Adhere to Adhesive for Best Packaging

Packaging Adhesives

The packaging adhesives market is estimated to witness a healthy growth, during the
forecast period, 2018-2023. Out of the total adhesives used globally, more than 70%
goes into the packaging industry. The kinds of adhesives are used in various packaging
applications, such as rigid packaging, flexible packaging, corrugated packaging, folding
carton, labeling, etc. Asia-Pacific is expected to witness strong demand for packaging
coatings, fuelled by increasing investments in the region, rise of various end-use
industries, such as food & beverage, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, e-commerce, etc.

No packaging without adhesive? Can this really be true?

A glance at food packaging clearly says not likely. The range of application is
enormous from aroma impermeable soup packets to frozen gourmet sushi, from sealed
cheese slices to air and watertight dairy products. Just take a walk through your local
supermarket – you’ll find yourself in a paradise held together by adhesive. The result:
the modern systems of distribution, self-service, ready-meals and frozen foods are
unimaginable without adhesives to produce impermeable packaging materials such as
laminating foil or to hermetically seal packaging (e.g., packets of coffee). The smallest
amounts of laminating adhesive (approx. 1 to 3 g/m²) are added to laminating foils at
rates of up to 1640 ft/min.

Adhesives that are resistant to high and low temperatures allow packaging to be
made for frozen and microwavable foods. Of course it goes without saying that
adhesives used to make packaging for food conform to all of the strict regulations
governing food production.

Invisible, tasteless and odourless – adhesives hold the very fabric of our supermarkets
together and even play their part in our culinary paradise at home.

The science of Adhesives to adhere

An adhesive is basically defined by its function, which is to assemble two surfaces

together. In order to fulfill this function, the properties of an adhesive must include easy
positioning at the interface, rapid and complete bond formation and subsequent
hardening, and a bond strength adapted to the specific application (structural,
permanent, removable, rigid, or soft). A variety of solutions exist in practice, and their
application requires an understanding both of polymer chemistry and materials science

The only materials that are able to easily undergo this type of transition, either through a
chemical reaction or a melting / crystallization process at reasonable temperatures, are
polymers. Therefore, all adhesives are polymer-based; their design aims to control both
the rate of bond formation and the bond strength (resistance to stress, strain, and brittle
fracture).

Adhesive Materials

Adhesives and sealants have been used for centuries, with the earliest adhesives and
sealants being made of natural materials, such as tree sap, beeswax and tar. Later,
processed natural products were used such as animal protein, resin, natural latex.

With the emergence of the chemical industry and synthetic polymers, the range of
adhesive and sealant formulations exploded.

Except for the case of self-adhesive materials, the raw materials used for adhesives are
either reactive monomers or polymers formulated in such a way that they can be easily
coated on various substrates.

Specifications for adhesives

From a technological standpoint, the typical specifications for adhesives include:

 The ability to bond a wide range of raw materials (ceramic, polymer, glass, metal,
composite, skin, etc.) and allow assemblies of various shapes and dimensions;
 The ability to allow the distribution of stress on the adhesive joint over all of the
bonded surface;
 Economical processing; and
 Ease of use (the technology should be usable by anyone).

Some additional specifications, such as electric or thermal conduction, or low

permeability to air or water, can be achieved by the specific design of the adhesives and
the resulting bonded joints.

Adhesive Technologies

Today’s adhesives and sealants may be classified in many different ways, such as by
cure (bonding) mechanism, chemistry type, and even application (e.g. structural vs.
non-structural).

Low viscosity is essential for spreading the adhesive on the surface to achieve the most
complete bonding interaction. Then, a physical process (solvent evaporation,
temperature cooling) or a chemical process (chain- or step-growth polymerizations,
vulcanization, or mild cross-linking) controls the transformation of the adhesive into a
bonded joint.
The mechanical strength of the formed joint is then related to both the chemical
structure of the polymer backbone and the molar mass between physical entanglements
or chemical cross-links.

PHYSICALLY HARDENING
Physically hardening adhesives are adhesives which, on application, are already
present in their final chemical state. Only polymers that can be liquefied can be used for
this category of adhesive, namely thermoplastics that can be melted, soluble
thermoplastics or elastomers, or polymer dispersions. Physically hardening adhesives
provide a wide range of adhesive properties, generally good bond flexibility, and are
used in a variety of applications.

