This editorial examines several processes that make it easier to reposition or debond substrates. The focus is on cling films that can adhere to a substrate without the use of adhesives. Practical applications include decorative wall coverings, labels, and protective films.
Epoxy adhesives are the longest-used, best known and among the most common structural adhesives in general use. Polyurethanes are much more flexible, tough and elastic, which helps when adhesive bonds...
(1 Member Reaction)
This year, the Retail Council of Canada (RCC) mandated that by 2012 supermarket clamshell food packaging should be made from PET rather than other thermoformed plastics. Their aim is to increase the...
(1 Member Reaction)
This editorial discusses electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and its uses in measuring the moisture resistance of conventional adhesive joints. EIS appears to be a valuable tool to study the...
Pressure sensitive adhesives (PSA) are very often encountered in forensic investigations. This year, forensic scientists using atomic force microscopy imaging and force mapping have studied PSAs in...
This editorial looks at how natural fibers are being developed for 100% renewable adhesives and composites. Common natural fibers are identified and their properties are described.
In May this year, a leading materials company announced a "green shoe" concept, where no solvent is present in the adhesives used in manufacturing footwear. That's desirable because of health impacts...
(1 Member Reaction)
This editorial will look at nanosized particles that are under investigation as reinforcement for structural adhesives and are finding their way into high performance products.
Sustainability is a buzzword of our times, becoming an increasingly important aim for companies and governments alike. In the adhesive industry, it usually means replacing petrochemicals with...
This editorial looks at several new developments in the area of advanced materials. Even though many of these materials have been known to exist for some time, they have only recently been...
(1 Member Reaction)
In February 2011 the US implemented anti-dumping duties on imports of polyvinyl alcohol, used in emulsion polymerisation of polymers for waterborne adhesives. Shortly after the libertarian think tank,...
On 18 June 2010 the European Chemical Agency added boric acid and borax to the candidate list of ‘substances of very high concern’ for authorisation. This raises the possibility that borates could be...
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This editorial looks at examples of how adhesives are used by and against criminals. Forensic analysis of tape is becoming a large part of the skills of a trace evidence specialist, and as anyone...
Dibutyltin dilaurate (DBTL) has long been widely exploited in room temperature vulcanizable one-part (RTV-1) and two-part (RTV-2) silicone adhesives and sealants, as well as polyurethanes. More...
This editorial looks at research going on in the area of “switchable” surfaces. These surfaces can be made wetting or non-wetting by the application of an external stimulus. Examples of their...
Bandages that do not stay stuck or that are painful to remove blatantly demonstrate where the adhesives that they use need to improve. Hydrogel PSAs have been suggested as an option to avoid debonding...
This editorial discusses how nanotechnology may be used in simple, cost effective waterborne or hot melt adhesive systems. These two areas of technology have been thought to be significantly...
Adhesive strategies used like aquatic species like mussels have long been studied for inspiration, but to get useful material directly from them demands impractical extraction strategies. But the...
This editorial looks at the history of new polymer development, and speculates that good times are still ahead – despite historical evidence of the opposite. The introduction of fully synthetic...
(1 Member Reaction)
Historically price fluctuations for adhesive raw materials have been directly affected by price changes in petrochemical and energy. With the International Energy Agency predicting that crude oil will...
