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Decoding label adhesives:
A comprehensive guide to types, properties, and applications
Labels play an essential role across various industries. They serve as reliable messengers, helping convey vital information, track products, and maintain safety and compliance standards. You'll find them on products, equipment, and containers in diverse environments. However, it's the adhesive behind these labels that quietly ensures their effectiveness and impacts their performance. In this article, we'll take a closer look at label adhesive types, properties, composition and the various applications where they excel.
Acrylic or rubber-based? The building blocks of label adhesive
When it comes to label adhesives, the base material sets the stage for durability and how well a label will adhere to specific surfaces. Two of the most common materials used in adhesive production are acrylic and rubber, each offering distinct characteristics that cater to specific applications.
Acrylic-based adhesive
Acrylic-based adhesives are known for versatility and durability. They excel in their ability to adhere to a wide range of surfaces, including paper, plastic, glass and metal. Acrylic-based adhesives are known for longevity because of excellent resistance to elements and wear and tear.
Rubber-based adhesive
Rubber-based adhesives are best suited for applications where flexibility and conformability are essential. Rubber-based adhesives conform to irregular, uneven, curved or textured surfaces. They’re pliable to allow for a secure bond, even on surfaces that may not be perfectly smooth.
Label adhesive by property: What is it used for?
Label adhesives are composed of a carefully engineered set of traits to adapt to various conditions, applications and needs. These include: adhesive strength, resistance to elements, temperature handling, and ideal environment. Depending on the combination, label adhesives can be grouped by property. Here are some of the most common label adhesive properties.
Permanent adhesive
When it comes to labeling solutions that need to stand the test of time and harsh environmental conditions, permanent adhesives are the go-to choice. Their qualities make them an indispensable choice where long-lasting and resilient labeling is a priority.
Adhesive strength
Permanent adhesive forms a strong and lasting bond with a surface and ensures a label adheres securely to keep its information where it’s intended.
Resistance to elements
Permanent adhesive has exceptional resistance to a range of elements. It won’t deteriorate or lose adhesion due to repeated exposure to chemicals, water or solvents.
Weathering temperatures
Permanent adhesive is highly versatile when it comes to temperature extremes. It can endure both high and low temperature ranges, as well as cryogenic settings.
Ideal environment
Permanent adhesive is highly versatile when it comes to temperature extremes. It can endure both high and low temperature ranges, as well as cryogenic settings.
Removable Adhesive
Removable adhesive labels offer a balance between secure adhesion and easy removal, making them ideal for areas that require temporary labeling and frequent changes.
Adhesive strength
Removable adhesive is designed to create a secure bond with a variety of surfaces while allowing for clean and residue-free removal.
Resistance to elements
While removable adhesive is not as resistant as permanent adhesive labels to harsh environmental factors, it does offer moderate resistance to chemicals and water.
Weathering temperatures
Removable adhesive is generally designed for use in standard temperature environments and may not perform optimally in extreme temperature conditions.
Ideal environment
Removable adhesive finds its niche in less harsh, more stable indoor environments. It’s necessary where labeling changes are frequent or where the label's needed lifespan is short. It’s often ideal for alphanumeric and barcode applications in electronic component marking as well as retail pricing, shelving and Lean/5S labeling.
Repositionable Adhesive
Repositionable adhesive strikes a balance between convenience and durability to allow for multiple reapplications without compromising bonding capabilities.
Adhesive strength
The adhesive formulation of repositionable adhesive labels enables them to be reapplied multiple times with minimal loss to adhesion strength.
Resistance to elements
Repositionable adhesive is suitable for use in indoor environments or semi-protected outdoor environments where occasional exposure to mild chemicals or moisture may occur.
Weathering temperatures
Repositionable adhesive is typically designed for standard temperature ranges. It may not be the best choice for applications subjected to extreme temperature conditions or cryogenic settings.
Ideal environment
Repositionable adhesive is ideally suited for indoor environments that require flexibility in label placement. It’s often found in bin labeling, shelving and Lean/5S applications.
Temperature-specific adhesive
Temperature-specific adhesives are engineered to meet the unique demands of high-temperature, low-temperature and cryogenic environments. It’s an essential tool in industries where temperature extremes are part of daily operations.