Four physically hardening adhesives are

 Hot Melts
 Organic Solvent Adhesives
 Plastisols
 Water-Based Adhesives

HOT MELTS
Hot melt adhesives are generally 100% solids formulations based on thermoplastic
polymers. They are solid at room temperature and are activated upon heating above
their softening point, at which stage they are liquid, and hence can be processed. After
application, they retain the ability to wet the substrate until they solidify. Upon
solidification, they return to a physical state that has structural integrity and can function
as an adhesive.

A feature of hot melts is that on cooling they very rapidly build up their internal strength
allowing rapid assembly and further processing. Because they are based on
thermoplastic polymers, hot melts can be repeatedly heated to melt and cooled to
solidify.

Hot melts are used in industry for a wide range of applications. The packaging industry
is one of the major users. Hot melts are also used in the printing industry for bonding
the spines of books.

ORGANIC SOLVENT ADHESIVES

These more traditional adhesives are formulated from solvents containing
polychloroprene, polyurethane, acrylic, and natural and synthetic rubbers (elastomers).
Solvent based adhesives contain significant levels of volatile organic compounds
(VOCs), which are considered to be precursors to smog formation, asthma irritants and
are often subject to regulations across the United States and worldwide.
These adhesives are typically intermediate in final bond strength and heat resistance
providing good bond line flexibility. Because they contain organic solvent, they are less
sensitive than other types of adhesives to contaminates on the surfaces to be bonded.

Two major classes:

1. Wet Bonding Adhesives

These adhesives build strength through the evaporation of the solvent. After
application of the adhesive, the substrates must be bonded while the adhesive is
still liquid. Final bond strength is obtained after the remaining solvent evaporates
from the bond line.
2. Contact Adhesives
For this class of adhesive, both substrates are coated with adhesive and any
solvent present is allowed to evaporate before the bond is made. The bond is
formed by bringing the two coated substrates together using only enough pressure
to insure intimate contact of the two adhesive films, the adhesive having sufficient
tack or auto-adhesion to provide early bond strength.

PLASTISOLS
Plastisols are single-component adhesives that are applied as a paste to the substrate.
The paste consists of solid polyvinylchloride (PVC) particles dispersed in plasticizer. In
order to form a bond, the applied adhesive is heated so that the thermoplastic PVC
swells and can take up the plasticizer. This process occurs at a temperature between
300 and 360°F (150 and 180°C) and results in an adhesive film consisting of a
plasticized polymer.

WATER-BASED ADHESIVES
This category of adhesives includes a wide variety of polymeric materials (usually
thermoplastics or elastomers) dispersed or dissolved in a continuous aqueous phase.
One of the major advantages of water based (or waterborne) adhesives is the absence
of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). A feature of these materials is the ease of
cleanup of liquid adhesive. Water can be used to clean application equipment and
excess adhesive off substrates.

For many water based adhesives, it is a requirement that at least one of the substrates
be permeable to allow water to escape from the system. It is not surprising, then, that
these materials have found wide use bonding wood, paper, fabrics, leather and other
porous substrates.

Water based products can be classified as either Solutions or Dispersions:

1. Solutions
Water-based solution adhesives are based on natural and synthetic polymers that
can be dissolved in water. Bonds are formed by the evaporation of water or by
absorption of water into the substrate. These adhesives are used in bonding paper
 and paper products as well as in moistenable adhesives such as those used on
stamps, envelopes, labels, and packing tape.

2. Polymer Dispersions/Emulsions
Water based dispersion adhesives are typically formulated from compounds
including vinyl acetate polymers and copolymers (PVAC), ethylene vinyl acetate
(EVA), acrylics, styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), natural rubber latex and synthetic
elastomers, and polyurethane (PUR).

Two major classes:

1. Wet bonding adhesives: After adhesive application, substrates are joined

while the adhesive is still wet. The bond forms as a result of water being lost
either by evaporation or absorption by the substrate. These adhesives are
often used in the paper processing industry, in the packaging sector and in
furniture-making.

