Petrolatum containing hot melt bottle labeling adhesive

Abstract

A novel hot melt adhesive for bonding labels on plastic bottles is described. The adhesive comprises a blend of a styrenic block copolymer, an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, a tackifying resin, petrolatum and optionally a wax. The use of petrolatum instead of mineral oil provides for better elevated temperature resistance than traditional formulations.

Description

Background technique [0001] Hot melt adhesives have been used for many years to label glass and plastic bottles. Plastic bottles containing carbonated beverages are particularly challenging. After bottling, carbonated beverages will cause plastic bottles to swell. Labeling systems need to accommodate this expansion. Adhesives used to bond labels to plastic bottles also need to accommodate this expansion. [0002] Paper labels are rigid and will not expand. Typically, a hard vitreous adhesive is used to bond the paper label to the bottle. Adhesives on paper labels need to resist creep, preventing label "flagging" (the overlapping portion of the label detaching from the bottle portion). Plastic labels are flexible and will expand. Typically, softer, elastic, tacky adhesives are used on plastic film labels, which are also generally more difficult to adhere than paper labels. Adhesives used to attach plastic labels need to be tacky enough to allow the label to adhere to the...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

The greater tensile strength of these labels resists stretching, causing the existing adhesive to creep, resulting in labeling failure (leading and trailing edges of the label separating)

Also, some plastic film labels are prone to oil migration from the adhesive to the label

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