Adhesive strength
Temperature-specific adhesives are available in formulas optimized for maximum adhesion in specific temperature ranges.
Resistance to elements
The resistance properties of temperature-specific adhesive can vary depending on the adhesive type chosen, and may include resistance to chemicals and water.
Weathering temperatures
Temperature-specific adhesive labels are engineered to perform optimally within their designated temperature ranges. High-temperature labels have the durability to endure extreme heat without losing adhesion or legibility. Low-temperature labels remain effective in deep freezes, ensuring they can be relied upon even in the most frigid conditions. Cryogenic labels are essential for ultra-low-temperature storage environments, where they must maintain their integrity and adhesion despite the extreme cold.
Ideal environment
These labels are indispensable in applications where temperature extremes are a constant presence. High-temperature adhesive is crucial for tracking products and components through processes involving extreme heat in industrial settings. In the aerospace and aviation industries, low-temperature adhesive labels play a pivotal role in identifying and tracking components exposed to the cold of high-altitude flight. Laboratories rely on cryogenic adhesive labels to label and track samples stored in ultra-low-temperature freezers.
Label adhesive by application: How is it used?
Now that we know the different types of label adhesives by property and what they’re made of, let's take a look at specific labeling applications and the label adhesives most commonly used.
Barcode Labels
For barcode labels in product identification and inventory management, acrylic-based permanent adhesive is commonly preferred due to its exceptional durability. This adhesive type ensures that labels stay securely attached to products, even in challenging conditions such as varying temperatures and frequent physical handling. It offers excellent adhesion to a variety of surfaces, from paper to plastic to metal. Additionally, acrylic adhesive maintains its integrity over time, resisting degradation, discoloration and brittleness.
Circuit Board Labels
Circuit board labels in electronics and technology applications rely on acrylic-based permanent adhesive thanks to the excellent temperature resistance and consistent strong bond. This helps provide the longevity and reliability that electronic components and systems demand.
DataCom Labels
DataCom labels are essential in telecommunications and networking. Acrylic-based permanent adhesive is preferred to ensure that DataCom labels remain intact for the equipment's entire lifespan. It can reliably adhere to materials commonly found in telecommunications and networking environments, such as plastic, metal, and cable insulation, and resist extreme temperatures and frequent handling.
Electrical Labels
In the electrical and energy sectors, acrylic-based permanent adhesive is crucial on electrical labels due to its temperature resilience and long-term adhesion. It ensures labels stay securely attached even in challenging conditions, which is essential for safety and operational efficiency.
Hazardous Material Labels
For hazardous material labels, label adhesive that is temperature-specific and chemically resistant is crucial for safety and compliance as these labels must stay securely attached to the containers they identify even when exposed to varying temperatures. The choice of adhesive material should be based on specific chemical resistance requirements.
Inspection and Inventory Labels
Acrylic-based label adhesive is often preferred for inspection and inventory labels, though different properties are called for depending on need.
- Removable adhesive is ideal for temporary labeling, such as in alphanumeric and barcode applications in electronic component marking as well as retail pricing and shelving.
- Permanent adhesive offers long-lasting adhesion and is suitable for equipment serial numbers and asset tags.
- Temperature-specific adhesive withstands temperature fluctuations in labs and outdoor environments.
Laboratory Labels
The choice of label adhesive for laboratory labels depends on the required temperature range and chemical resistance. Often, temperature-specific adhesive is vital to ensure that labels stay secure on samples and equipment exposed to different temperatures to preserve data and specimen accuracy.
Partner with Brady for the perfect label
At Brady, we understand the critical role that label adhesive plays in ensuring labels stay securely in place, provide accurate information and withstand the challenges of specific industries. Whether you're navigating the demands of a high-temperature industrial setting, managing complex aerospace components, or maintaining the integrity of labels in sensitive laboratory environments, we have the expertise and solutions you need.
Don't leave your labeling to chance. Partner with Brady, and let us help you find the perfect adhesive solution. Whether you have questions, need advice, or are ready to make an informed choice, our experts are here to assist you every step of the way.
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