2. Contact adhesives: As with solvent based contact adhesives, both

substrates are coated with adhesive. The water is then allowed to evaporate
before the bond is made. The bond is formed by bringing the two coated
substrates together using only enough pressure to insure intimate contact of
the two adhesive films, the adhesive having sufficient tack or auto-adhesion to
provide early bond strength. Contact adhesives provide much higher initial
strength and generally have higher final strength, heat resistance, and creep
resistance than wet bonded water-based adhesives

CHEMICALLY CURING

Chemically curing adhesives are reactive materials that require chemical reaction to
convert them from liquid (or thermoplastic) to solid. Once cured, these adhesives
generally provide high strength, flexible to rigid bond lines that resist temperature,
humidity, and many chemicals. They may be classified into two groups:

I.Single Component (1-C)

1. Anaerobic
2. Cyanoacrylates
3. Heat Cure
4. Moisture Cure
5. Radiation Cure
6. Silicones

II. Two Component (2-C)

1. Epoxies
2. Methyl Methacrylates
3. Silicone Adhesives
 4. Urethanes

PRESSURE SENSITIVE
The special feature of pressure sensitive adhesives is that they do not solidify to form a
solid material, but remain viscous. As a result, they remain permanently tacky and have
the ability to wet surfaces on contact. Bonds are made by bringing the adhesive film in
contact with the substrate and applying pressure. If inadequate pressure is applied or
the processing temperature is too low, bonding faults such as bubbles or detachment
can occur.
They are typically formulated from natural rubber, certain synthetic rubbers, and
polyacrylates.

Adhesives in Paper Board & Packaging

Adhesives are used in a wide variety of paper bonding applications ranging from
corrugated box construction and the lamination of printed sheets to packaging material
used for all types of consumers products to the production of large industrial tubes and
cores used by manufacturers of role goods and other materials. They can also be found
in the products used by consumers everyday such as bathroom tissue, paper towels,
and books.

Packaging Applications

An extremely high proportion of all industrial products are sold in packaging – either due
to stability requirements for storage and transport or for aesthetic reasons. Although
normal envelopes and paper bags consist of just a single layer of material, most
packaging materials used nowadays are in fact different materials laminated together.

Packaging accounts for one of the largest markets for adhesives. Applications include:
 Bags
 Carton Side Seam & Closures
 Cigarettes and Filters
 Composite Containers and Tubes
 Corrugated Board
 Cups
 Disposables (Non-wovens)
 Envelopes
 Film: Film and Film: Foil Laminates
 Flexible Packaging
 Labels/Signs/Decals
 Remoistenable Products
 Specialty Packaging

By laminating cardboard with paper, in particular high gloss paper, it is possible to put
product information on the cardboard and give the product a commercially alluring
appearance. Adhesives based on starch, dextrin and gluten, and also polyvinyl acetate
dispersions, are used for this purpose. Important requirements on overprinted
packaging materials, in particular the various types of packaging materials used for
foods, are their strength, stability to heat and impermeability to moisture, oxygen and
aromas. These properties along with desired appearance can usually only be obtained
by combining different materials.

Frozen Food
It has a long shelf life but is still fresh and on the table within minutes: frozen food is a
permanent fixture on the menus in most homes nowadays. Whether it is pizza, fries,
summer vegetables or ice-cream – steady temperatures below zero are used to
conserve a boundless cornucopia of food. Only adhesives make frozen food possible.
They provide a reliable seal for the packaging and ensure that the low temperatures in
the freezer remain constant and that energy costs are minimized.

Laminated films
Laminated films can be manufactured from polyester (PETP, PBTP), polyamides,
polyethylene, polypropylene, cellophane, paper, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene
fluoride, polyimides, aluminium and a few other materials. Metallic foils are also often
used. Solvent-containing adhesives based on polyurethane are used for laminating
films; the most recent developments in this area however involve solvent-free systems,
so-called high-solid products and adhesives based on aqueous polyurethane disper-
sions.

For application using automatic packaging machinery, high requirements are put on the
constancy of the adhesive properties, especially with regards to its viscosity stability.
Dispersion adhesives and hotmelts are used to seal packaging (e.g. folding cartons,
packets).

Laminating Adhesives for flexible packaging applications

Coldseal Adhesives

Coldseal adhesives are designed for use in packaging heat-sensitive food items such
as candy, ice cream, and chocolates. They also find use in some consumer's medical
and industrial applications such as detergents, protective packaging, and labels. The
products are applied to base films or laminates having release lacquers or release films.
They are designed to be sealed to themselves to form packages using only pressure.

