Strong adhesive label
We’re sure you’re familiar with the situation – a customer has requested a strongly adhesive label that is affixed to a cardboard box and is either destroyed or damages the underlying layer when removed. VOID labeling is not required in this case. With this in mind, you look for a self-adhesive laminate with the strongest adhesive available and are convinced that the customer will be happy with the results. The customer tests your label and discovers that the label – despite its strong adhesive qualities – can be removed without major difficulty. But why?

However an easy removal is possible - why?
Many cardboard boxes are not only used for packaging and protecting the product inside – such as a box of rice or cornflakes, for example. Instead, the packaging has another role to play, namely to look good, make a high-quality impression and entice the consumer to buy it.

This is extremely important, particularly for high-quality products such as perfumes or expensive cosmetics. If you take a look when shopping, you will see that the more expensive the product, the higher quality the packaging.

Paint at the packaging
In order for the packaging to appeal to the consumer, it has complex printing and also embossing in some cases. In addition to all the different paints used, the packaging is also given a gloss or matt coating. The role of this coating is to protect the paints from mechanical influences (such as scratches), not to mention repelling dust and dirt and preventing fingerprints. After all, who wants to buy something that is covered in fingerprints?

In order for the coating to meet the aforementioned requirements, it needs special additives. One of these components is often silicone. Silicone has a low surface tension and is thus extremely repellent against grease, dirt and dust. However, silicone is also extremely repellent against adhesives as well! This means that siliconized liners are also used when manufacturing labels. Put simply, adhesives do not stick well on surfaces that contain silicone – the bond is not strong enough and the label can be removed relatively easily.

Adhesive effect increases over time
We have found a solution to this problem in artimeltsurface, which is processed and coated just like a normal hot-melt adhesive. Labels with artimeltsurface are applied in the same way as conventional labels. Now comes the magic – the adhesive has been designed in such a way that the bond with a surface containing silicone becomes stronger and stronger over time. As demonstrated in laboratory tests on such surfaces, the adhesive strength constantly increases. After just a few days, it is then no longer possible to remove the label from the surface without leaving traces. Either the label tears or the surface of the packaging is destroyed.

We received a sample packaging from one of our customers with the task of finding a suitable adhesive – one that allows RF labels to be affixed so that they cannot be removed without damaging the surface (RF labels are used for the electronic safeguarding of goods using radio frequencies).

artimeltsurface was the perfect solution here. The RF label was destroyed completely when it was removed from the packaging. It was only possible to remove it from the packaging in small pieces. Moreover, the coating was also torn from the box at the point where the label was attached. It was thus clear that the box had been manipulated.

Tamper-proof sealing
The avoidance of manipulation of this kind will be of critical importance to all pharmaceutical manufacturers from February 9, 2019, when the EU directive for preventing falsified medicinal products (2011/62/EU) comes into force. This directive helps manufacturers, wholesalers and logistics providers in the pharmaceuticals industry in their fight against counterfeit drugs and thus also increases patient safety. Among other features, the packaging has to be protected against falsification in addition to clear identification via barcode. In other words, it must be possible for the consumer to determine whether the packaging has been sealed by the manufacturer at the factory or has already been opened.

This can be ensured with a closure label. However, packaging of this kind is also often treated with a protective coating containing silicone, which means a sufficient bond cannot be achieved using standard adhesives. The label can then be removed undetected, the contents replaced and the packaging resealed.

However, if artimeltsurface is used, the label or box is destroyed in most cases. This thus meets the EU directive for preventing falsified medicinal products in terms of tamper-proof sealing.

Adhesive bonds also under water
artimeltsurface can also be used for adhesive bonds under water. Examinations have shown that adhesive tapes with artimeltsurface achieve good adhesion on smooth surfaces underwater. For example, you can then seal cracks in your swimming pool from inside in summer without having to drain the water. The only thing you may require in this case is diving gear!

If you require more information on artimeltsurface, our adhesive experts would be happy to help.

Press release artimeltsurface, January 2019

You’re probably asking yourself what sepia has to do with adhesives. Isn’t this the Latin name of something you would usually find in the sea?

Read on to find out the answer in this blog!

First of all, you should be aware that artimelt is a manufacturer of hot-melt adhesives for niche applications. Commodities – in other words, run-of-the-mill adhesives – are not our thing. We are committed to finding the solution to your application problems with our adhesives. And these problems are many and varied.

But what does this have to do with artimeltsepia?
artimeltsepia is a range of hot-melt adhesives with a very special feature. In fact, this is the same feature that a cuttlefish (or in Latin, Sepia apama) has – it can change color.

Take a look at the this video.

Our products in the artimeltsepia range can do the same – a little slower, admittedly, but what counts is the end result.

But what do I need products like this for?
Imagine today was a hot summer’s day. The sun has been beating down for hours, and you start to feel thirsty. Time for a nice cool drink. But no, the bottle is too warm to enjoy properly. There’s nothing for it but to put it in the fridge to cool. But how can you tell when your drink is cold enough …

artimeltsepia color-changing adhesives can help here. A transparent label coated with adhesive from the artimeltsepia range shows when your drink has reached the right temperature. The adhesive is transparent at room temperature. However, as soon as the temperature drops below +8 °C, the label turns blue. A blue label is thus a sure sign that your drink is cool enough to enjoy!

