What is hot melt?

Hot melt adhesives are generally 100% solid adhesive formulations based on thermoplastic polymers. The best known types are glue sticks, glue patterns, EVA, Polyolefine, PUR and PSA

Glue sticks and glue patterns

Almost everyone knows the patterns and sticks from the hobby applications with a glue gun and a typical 11mm diameter glue pattern. The patterns are also available in other diameters, such as 7mm, 15mm, 18mm and 43mm. These are almost exclusively EVA, Rubber-based and Polyolefin adhesives.

EVA hot melt

EVA hot melt is at the beginning of the hot melt revolution. Before EVA hot melt was widely used, solvent glue or water-based glue was used. The advantage of a hot melt is that it does not contain any solvent, but it dries much faster than a water-based adhesive.

Polyolefin hot melt

These hot melts replace EVA hot melt adhesives in many applications. It Polyolefin polymer has a wider bonding range and better thermostability than the EVA polymer.

PUR hot melt

Due to the success of EVA hot melt, the industry has come to the idea that adhesives can be heated for processing, and upon cooling a fast & #8220; adhesive strength & #8221; realize. This has been applied to a completely new polymer for hot melt applications, the Polyurethane or PUR hot melts Have originated.

PSA hot melt

PSA is an English term for & #8220; Pressure Sensitive Adhesive & #8221; and these are by Dutch standards & #8220; self-adhesive products & #8221; such as tape, stickers and labels. PSA hot melts are often also used for other materials, where a double-sided tape or laminate can be applied, but then directly by applying hot melt on, for example, foam, plastics or equipment.

Organic hot melt

There are various hot melts that have a biological basis of 30%-70%. For packaging hot melt, assembly hot melt as well as self-adhesive PSA hot melts.

Vegan hot melt

Hot melts are mainly composed of vegetable oils and synthetic (petroleum) raw materials. Due to the different compositions and additives, a hot melt is usually not demonstrably vegan. Intercol has 100% vegan hot melt adhesives available, with certificate.

Gluing gelatin

Gelatin glues are of a biological nature (gelatin and polysaccharides), and qualify for 100% biodegradable and 100% compostable. These adhesives do require specific adjustments to the hot melt adhesive equipment and may require slightly longer pressing time in the machine. We can of course advise you on this, do tests on your material in our R&D center and guide you through the process.