DESCRIPTION
TECHNOMELT EM 357 is a transparent yellow hotmelt adhesive designed for bonding plastic labels, particularly on PET bottles.
This synthetic polymer-based adhesive is applied using nozzles or rollers and is suitable for labeling equipment of various types.
Cas Number
64742-52-5
Synonyms
Thermoplastic adhesive,Hot glue, Melt glue,Polymer adhesive,Meltable adhesive,Heat-sensitive adhesive
Introduction
Hot melt adhesives (HMAs) are an integral part of modern industrial processes due to their versatility, fast curing times, and strong bonding properties.
Among these, TECHNOMELT EM 357 stands out as a widely used adhesive formulation, especially in industries requiring rapid assembly, durable bonds, and eco-friendly materials.
TECHNOMELT EM 357 is part of the broader family of thermoplastic adhesives known for their solid-to-liquid phase change when heated and their strong adhesion upon cooling.
This introduction will cover the significance of HMAs in various industrial sectors, with a focus on TECHNOMELT EM 357, noting its adoption in packaging, automotive, electronics, and consumer goods industries.
Chemistry and Composition of TECHNOMELT EM 357
TECHNOMELT EM 357 is primarily composed of synthetic polymers and resins that undergo melting upon heating.
The adhesive formulation includes several key components:
Base Polymer: Typically a copolymer or a blend of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), polyethylene (PE), or styrene block copolymers (SBC).
These polymers provide a balance between flexibility, adhesion strength, and thermal stability.
Resins: The resins in TECHNOMELT EM 357 play a crucial role in enhancing the tackiness and adhesion characteristics.
These may include hydrocarbon resins, terpene resins, or modified rosin esters, depending on the desired performance.
Additives: Stabilizers, antioxidants, plasticizers, and fillers are added to improve performance in terms of processing stability, UV resistance, and rheological properties.
This section would delve deeper into the chemical structure and molecular interaction between these components, as well as the polymerization process used to create the final adhesive product.
Physical and Mechanical Properties
The performance of TECHNOMELT EM 357 in practical applications is determined by its physical and mechanical properties.
These include:
Viscosity: The flow behavior of the adhesive at different temperatures is crucial for determining application methods (e.g., spraying, extrusion).
Viscosity at application temperatures (usually around 180–200°C) needs to be optimized to ensure uniform coating and minimal waste.
Softening Point: Typically ranging between 85–95°C, the softening point indicates the temperature at which the adhesive becomes tacky and starts to melt.
This affects both application and final bond strength.
Thermal Properties: The adhesive’s ability to maintain integrity under heat is vital for industries like automotive and electronics.
This section would explore the melting point, thermal stability, and resistance to temperature extremes.
Adhesion Strength: Evaluating bond formation with various substrates (paper, metals, plastics) under stress conditions such as tension, shear, and peel strength.
Elasticity and Flexibility: The ability of the adhesive to maintain bond strength without cracking or losing cohesion under mechanical stress.
Rheological Behavior
Rheological properties describe how TECHNOMELT EM 357 behaves under different mechanical stresses and temperature changes:
Flow Properties: The way the adhesive flows under heat and pressure, with shear rate considerations, would be examined.
This is essential for determining application speed and quality.
Temperature Sensitivity: How changes in ambient and application temperature affect its viscosity and ability to form bonds.
Shear Viscosity: The ability of TECHNOMELT EM 357 to flow when subjected to different shear forces (in production equipment) and its relationship to other properties like bond strength.
This section would explore advanced rheological testing techniques, including oscillatory shear tests and capillary rheometry, for more precise insights.
Application Techniques
The versatility of TECHNOMELT EM 357 in various application processes is a key factor in its popularity:
Extrusion: Widely used in packaging and industrial assembly where the adhesive is applied in a thin, uniform layer.
Spraying: Useful for applications requiring non-contact bonding or for substrates that are difficult to glue directly.
Roll Coating: Applied in the production of adhesive films or as a coating on various materials.
Hot Pressing: For bonding substrates under pressure and heat, commonly used in automotive and furniture manufacturing.
This section would also discuss the influence of application conditions (e.g., substrate surface preparation, ambient temperature) on the final bonding performance.
Environmental Considerations
Sustainability is becoming increasingly important in industrial materials, and TECHNOMELT EM 357 is no exception:
Sustainability: The production process and the types of materials used in TECHNOMELT EM 357 will be analyzed to assess their carbon footprint and environmental impact.
Recyclability: The adhesive’s recyclability and whether it contributes to reducing overall waste in packaging and product assembly.
Regulatory Compliance: TECHNOMELT EM 357’s compliance with major environmental regulations such as RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) and REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) would be assessed.
This section would also explore trends in eco-friendly adhesive technologies, including bio-based and low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) adhesives.
