What is Adhesion film?

Adhesion film is usually soft plastic films made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) or PE (polyethylene) with a very smooth underside, which adhere to smooth, pore-free surfaces such as glass without adhesive. An illustrative example of the principle of self-adhesive films is the transparent film over the potato salad that you bring with you to grill with your neighbours.

Yousan’s Adhesion film, which is used both as a vapour barrier in building insulation and for decorative purposes, is one of our aluminium adhesive foils. The decorative, beautifying aspect is also in the foreground with the decorative adhesive films. Regardless of whether you use glittering holographic adhesive film or material adhesive film made of leather, wood or velour for your projects: There are no limits to your imagination. Self-adhesive polystyrene mirrors are also particularly popular in this area. Those who prefer metallic, in this case gold and silver, will find what they are looking for in metallic adhesive films.

Coloured self-adhesive films are the material from which advertising lettering is cut, especially for outdoor advertising. Areas of application include buses, trams and taxis. Another important field of application is the production of signs or light boxes for indoor and outdoor use. For the different applications there are transparent, translucent and opaque films with different lifetimes. For finer motifs or lettering, the use of transfer foil is recommended, which supports the mounting of the cut-out elements onto the desired surface.

As the name suggests, stencil films are suitable for the production of stencils. Table films also carry their function in the name. They function as table substitutes and can be described with chalk and the like. Anyone who attaches great importance to the mirror effect is best equipped with mirror foils or flexible mirror plates to create the mirror of their choice on the surface of their imagination.

The use of reflective adhesive film, which is actually used for the production of warning notices and traffic signs, achieves special effects not only in the decorative area. It is one of our light-technical foils and is therefore, for example, in the company of lampshade foil.

We carry many types of transparent protective films, In order to protect the products in your window displays from fading by sunlight, the use of UV protection films or sun protection films is recommended. Our sun protection film can also be used as a spy film.

Adhesion film is made in both unsupported and supported types. The carrier for supported films is generally fibrous fabric or mat. Film adhesives are supplied as heat-activated thermosetting or thermoplastic hot melt, pressure-sensitive, or solvent-activated forms. The type of dry film adhesive used will usually determine the technique by which it is applied.

Pressure-sensitive adhesives available in the form of single coated or double coated films are tacky and bond instantly when hand pressure is applied.

Thermoplastic adhesive films are normally positioned between the mating surfaces, and heat and pressure are applied to make the bonded joint; this joint can be processed very quickly.

Thermosetting adhesives in film form are applied between the two mating surfaces and the assembly is subjected to heat and pressure for a predetermined period of time.

Solvent reactivatable adhesives in film form are reactivated by wiping with a cloth that has been dampened with solvent usually into a pressure- sensitive state.

The main Adhesive Films Types

1. Pressure Sensitive Adhesive (PSA):
PSAs do not require much pressure if they are to be deformed; they are flexible once cured, and can be used on wet surfaces. To put it in technical terms – they are low modulus elastomers and thermoplastic. They are a sought-after adhesive type for many reasons – they are easy to use; no heat or equipment is needed for a bond to be made, they perfectly fit into the role of attachment or mounting adhesives, and they function well in environments with temperatures between 59º F and 95º F. However, the beauty of these films lies in their versatility. They are great solutions for bonding multiple materials like paper, plastic, metal, and concrete. They also work wonders when it comes to light load applications, and are purchased as tapes or labels.

2. Heat Activated Adhesive:

Contrary to pressure sensitive films, these adhesives have to leverage external heat to activate the bond. The films have to be exposed to high temperatures for long periods to ensure the expected level of bonding. They can be used in continuous processes or cut into sheets, enabling precise layer placement prior to bonding. Another difference between the two is their natures, PSAs are thermoplastic while heat activated adhesive films are thermoset. Given the thermoset feature, they offer excellent strength, along with heat and chemical resistance. They are also customizable and are available with numerous backing materials. Heat activated adhesives are perfect solutions particularly when it comes to the bonding of difficult surfaces, including rubber and polymer-based materials.

3. Polyurethane Adhesives:
Polyurethane adhesives are a form of thermoplastic glue. These are usually brown in color or are transparent. Given that they are extremely durable and resistant to most forms of degradation, they have a very wide variety of applications. Here are some of the major industries that leverage the power of these adhesives – Transport, Laminating, Aerospace, Footwear, Construction, Pharmaceutical, Furniture, Flooring and Roofing, Rail, and the list goes on. Polyurethane adhesives are available in either a one part or 2-part adhesive. The 2-part adhesive sets much quicker. These films come with enviable features like easy application, ideal for sensitive substrates, proven versatility, excellent resistance to heat, water and chemicals.

4. Rubber-based Adhesives:
These are adhesives made using a rubber, either in its natural or synthetic form, as the base material. They are known to offer high initial grab or tack, and bond extremely well with a range of materials and surface types. Rubber-based pressure sensitive adhesives are usually solvent-based or hot melt adhesives, and can be used to make permanent or removable labels. They serve to be good solutions for low temperature applications and indoor applications. This is primarily because they are more vulnerable to UV light, high temperatures, moisture, and chemicals. They are also widely used in medical applications such as dressings and tapes. They are also actively present in the healthcare and cosmetics industry.

5. Acrylic Adhesives:

Much like pressure sensitive adhesive, acrylic adhesives are thermoplastics in nature as well; meaning that they go soft when exposed to heat. They remain soft at room temperatures and harden after the cooling process. Their ability to remain soft at normal temperatures allows them to bend easily under light pressure and bond quite well with the rough or inconsistent product surfaces. These adhesives are known to gel well with polar substrates such as metals, glass, polyesters and polycarbonates. They deliver good resistance to multiple temperature ranges and chemicals. The best part is that they can easily be removed and reinstalled in the application if done incorrectly.

Now that are aware of the most common types of adhesives in the realm of flexible packaging, let’s explore the many advantages of adhesive films for different sectors:

Benefits Of Adhesive Films

Food Industry:
The impressive range of adhesives make it possible for the food industry to adapt to the all-new era that is fueled by canned food and frozen products. From laminated product packaging to air-tight sealed closures – these adhesives come in handy for a variety of applications.

Medical Industry:
From plasters to nicotine patches to the production of something as simple as paper tissues – adhesives play an important role in the medical industry as well. They enable tablets to be protected from the exterior elements that could hamper the desired effect.

Industrial Purposes:
The aircraft and car manufacturing industries are the ones that have truly welcomed innovation in the form of bonding technology, especially via adhesives. Over time, they have proven to be reliable solutions, leading to them being used as structural materials as well.