How about another example?
Imagine you are a manufacturer of security products, with adhesives playing an important role in the overall security concept. As with many flexible products and components, adhesives become hard and brittle at low temperatures. In this case, the temperature is below the so-called service temperature. In extreme cases, this can lead to a loss of adhesion and the security function not working as it should. The result is product failure.

Let us explain here in more detail
Each adhesive has an optimal operating temperature. Firstly, the label or adhesive tape is applied. This is known as the application temperature. For adhesives used at room temperature, the minimum application temperature is approximately +10 °C. This means that the bond has to be made above this temperature, otherwise the adhesive does not achieve a sufficient initial adhesion and the bond is not made. If the bond is established successfully, adhesion can only be ensured within a certain temperature range. This range is known as the service temperature. For adhesives used at room temperature, this range is approximately -10 °C to +60 °C. Outside this range, the bond can fail – especially when it is subjected to force.

This is where the adhesives from the artimeltsepia range come into play. We have developed a product that is pink in color at room temperature. If the adhesive is now subjected to intensive cooling, it changes color from pink to violet and remains so when warmed back up to room temperature.

If the bond should fail, then you can determine whether the temperature has dropped below the service temperature of the adhesive according to the adhesive color.

A classic example of this can be found in sealing labels, which are used for maintaining warranty claims on electronic devices, among other applications. The consumer purchases an electronic device that is screwed together. If the screws are not sealed, then they can be removed and the device opened. If the device then no longer works properly, the consumer exchanges or returns it. Normal sealing labels can often be removed without noticeably affecting the sealing effect by subjecting them to low temperatures. The consumer can spray the label with cold spray, for example. The adhesive becomes brittle, loses its adhesion and can be removed undetected without leaving any residue. The label is reattached as soon as it has reached room temperature and the adhesive becomes sticky once again. The manipulation is undetectable.

cold

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This is not the case when using artimeltsepia. If the label is sprayed with cold spray, the adhesive color changes from pink to violet. While the label can still be removed undetected as before and reattached at room temperature, the change in color clearly indicates that a manipulation has taken place here.

These are just two of the possible applications for the artimeltsepia product range. We are sure that you will already have other applications in mind where artimeltsepia adhesives can be used.

Free selective adhesive properties
The adhesive properties can be freely selected here. You can choose between a strongly adhesive rubber-based adhesive with corresponding color-changing properties or a UV-curing product with moderate adhesive properties. When it comes to the possibilities, the sky is (almost) the limit.

Get in touch with our adhesive experts today.

Adhesive for direct skin contact
When developing an adhesive that comes into direct contact with the skin, there are always many factors to consider – ones which also need to be coordinated with each other. For example, if a medical device is developed that is affixed to sensitive skin – as can be the case with newborn babies or older people – there are further special requirements when it comes to the adhesive. On one hand, the developed adhesive must be strong enough to remain attached to the skin during the required application period. On the other hand, it must also be possible to remove the medical device painlessly and without damaging the skin after it has been worn.

Properties of the skin and what to pay attention to
Let’s first take a look at the substrate onto which the adhesive is attached in more detail.

Human skin varies from person to person – you will never find the same skin twice.

Factors that affect the skin:

• age
• gender
• diet
• perspiration levels
• geographical factors
• person’s general health

It’s clear that human skin is a very demanding substrate. In order to develop an adhesive that won’t damage sensitive skin when removed, artimelt broke new ground. With artimeltlowpeel, we have developed a product line that has the right properties for ensuring that something as simple as removing a plaster is painless. Patients suffering from chronic wounds will also benefit in future from lower stress on the skin caused by regular dressing changes. With artimeltlowpeel, intact skin is not damaged and no skin trauma is caused.

Typical applications for artimeltlowpeel

• catheter fixations
• eye plasters for children
• applications in the sacral area, treating pressure sores or for fixing dressings in place when treating chronic wounds
• suitable for use with wearables

Due to the many applications, you have probably already guessed that this spectrum cannot be covered by a single adhesive type. artimeltlowpeel consists of a wide variety of products with different properties. The term “low peel” has not yet been uniformly defined, which is why artimelt has taken the step of making our own classification. Adhesives that are suitable for the applications described above have a peel value of < 1 N/25 mm and a loop tack of < 5 N/25 mm. These values are measured against steel and cannot be compared to human skin. Therefore, in order to ensure that the individual adhesives can be compared, we have thus used steel as a reproducible substrate when gathering the technical data. As skin differs from person to person, you would get different values each time in this case.

Depending on the application and patient group, it also makes sense to test an adhesive with higher peel values. However, a peel value of 10 N/25 mm should not be exceeded, otherwise the desired low-peel effect is lost despite the adhesive properties.

