Adhesives, Coatings & Substrates

What key slitting factors impact the handling of adhesive webs? Members Public

When it comes to Adhesive Web Slitting, there are two different worlds … Science and Manufacturing (see Figure 1). Science deals with creating the many, many different adhesives to be applied to the very large variety of manufactured, flexible-web materials. The two main adhesive-web application types that the converting industry deals

Alex Nevels
Converting Quarterly

Coating Concepts: Product-process integration: What is the right coating method? Part 1 Members Public

There are three common ways to pick a coating method: inertia, flowcharts and screening tables. The practical advantages of inertia speak for themselves. However, the use of removable-cartridge coaters has reduced the barriers to change. Also, it often is more economical to find a contract manufacturer with the “right” method

Alex Nevels
Converting Quarterly

Photoinitiated addition-cure for silicone-release coatings: Part 2 Members Public

Silicone (polydimethylsiloxane) polymers are unique materials that are chemically inert and of low polarity that remain fluid at temperatures as low as -120° C and retain useful properties at temperatures >250° C for extended times. Cross-linked silicone polymers can be bulk-solid elastomers, rubbers, gels and low-surface-energy coatings capable of lightly

Alex Nevels
Converting Quarterly

How proper treatment for flexible laminates helps achieve high bond strength, zero optical defects Members Public

This article discusses the main criteria for high-quality lamination used in today’s flexible packaging sector and the role that surface treatment plays with sophisticated substrates. Lamination requires two essentials: bond strength and zero visual defects. Fundamental to both is the need to understand the part played by surface tension

Alex Nevels
Converting Quarterly

COATING CONCEPTS | Product-process integration: What is the right coating method? Part 2 Members Public

The previous installment in this series covered the first step in choosing a coating method: flowcharts and screening tables. Here, we turn to the next two steps: pilot tests and fine-tuning to get a more robust process. Click the link below to download the full article.

Alex Nevels
Converting Quarterly

WEB COATING | Basic configurations for drying and curing of liquid coatings Members Public

Liquid coatings need to solidify before being wound into a roll. For ambient-temperature coatings, this requires drying, curing or a combination of the two. Here we discuss the basic configurations and the benefits and drawbacks of curing with and without drying. Click the link below to download the full article.

Alex Nevels
Converting Quarterly

SUBSTRATE SECRETS | What, why, and how do we measure substrate properties? Part 1 Members Public

Substrates harbor many secrets. Some are easy to discern (such as haze and gloss), while others (such as barrier, tensile strength or heat-sealing properties) can’t be known by simple visual appearance. However, they should all be measured to ensure accurate property levels are met or known. But which properties

Alex Nevels
Converting Quarterly

Metallized-PE films: Challenges & opportunities to meeting market needs for recyclable, high-barrier flexible packaging Members Public

Currently, the only path to have flexible packaging recycled in North America is via Store Drop-Off programs, which require these packages to be predominantly based on polyethylene (PE). For many barrier applications, these PE packages must use an EVOH layer, metallizing or topcoating. We will look at all three as

Alex Nevels
Converting Quarterly