How To Choose The Perfect Adhesive For Your Printed Labels

When choosing a label adhesive for your printed labels, there are many factors to consider. The adhesive must be strong enough to hold your label onto whatever surface or substrate you’re applying it to. It needs to be durable and able to withstand any specific environmental factors. This post will cover everything you need to know about label adhesives, from their chemical properties to any relevant performance factors to how labels adhere to specific surfaces. Let’s get started!

Types of label adhesives

The label adhesive you choose for your labels will depend on your particular label application, product, and environment. There are four main types of adhesives to consider:

• Permanent Adhesive. Permanent adhesive is ideal for labels you never want to be removed. Permanent adhesives include acrylic and cyanoacrylate. These adhesives are typically clear, permanent, and waterproof. They can withstand most weather conditions and resist damage from chemicals such as oil, grease, or dirt,
• Removable Adhesive. This adhesive offers a lower tackiness that can easily be removed and reapplied without leaving a residue behind. This trait makes it a perfect solution for labels intended to be reusable, such as labels on school binders that get repurposed each semester.
• Repositionable Adhesive. Sometimes you need your adhesive to cure slowly and allow you to reposition it on the surface easily before it sets. This adhesive is ideal for adhesives like paper, wood, plastic, and foam in applications like scrapbooking and archival labels.
• Temperature-specific Adhesive. Environmental factors can play a significant role in your adhesive’s performance. For cases where you will have temperature variations, you will want to use temperature-specific adhesives in cases like this to ensure that your labels stay affixed. For example, this adhesive would be necessary for labels used on HVAC and plumbing equipment or hot and iced drinks.

Performance factors to consider when choosing a label adhesive

When considering adhesives, it is also important to consider how each adhesive type works. Generally speaking, adhesives have three key performance factors: tack, adhesion, and shear.

• Tack describes how the pressure required to create a bond between surfaces. For example, if you want your label to stick immediately, you’ll need an adhesive with high tack. Conversely, suppose your labels will be applied, removed, and reapplied frequently. These types of labels should be low tack.
• Adhesion is an adhesive’s overall “stickiness” that allows two different types of surfaces to adhere to one another. A stronger adhesion will be harder to remove than a weaker adhesion.
• Shear is the ability of the adhesive to stay affixed when forces pull against it. Higher shear adhesion means your label will last longer and endure more force than lower shear adhesives.

Chemical properties to consider when choosing a label adhesive

There are two primary chemical properties related to label adhesives: an acrylic base versus a rubber base.

• Acrylic-based adhesives are water-soluble that have a low viscosity. You will find these adhesives in many industrial situations where oil may get on the label. Acrylic-based adhesives can withstand oils and grease. However, they tend to be more brittle than rubber-based adhesives. They also tend to have more significant tack (stickiness) than rubber-based adhesives, making them ideal for labels that need to stay in place after application.
• Rubber-based adhesives are oil-soluble and have a high viscosity. You’ll want to avoid using these where there’s grease and oil, but they perform much better in wet environments. They tend to be thicker than acrylic adhesives, making them ideal for applications requiring a strong bond.

What factors should you consider when choosing label adhesives for your application?

So, how do you decide on the right adhesive for your application? When choosing an adhesive, you will want to consider the following:

• How will it be used? Does it need to stay put forever? Will it be reused more than once? Will you need to reposition it before the adhesive sets fully? Is it likely to be subjected to extreme temperatures? Your answers to these questions will help you start with the right type of adhesive.
• Are there any special performance factors to consider? For example, you will want to ask yourself if your adhesive needs to withstand any particular conditions or perform under demanding circumstances. For example, does it need to withstand forces pulling against it? In cases like this, choose a label with corresponding shear strength.
• Are there any environmental factors to consider? Will it need to endure high temperatures or wet conditions? Is oil or grease likely to be present? The answers to these questions will help you determine whether to go with an acrylic or rubber-based adhesive.

Conclusion

Many different label adhesives are available to choose from, and each has its benefits, drawbacks, strengths, and weaknesses. The most important thing is knowing what your label needs to do before deciding on an adhesive. Your best bet is to consult with an expert who can help you find the best option for your specific application.

Do you still have questions? Please get in touch with us for professional advice on choosing the best adhesive for your labels. Our table experts are friendly and super easy to work with! Contact Us!