Low Temperature Adhesives
H.B. Fuller helps customers leverage hot melt solutions to optimize the product design and manufacturing, while also reducing the energy consumption and carbon footprint of the operation.
Though adhesives make up only a small percentage of the products in which they are used, they can often be a part of innovative solutions to drive sustainability progress.
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Low Temperature Adhesives for Hygiene and Nonwovens
We offer several lower-application-temperature adhesives that drive sustainability and safety for the manufacturers of the absorbent hygiene products.
These adhesives can be applied at a temperature around 130°C to 140°C, as opposed to the 160°C to 175°C required for standard hot melt adhesives. Using less energy to heat lines and tanks contributes to lower CO2 emissions, bringing our customers one step closer to their sustainability goals.
As hygiene customers move toward new product designs that support reduced material usage and less waste, lower-application-temperature adhesives reduce the risk of burn-through on thinner substrates.
Our lower-temperature adhesives, like Full-Care® 5221 for the construction application, can minimize strike through on the thinner topsheet, backsheet and core wrap materials:
- The viscosity profile allows application at lower application temperatures (130 - 150 °C)
- Optimized rheological profile for clean and consistent application
- Minimizes risk of bleed through or substrate staining
- Based on a proven technology approach for secure construction bonding
Lower application temperatures also can improve safety and reduce the wear and tear on line machinery. Our customers report cleaner operational conditions with lower temperature adhesives, which increases line efficiency and reduces downtime.
H.B. Fuller’s technical experts continue to innovate, making sustainability an easy choice for manufacturers of disposable hygiene products. We can help customers select the range of adhesive solutions that meet performance needs, while also reducing resources and energy used across the supply chain. Contact us to learn more about how we can help solve your hygiene bonding challenges.
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Low Temperature Adhesives for Packaging
As packaging manufacturers search for more sustainable case and carton closing options, H.B. Fuller has introduced low application temperature hot melts.
While standard hot melts are applied at a range of 160°C to 175°C, low application temperature hot melts are applied at a range of 110 to 135 degrees Celsius. Benefits of low application temperature hot melts include:
- Energy savings
- Corresponding C02 reduction
- Increased operator safety
- Improved efficiency
Increased Operator Safety
Low application temperature adhesives are best used with automatic feeder technology to reduce risk and manual handling. If a burn should occur, the severity will be reduced as a result of the lower temperatures. Plus, lower temperatures are easier on the equipment, prolonging their useful life.
Energy Savings
By maintaining hot melt tanks at a lower temperature, you will consistently use less energy than with traditional hot melt technology. And, depending on the energy source, this energy savings can translate directly into carbon dioxide savings.
In an independent study, we compared the energy usage for of adhesives at 100, 130 and 170°C. When measuring the energy usage of the packing line equipment from when it was started to when it was ready for operation, we found that it takes 134% more energy to prepare adhesives at 170°C than 100°C. Also starting up a line running at 100°C in the tank takes half the time.
Improved Efficiency
Our patented low application hot melt adhesives are versatile and work with a wide range of substrates. In an effort to help our customers improve efficiency on their lines, our adhesive technology is designed to close more cases and cartons with less adhesive.
What is your potential energy, money and carbon dioxide savings? Let us calculate it.
