Holmelt
Hotmelt, which literally means hot melt, is a kind of adhesive that contains wax, essentially a polymer substance, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) and a suitable resin. Before application, it is melted at the suitable temperature and then applied to the surface to be used.
Notwithstanding the type, all adhesives must have the wetting characteristic in order to adhere to the lower layer and spread there. Especially in adhesives used in the packaging sector, the substance that ensures fluidity is water or solvent. When these substances vaporize, they leave behind an adhesiveness which enables easy bonding. However hotmelt adhesives do not require such a solvent substance. Rather, they are melted before application. Actually, the adhesiveness achieved through heat is much more advantageous in comparison to the other types. Regarding the applications requiring quick adhesion, hotmelt adhesives are particularly the most optimal ones.
Hotmelt is advantageous in terms of not including any liquid solvent in the application and not causing such concerns as freezing, decomposition, distortion or disintegration and therefore it facilitates transfer and storage.
Regarding its disadvantages, the only prominent issue can be seen as its limited heat resistance. When used in thermoplastic materials, as the temperature increases, for instance at 60 degrees, its resistance weakens and it starts to decrease at 70 degrees. Therefore, it finds its most common areas of usage in the products and sectors not exposed to heat such as packaging, furniture, lamination and textile.
Thanks to its numerous technical advantages, hotmeltis called "the adhesive of the future".