Heat Seal Coatings

Heat Seal Coatings are thermoplastic coatings applied to a variety of films or laminates.
They are designed to adhere to many different substrates using heat and pressure to
form the seal. These products are designed for use in multiple lidding applications
including condiments and dairy, as well as retortable and ovenable containers. Other
uses include in-mold labeling and medical packaging, as well as some industrial uses. A
variety of chemistries are available to meet the myriad of potential end-use applications.
They are supplied in water, solvents, and in some cases as solid resins.

Primers

Primers are used to promote or improve adhesion of a topcoat to a variety of base films
including foil, metalized films, paper, and board stock. Often they are applied and
immediately top-coated. In some cases, however, they may be applied and wound, but
top-coated at a later date. Both water- and solvent-based chemistries are available.

Solvent Based Adhesives

Solvent-based adhesives contain solvent as a carrier, which is subsequently dried after

application (dry bond laminating), leaving the active resin system on the substrate to be
bonded to a secondary substrate to make the lamination. These laminations can contain
multiple adhesive layers and are used in a variety of food packaging applications
ranging from snack food to high-demand, retortable packages covering multiple
regulations. They are also used in industrial laminating applications such as window
film, fabric laminations, and insulation-facing laminates.

Solventless Adhesives

Solventless adhesives are 100% active products containing no water or solvent carrier.
They are applied to base substrates using smooth roll transfer, solventless laminators
and subsequently nipped/bonded to the secondary film to make the lamination. These
laminations may contain multiple layers and are used in a broad array of food packaging
applications including for snack foods, high performance retort, and microwavable
packaging. These products meet a broad range of regulations for packaging adhesives
and are suitable for most films, foils, and paper.

Water Based Adhesives

Water-based adhesives contain water as their carrier which is subsequently dried after
application (dry bond laminating), leaving the active resin system on the substrate to be
bonded to a secondary substrate to make the lamination. These products can be used
on a variety of film substrates as well as foil and paper. End use applications in food
packaging include snack food and bottle labels, as well as microwaveable and boil-in-
bag packages. Other applications include medical packaging and flexible industrial
laminations. These products are typically machine-ready with no dilution needed and
offer fast slit-to-ship turnaround.

Environmentally Friendly Adhesives

One of the important trends in the 21 st century is the drive toward ecologically sound
(e.g., recyclable) products. While adhesives, since they are typically used in small
amounts, are not at the forefront of this trend, recyclability is likely to become more
important in the future.

A lot of so-called “green” adhesives are derived from the biomass, for example, from
trees and animal fats. Today, these adhesives are typically used for low-cost
applications. However, research based on the chemical modification of bio-
macromolecules should lead to the design of new adhesives to broaden their usual
range of applications. Adhesives derived from the biomass are manufactured from a
complicated blend of molecules found in nature, so their chemical structures are poorly
defined.

Such adhesives must be designed to perform well and be recyclable while also
satisfying the constraints imposed by forthcoming environmental legislation

The latest innovations in the Flexible Packaging Adhesives

Flexible packaging inherently brings with it a number of environmental advantages

when compared to other packaging types.

A very general trend is towards enhanced recyclability or even bio-degradability of the

flexible packaging, which also includes the corresponding demands towards the
adhesives. Even low in total amount compared to other packaging material, such as
paperboard of polyethylene foil, the adhesives often cause specific issues in the
recycling facilities. Due to their tackiness, they cause build-up on the equipment used
for recycling, leading to production time loss and waste material. More innovative
solutions from the polymer binder producers are needed to address this issue at the
very end of the life cycle of a packaging adhesive.

Liner-less labeling

This is one of the most recent innovations in packaging and labeling, which will help to:

 Reduce waste
 Improve weight efficiency, and
 Favorably influence packaging cost

For this type of labeling, the entire back is coated with a particular release coating so it
can be wound up like a roll of tape. The adhesive needs to be strong enough to bond to
various substrates including highly recycled content and low energy surfaces but not be
too aggressive, as it can pick the release coatings and result in print voids and variable
unwind properties, which needs a careful balance in the adhesives formulations as well
as innovations at the polymer binder’s end.
Adhesives for Food Packaging

From a customer end, there are even higher demands to maintain the freshness or
product shelf life of the products within the package with same time more long and
complex delivery chains. “Fresh to Table” stands for higher standards of brand
differentiation, shelf appeal and consumer convenience which meet the needs of a
rapidly evolving society.

