Hot melt adhesives differ from most other types of adhesives and adhesives in that the hot melt adhesive sticks, pellets, or blocks are heated to a molten state for application, and then cool to form a solid bond between the materials being adhesived. Thermoplastic polymers, plastics which become liquid when heated and re-solidify when cooled, are used as a basis for hot melt adhesive for their strength and high viscosity. These materials are often not ideal adhesives, however, so other materials such as waxes, stabilizers, and tackifiers are added to fine-tune the adhesive for a specific application.
The packaging, automotive, footwear, and furniture industries use hot melt adhesives extensively. Hot melt adhesive is also used in a wide variety of manufacturing, commercial, home, craft, and hobby applications. One reason for the popularity of hot melt adhesives is their versatility. The short set time of a adhesive such as our NNL-31&NNL-31A makes this formulation ideal for high volume manufacturing and packaging lines, while the longer open time of a formulation such as our NNL-35B allows assemblers and crafters to position parts more precisely, yet still have the benefit of a strong bond once set. Pressure sensitive, non pressure sensitive, permanent, and fugutive (removable) hot melt adhesives are available in an array of formulations to provide optimal adhesion to almost any surface.
Hot melt adhesive comes in a variety of forms -- sticks in many sizes, pellets, chips, beads, blocks, and pillows. The adhesive can be applied using hand or pneumatic operated adhesive guns, adhesive pots and skillets, wheel coaters, and other specialized equipment. Hot melt adhesive can also be produced with coloring agents added for applications such as material color-matching in manufacturing, movie special effects, and home hobbies and crafts.
The packaging, automotive, footwear, and furniture industries use hot melt adhesives extensively. Hot melt adhesive is also used in a wide variety of manufacturing, commercial, home, craft, and hobby applications. One reason for the popularity of hot melt adhesives is their versatility. The short set time of a adhesive such as our NNL-31&NNL-31A makes this formulation ideal for high volume manufacturing and packaging lines, while the longer open time of a formulation such as our NNL-35B allows assemblers and crafters to position parts more precisely, yet still have the benefit of a strong bond once set. Pressure sensitive, non pressure sensitive, permanent, and fugutive (removable) hot melt adhesives are available in an array of formulations to provide optimal adhesion to almost any surface.
Hot melt adhesive comes in a variety of forms -- sticks in many sizes, pellets, chips, beads, blocks, and pillows. The adhesive can be applied using hand or pneumatic operated adhesive guns, adhesive pots and skillets, wheel coaters, and other specialized equipment. Hot melt adhesive can also be produced with coloring agents added for applications such as material color-matching in manufacturing, movie special effects, and home hobbies and crafts.