How is this low-peel effect achieved?
The adhesive formulation is one aspect, of course. We use a new thermoplastic acrylate as base material. One advantage of this raw material is that we are then not dependent on UV radiation, which is the case for UV-curing adhesives. Another advantage of this thermoplastic acrylate is that it is breathable. This means that it is also suitable for applications where a plaster or wearable should be applied for a longer period. This is because maceration – the softening and breaking down of skin resulting from prolonged exposure to moisture – does not take place.

Application weight
The second key aspect is the application weight. A coat weight between 100 and 200 grams per square meter is recommended. Thanks to this high coat weight, the effect between cohesion of the adhesive and adhesion between the adhesive and skin becomes apparent. Thanks to the interplay between cohesion and adhesion, a product is created that has this low-peel effect and can thus also be gently removed from the skin.

Antibacterial protection
In order to further expand the entire range, we are already planning the next steps. In addition to gentle removal, the artimeltlowpeel line should also be equipped with other properties such as antibacterial protection.

If you require more information on artimeltlowpeel, our adhesive experts would be happy to help.

Introduction
Labels are an integral part of our everyday life. They are used for carrying advertising and information and we perceive them both consciously and often also unconsciously.

But did you know that 50% of a label ends up as waste?

Usually, labels are supplied on a release liner. This liner is disposed of as waste after the label has been applied. If a label could be supplied without a liner, then hundreds of tons of non-recyclable paper waste could be saved.

What does a linerless label consist of?
Classic labels are supplied on a release liner. After the label has been applied, this liner is disposed of as waste.

As the name suggests, linerless labels do without this liner. Instead, the adhesive layer is attached directly to the paper layer underneath in a similar way to a roll of adhesive tape.

Which applications are covered by linerless labels?
Linerless labels are manufactured from transparent foils or paper. The labels can be printed in color or – as in many cases – left unprinted. Thermal papers are normally used. The labels are printed with information using a thermal printer immediately before application. As they have no liner, they cannot be punched in various different shapes. While the label length is variable, the label format can only be rectangular. As a result, linerless labels are the ideal solution when it comes to displaying short-term, informative content. Labels that are used at the point of sale to persuade consumers to buy products should still be manufactured with classic release liners as before.

What are the advantages of linerless labels?
As linerless labels do not require a liner, they have several advantages:

• 50 to 60% more labels per roll
• Less storage space required for the same number of labels
• Fewer roll changes
• Variable label length and flexible print format
• No scrap web waste
• No liner waste
• No storage space required for release liner waste
• No transport and disposal costs for release liner and scrap web waste
• Saves resources
• Environmentally friendly
• 30% reduction in material costs
• Up to 15% savings in total costs

What do I need to manufacture a linerless label?

• Paper, foil or thermal paper
• Silicone
• Adhesive

Can I use any paper, silicone or adhesive?
The answer here is a resounding “no”!

Only use high-quality thermal papers, silicones and adhesives. The thermal papers must be such that good fixation of the adhesive to the reverse side is possible. At the same time, they must also be impermeable so that no part of the adhesive can penetrate through the paper into the thermal layer and render the printed information illegible. The surface must be such that good fixation of the silicone is guaranteed without the silicone being absorbed into the surface and eliminating the separation effect.

The silicones are usually UV-curing. Pay attention to the correct viscosity! When the viscosity is low, the silicone penetrates the surface of the paper and can then no longer be cured sufficiently.

A decisive factor is selecting the right adhesive. Aqueous adhesives penetrate the paper structure and have to then dry out. The paper warps during drying and renders the label roll unusable. This rules out both dispersion adhesives and solvent-based adhesives, thus leaving classic hot melts and radiation hot melts. Classic hot melts are easy to apply – simply melt, coat, wind and you’re done. Selecting the right product is also important when using hot melts! After all, the adhesive has to meet not just one but several different requirements in this case:

1. It must be possible to detach it from the silicone layer
2. It must not soil the rollers of the printing system
3. It must not soil the cutting device
4. It must ensure secure adhesion of the label on the corresponding product

All of these requirements can only be met when adhesives of the highest quality are used.

Summary
Linerless labels are currently a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to classic labels. While the area of application is limited, it is absolutely sufficient for labels with short-term, informative content – such as labels used in logistics.

Ensure the components used are of high quality to prevent unpleasant surprises.

Want to find out more about artimeltlinerless? Contact artimelt today.

artimelt attended the ICE 2019 from 12.-14.3.2019 in Munich!

artimeltsepia color-changing adhesive
artimelt sets a new standard for security applications. With artimeltsepia temperature manipulation is a thing of the past. The color change definitely proves the manipulation of the adhesive.

artimeltlinerless
The use of linerless labels has picked up in recent years. Linerless labels are an attractive solution that customers and environment enjoy. artimelt offers different solutions for this application.

artimeltsurface for demanding surfaces
In several months of intensive development work, artimelt has developed a rubber-based hot melt with the adhesive L1 1452, which has a very high adhesion to silicone-containing surfaces. The adhesive can be used to make classic labels as well as adhesive tapes.

artimeltlowpeel
With the artimelt low-peel / gentle-peel line, we are pursuing a new adhesive concept, which gives the customer even more flexibility in terms of product variations. artimelt low peel / gentle peel are products that have similar properties to those of silicone adhesives.

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