Adhesives, Coatings & Substrates

Why Is My Vacuum-Deposited Barrier Coating Hard To Improve? Members Public

The most frequently asked question that I get is, “Why is my barrier coating hard to improve?” Like the coatings, the answer can vary from simple for very basic barrier coatings to much more complex for higher-barrier performance coatings.

Alex Nevels
Dr. Charles Bishop

What, Why and How Do We Measure Substrate Properties? Part 6 Members Public

In this installment, I think I will tackle “adhesion” testing. There are many adhesion tests...

Alex Nevels
Adhesives, Coatings & Substrates

How Do We Balance "Trust" with "Suspicion" on Base Substrates Members Public

Everyone who applies coatings worries about the coating process. But when it comes to the base substrate (film, foil, paper, etc.), people either are too trusting or too suspicious. None of us happen to suspect the base only when it is a problem...

Alex Nevels
Adhesives, Coatings & Substrates

Alternatives to nuclear sensors for on-line web-gauging of weight / thickness measurement Members Public

The traditional method for the on-line measurement of extruded / cast films, extrusion coatings, solution and hot-melt coatings and nonwovens has been the use of one or more Beta Transmission Sensors.

Alex Nevels
Measurement

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

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