers in the home have a temperature of -18 °C – which means semi-deep-freeze adhesives cannot be used here. An even softer adhesive is required here so that the labels also achieve a sufficient bond at temperatures as low as -25 °C. Sometimes, the surface to be labeled also has a fine layer of condensation, which makes labeling even more difficult.

Deep-freeze adhesives are available for such applications. These achieve a good bond at temperatures as low as -25 °C – including on slightly moist surfaces. These adhesives are very aggressive and tacky. As they achieve a rapid bond with the surface, labels are manufactured in this way for use on high-speed labelers. One to two labels are dispensed per second. In some cases, labels are no longer applied using pressure, but are instead blown onto the surface by an air jet. The labels must achieve a secure bond with the surface and must not become detached. This poses some significant challenges in terms of the adhesive.

Deep-freeze adhesives are so soft that they can be used at temperatures between -40 °C and +40 °C. However, the adhesive bond at room temperature is not particularly high.

Nonetheless, this characteristic also allows them to be used in applications where the label has to be removed after carrying out its function.

Different applications for deep-freeze adhesives
Deep-freeze adhesives are thus also a popular choice where easily detachable labels are required.

Applications at low temperatures continue to be dominated by hot melts.

Dispersion adhesives can also be used for applications at room temperature. While the focus remains on hot melts when it comes to semi-deep-freeze adhesives, dispersion adhesives have made some major advances and are also seen in certain semi-deep-freeze applications.

Adhesives for temperatures as low as -200 °C
Additionally, there are also applications in the medical field where significantly lower storage temperatures of as low as -200 °C are the norm. Of course, samples that are stored in ampules or test tubes and cooled with nitrogen have to be clearly labeled and identifiable. Labels for such applications use special cryogenic adhesives containing acrylate. Labeling is often made at room temperature here, after which cooling takes place.

Summary
To summarize:

• Products are labeled at different temperatures
• After labeling, products are stored at different temperatures
• Users must choose between general purpose adhesives, semi-deep-freeze adhesives, deep-freeze adhesives or cryogenic adhesives
• The appropriate adhesive must be selected according to the applicable temperature range