With the advent of newer and better techniques, industrial development has shifted in today’s society. For instance, new technologies like soundproof drills or biodegradable raw materials have changed the traditionally dirty, expensive and rough industry. Scientific developments and research in this field have sky-rocketed the production and marketing of these products.
Of late, the conventional adhesives used for industrial purposes have been replaced with more modern methods using hot melt adhesives. These are now used extensively in the nonwoven processing and manufacture of packaging materials, diapers, medical pads, sanitary napkins, paperboard cartons and a dozen more of such things.
It is a comparatively new field but it is a major one. Hot-melt technology is used in the packaging and composition of thousands of products. Because it’s a part of a larger process, its importance is often unknown to those outside of manufacturing. Hot melt adhesives (HMAs), heat guns, nozzles, modules and replacement parts are indispensable even though not publicly well-known.
To start our discussion about the hot melt technology and allied processes, it is best that we have an insight about the nonwoven fabrics and products and why is heat fixing preferred in these products.
It is somewhat apparent from the name itself that the nonwoven products involve no weaving or knitting. Examples are fabrics like felt, which are very agile and scrawny in the beginning and not of much use. However, after suitable processing and aid from other structural fabrics, these can be used to replace many woven fabrics. Not only do these mimic the conventional ones but also in some instances prove to better. Some of the applications of nonwoven materials reinforced by the use of hot melt wholesale parts like heat glues and guns are in the manufacture of diapers, pads, insulation gowns, wet wipes, agricultural mulches, geotextiles, envelops etc.
HMAs are particularly made from thermoplastics and the commonly used materials are polyvinyl, caprolactone, polyamides, polyesters, polyurethane etc. These have a tendency to melt on application of heat and regain their form while cooling. The advantage is that these HMAs are very long lasting and resistant and have a very little standing time, which ensures that more number of product batches can be completed in a small time. These hot glues come mostly as cylinders and sticks of different sizes.
Second in the list of hot melt wholesale parts are hot guns that come in various types. From handguns to swivel guns, the list is quite impressive. There are two temperature controls; the cold type operates at 121 degree Celsius and the hot type at 193 degrees. All you have to do is put in the HMA tape into the gun, either using the trigger mechanism or manually, and let the gun do all the work. The heat melts the adhesive, which is applied over the stratum. Other hot melt wholesale parts include nozzles and spray heads, which can be fitted over the gun to get the desired application mode.
Some of the major drawbacks of using this hot melt technology are the vulnerability of the glues to temperature. At high temperatures, they almost melt whereas they become substantially brittle in a cold environment.
However, with proper research in this area, heat melt glues will be a boon for industrial processes.