Traditional hot melt adhesive and PUR polyurethane hot melt adhesive

When deciding what kind thermo-adhesive film of adhesive to use for your manufacturing, packaging, and labeling needs, you may consider a moisture-curing polyurethane hot melt adhesive (PUR). With their high bond strength, polyurethane hot melt can be an attractive option for many different kinds of adhesive applications. However, polyurethane hot melts are not without their disadvantages as well. Let's take a closer look at the pros and cons of using polyurethane hot melts for your particular adhesive needs.There are several kinds of industrial adhesives available on the market.

The popular kind, by far, is the hot melt adhesives family. Hot melt adhesives are polymer-based, and are thermoplastic in nature, meaning they are solid at room temperature. These are generally applied as either a molten film or in a series of beads that are converted to a solid form when the materials cool and set. Because hot melt adhesives do not utilize water or solvents, they also have a very fast set time, which makes them the more popular kind of industrial adhesive. Use hot melt adhesives when your budget matters more than the strength of your bond. It is no secret that PUR provides much stronger bonds than traditional hot melt, but hot melt adhesives win the budget battle.

Bulk hot melt adhesives are one of the easiest ways to control the cost of your adhesive.Hot melt adhesives do not provide a structural bond. This isn't to say there aren't some strong hot melt adhesives out there, this is just how the chemistry works. You should not use a traditional hot melt adhesive if the bond will be exposed to direct heat or varying weather temperatures. A hot melt is applied in a liquid state - if exposed to heat the bond will return to its original liquid state and fail.Polyurethane (PUR) hot melts are used in tons of manufacturing and product assembly applications across the world and gaining steam every year. You'll find PUR adhesives in applications that require strong bonds to wood, plastics, fabrics, leather and many other materials.

PUR hot melts are becoming increasingly popular because of how versatile they are. PUR can be applied as a bead or sprayed for covering large surface areas. These adhesives also come in a wide range of open times and viscosities allowing them to cater to specific application needs. Check out our Complete Guide to Polyurethane PUR Hot Melt Adhesives.Because PUR hot melt reacts with moisture in the air, it must also be protected from moisture before it is used. This means it has to be packaged in airtight cartridges or foil and cannot be exposed before use. It also means that PUR hot melt carries a shelf life of around 12 months traditional hot melts have none.