For the packaging adhesive this trend translates into new materials and surfaces to
bind, partly direct food contact demands and also new application methods to adapt to.
As customers also demand re-closable packaging for their convenience, adhesives
formulators need to develop low-tack adhesive that securely seal repetitively under
greasy or fatty conditions.

Ecommerce Demands Advanced Adhesives

As a second example of changed consumption patterns that influence the flexible

packaging market, Ecommerce as a growing market brings new opportunities but also
new demands towards the packaging material and adhesives because of the different
distribution method, that is, small parcel versus pallet-load shipping. There is an
increasing need for abuse-resistant films and film adhesives that protect products
switching from rigid to flexible packaging or shipping through the rough-and-tumble
ecommerce small-parcel environment.

From a flexible packaging supplier’s perspective, the relevant demand is for the use of
high speed running machines resulting in higher manufacturing efficiency at the
packaging line. Same time, less adhesive should be applied more precise, to reduce
waste. Thinner, stronger, faster running describes sought after adhesives film
characteristics, which sets higher demands for the packaging adhesive in terms of
rheology and high shear stress resistance.

Failing these demands causes not only loss of production time (cost) but also additional
waste, as the adhesive builds up on the applicator’s cutter and within the print engine.
Recently, the adhesives raw material suppliers focused their innovation effort towards
this problem and provided the adhesives formulators with new polymer raw materials,
optimized for this application.

Water-based Technology is the Fastest Growing Application Segment in

Packaging Adhesives Market

Water-based technology is expected to gain the largest share in the consumption of

adhesives by type, among the wide application segments. These adhesives are
supplied to manufacturers and distributors as either a pre-mixed solution or as
formulated dry powders that must be mixed with water, in order to activate its adhesive
quality. Water-based adhesives are generally applied as emulsion mixes that are
converted to adhesive materials when their water content has evaporated. VOC norms
have led to the phasing out of solvent-based adhesives. Many countries, including many
regions of the United States and Europe, have set a ban on the use of solvent-borne
materials. Hot-melt adhesives are also gaining popularity, due to their fast set speed
and excellent adhesive qualities.

Edible Adhesives - It's Time for a New Innovation

Natural organic adhesives have been around for a long time. These are easy to obtain,
relatively inexpensive, easy to apply and are known to have a base of sugar, starch or
dextrin, mainly used in paste paper products. Several of these can be edible, especially
the majority of sugar-based glue. Starch based glues are generally derived from the
cooking of seeds with a high starch content (as for example oats, rice, etc.) in water,
often in the presence of acid or base to obtain a paste of varying viscosities. When
aqueous acids are used at around 50⁰C, the formed pulp is neutralized with a base. In
the basic treatment, the starch is heated in an alkaline solution in combination with
additives such as borax.

References

1. Industrial Packaging Adhesives by K. Booth

2. Materials Science of Adhesives: How to Bond Things Together by Costantino
Creton and Eric Papon,
3. Latest Trends & Challenges in Flexible Packaging Adhesives; Special Chem –
May 19, 2017
4. Adhesives for packaging A. Emblem, London College of Fashion, UK and
M. Hardwidge, MHA Marketing Communications, UK
5. Flexible Packaging Adhesives – The Basics; Larry Jopko Rohm and Haas
Company
6. Packaging technology - Fundamentals, materials and processes Edited by Anne
Emblem and Henry Emblem
7. https://mordorintelligence.com
8. https://www.adhesives.org
9. https://www.packagingdigest.com
Annexures

Packaging Adhesives Market Major Players:

 3M.
 Henkel AG & Co.
 HB Fuller.
 Bostik.
 Sika AG.
 Avery Dennison.
 Jowat Corp.
 Wacker Chemie.
 Ahland Inc.
 Paramelt BV.
 and Dymax.

Packaging uses adhesives for

 Corrugated board manufacture

 Carton side-seam and closures (including glue lap and case sealing)
 Composite bonding of disposable products (towel and tissue laminating, pick up
and tail-tie diapers, sanitary napkins, hospital supplies)
 Bags
 Labels
 Cups
 Cigarette and filter manufacture
 Envelope manufacture (excluding remoistenable gums)
 Remoistenable products (stamps, envelopes, tapes, labels)
 Flexible food laminates
 Other flexible laminates (including labels on display cartons and other packaging
lamination)
 Point of sale labels
 Speciality packages (cosmetics, toiletries)
 Composite containers and tubes
 Tapes (Packaging tapes, Industrial tapes, Surgical tapes, Masking tapes,
Consumer tapes)
Selecting the right adhesive