Industrial Applications
TECHNOMELT EM 357 is used in a wide range of applications:
Packaging: Adhesives are used to bond cardboard, films, and labels in food packaging, carton sealing, and flexible packaging.
Automotive: For bonding parts such as dashboards, trim, insulation panels, and soundproofing materials.
Consumer Goods: In the assembly of toys, household goods, electronics, and footwear.
Electronics: Encapsulation and adhesive bonding of components, providing protection against dust, moisture, and vibration.
SAFETY INFORMATION ABOUT TECHNOMELT EM 357
First aid measures:
Description of first aid measures:
General advice:
Consult a physician.
Show this safety data sheet to the doctor in attendance.
Move out of dangerous area:
If inhaled:
If breathed in, move person into fresh air.
If not breathing, give artificial respiration.
Consult a physician.
In case of skin contact:
Take off contaminated clothing and shoes immediately.
Wash off with soap and plenty of water.
Consult a physician.
In case of eye contact:
Rinse thoroughly with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes and consult a physician.
Continue rinsing eyes during transport to hospital.
If swallowed:
Do NOT induce vomiting.
Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person.
Rinse mouth with water.
Consult a physician.
Firefighting measures:
Extinguishing media:
Suitable extinguishing media:
Use water spray, alcohol-resistant foam, dry chemical or carbon dioxide.
Special hazards arising from the substance or mixture
Carbon oxides, Nitrogen oxides (NOx), Hydrogen chloride gas
Advice for firefighters:
Wear self-contained breathing apparatus for firefighting if necessary.
Accidental release measures:
Personal precautions, protective equipment and emergency procedures
Use personal protective equipment.
Avoid breathing vapours, mist or gas.
Evacuate personnel to safe areas.
Environmental precautions:
Prevent further leakage or spillage if safe to do so.
Do not let product enter drains.
Discharge into the environment must be avoided.
Methods and materials for containment and cleaning up:
Soak up with inert absorbent material and dispose of as hazardous waste.
Keep in suitable, closed containers for disposal.
Handling and storage:
Precautions for safe handling:
Avoid inhalation of vapour or mist.
Conditions for safe storage, including any incompatibilities:
Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place.
Containers which are opened must be carefully resealed and kept upright to prevent leakage.
Storage class (TRGS 510): 8A: Combustible, corrosive hazardous materials
Exposure controls/personal protection:
Control parameters:
Components with workplace control parameters
Contains no substances with occupational exposure limit values.
Exposure controls:
Appropriate engineering controls:
Handle in accordance with good industrial hygiene and safety practice.
Wash hands before breaks and at the end of workday.
Personal protective equipment:
Eye/face protection:
Tightly fitting safety goggles.
Faceshield (8-inch minimum).
Use equipment for eye protection tested and approved under appropriate government standards such as NIOSH (US) or EN 166(EU).
Skin protection:
Handle with gloves.
Gloves must be inspected prior to use.
Use proper glove
removal technique (without touching glove's outer surface) to avoid skin contact with this product.
Dispose of contaminated gloves after use in accordance with applicable laws and good laboratory practices.
Wash and dry hands.
Full contact:
Material: Nitrile rubber
Minimum layer thickness: 0.11 mm
Break through time: 480 min
Material tested:Dermatril (KCL 740 / Aldrich Z677272, Size M)
Splash contact
Material: Nitrile rubber
Minimum layer thickness: 0.11 mm
Break through time: 480 min
Material tested:Dermatril (KCL 740 / Aldrich Z677272, Size M)
It should not be construed as offering an approval for any specific use scenario.
Body Protection:
Complete suit protecting against chemicals, The type of protective equipment must be selected according to the concentration and amount of the dangerous substance at the specific workplace.
Respiratory protection:
Where risk assessment shows air-purifying respirators are appropriate use a fullface respirator with multi-purpose combination (US) or type ABEK (EN 14387) respirator cartridges as a backup to engineering controls.
If the respirator is the sole means of protection, use a full-face supplied air respirator.
Use respirators and components tested and approved under appropriate government standards such as NIOSH (US) or CEN (EU).
Control of environmental exposure
Prevent further leakage or spillage if safe to do so.
Do not let product enter drains.
Discharge into the environment must be avoided.
Stability and reactivity:
Chemical stability:
Stable under recommended storage conditions.
Incompatible materials:
Strong oxidizing agents:
Hazardous decomposition products:
Hazardous decomposition products formed under fire conditions.
Carbon oxides, Nitrogen oxides (NOx), Hydrogen chloride gas.
Disposal considerations:
Waste treatment methods:
Product:
Offer surplus and non-recyclable solutions to a licensed disposal company.
Contact a licensed professional waste disposal service to dispose of this material.
Contaminated packaging:
Dispose of as unused product.