There are several adhesive options available for different end uses and thus selecting
the most appropriate adhesive is not always straightforward. The best approach to this
task is to regard the adhesive in the same way as any other packaging component, and
consider the key functions of the finished pack and what part any adhesive(s) will have
to play in meeting those functions. The pack design and development process starts
with a brief and involves the consideration of options for meeting that brief; these
options should always include the adhesives, i.e. adhesives should be considered at the
start of the process and not left to the stage of final specifications. It should be clear by
now that knowledge of substrate properties is essential when selecting adhesives, as
well as a thorough understanding of the conditions to which any adhesives bonds will be
exposed throughout the life of the packaging components and the finished pack.

Common adhesive terminology

Many of the following terms are to be found on adhesive date sheets:

Closing time or setting time: This is the time during which the adherends and
adhesive must be in intimate contact such that the bond is sufficiently secure that it will
withstand subsequent handling. In most packaging operations, this is determined by the
layout and speed of the packaging line.

Coating weight: This is the amount of adhesive applied, usually quoted as grams per
square metre. Adhesive manufacturers often recommend typical coating weights for
given applications. Applying too little means inadequate bond strength and applying too
much is costly and may lead to an open time that is too long for the machine and bond
failure.

Cohesive strength: This is the strength of the adhesive film itself. Once the adhesive
film has formed, the bond can still fail because the polymer is not strong enough. A self-
seal envelope and a cold-seal bond on a confectionery wrapper are both examples of
bonds where the adhesive strength is higher than the cohesive strength of the adhesive
film.

Fibre tear: This applies only to bonds involving paper and board. A good bond is one
which, when an attempt is made to peel it apart, results in tearing of the cellulose fibres,
i.e. the adhesive is stronger that the inherent strength of the paper.

Green bond: This is the bond achieved prior to drying or curing of the adhesive.

Open time: The maximum amount of time between when an adhesive is applied and
when the substrates can be brought together and still make an effective bond. This
varies from a few seconds in the case of many hot melt adhesives to several minutes
with some PVA or EVA types.

Solids (non-volatile) content: The percentage of the adhesive which will remain once
the carrier has dried off. For example, a hot melt adhesive is described as 100% solids,
because it moves from a liquid to a solid state without losing any of its content. A PVA
water-based emulsion is typically around 50% solids, so the volume of the final
adhesive is half of the volume of the adhesive as applied. When calculating adhesive
costs, it is important to take solids content into account.

Tack or grab: The property of an adhesive which enables it to form a bond of

measurable strength (the ‘green’ bond) immediately after the adherend and adhesive
are brought together under low pressure (ASTM). If it is desirable to reposition one
substrate after forming the bond, an adhesive with a lower tack will be required.

Viscosity: Viscosity is a measure of resistance to flow. It must be appropriate for the

method of application being used so that the correct coating weight is applied
consistently.

Wetting out: The ability of an adhesive to spread across the surface of an adherend
such that it forms a bond with it; failure to wet out will result in uneven bonding.

Conventional Water-based adhesives

Polyurethane Water-based polyurethane adhesives are

available for film laminating and have
excellent adhesion properties with a range
of different substrates.

Acrylic Acrylic adhesives are available as water-

Polyvinyl acetate (PVA) and ethylene These synthetic water-based emulsion
vinyl acetate (EVA)
based emulsions and can be formulated to
meet a diverse range of applications such
as: wet bond lamination of polymer film to
paper and board; dry bond lamination of
polymer films; and pressure sensitive
labels and tapes
adhesives are the well-known ‘white glues’
used throughout the packaging industry for
applications such as carton side seaming,
carton closing, bag making and many
other uses.

Latex Natural rubber latex is commonly used in

the production of cold-seal adhesives,
 which are widely used in confectionery
packaging.

Animal glues Animal glues are also protein adhesives,

derived from bones, skin or blood and
many ancient artefacts in museums testify
to their long time usage
Casein Casein is the protein present in milk,
rendered soluble by the addition of an
alkali in water. Casein adhesives have an
aggressive tack and are not ‘stringy’ in
application.
Starch and derivatives Like cellulose, starch is a complex
polysaccharide which occurs naturally in
plant matter. Commercially, the plants
used are corn, wheat and potato, with
some use of rice, tapioca and sago