Question

What is the Adhesive (Microsphere) - What is a microsphere adhesive??

Accepted Answer

A type of pressure sensitive adhesive that is used to create repositionable labels  these adhesives are emulsion-based systems where the particles of the adhesive components are larger than those of the emulsion components  the liquid vehicle or carrier throughout which the adhesive components are dispersed   In a standard emulsion-based adhesive  the particles of the adhesive components and emulsion components are more equal in size  which gives the adhesive a continuous surface and creates stronger initial and ultimate adhesion  as there is a larger surface area over which the adhesive bond can form   Microsphere adhesives  however  have larger particles of adhesive components  which breaks up the continuity of the surface of the adhesive  only the adhesive components are in contact with the substrate  and creates lower initial and ultimate adhesion  as there is a smaller surface area over which the adhesive bond can form and only some of the adhesive particles are in contact with the substrate during an application     meaning other particles of adhesive may be in contact with the substrate when it is reapplied          Repositionable labels require a careful balance between the amount of adhesive and emulsion components to ensure that the adhesion created by the adhesive will allow a label to be held firmly in place AND to remove cleanly from a substrate AND to be reapplied  over and over again   The size of the microspheres can also be adjusted  microspheres are usually between 1-1000 microns  those in adhesives are usually between 10-250 microns  to control the level of tack and repositionability so that microsphere adhesives can be purposefully made to suit a wider variety of substrates and surface types  including paper  wood  metal  ceramics  painted surfaces  and glass etc  or to suit specific label applications         Microsphere adhesives have a number of other properties that make them useful for specific materials or applications  they offer excellent resistance to heat and UV light  are acid-free  so they won't damage delicate substrates  such as photographs  over long periods of time   can be screen printed  allowing them to be used to create skins and wraps for phones  tablets  and laptops   and some meet FDA standards for indirect food contact  allowing them to be used to create resealable food packaging   They are commonly used to create repositionable post-it notes  shelf edge labels  skins for electronic devices  arts and crafts labels  and expanded or extended content labels  which can be lifted to reveal additional product information before being resealed for future use

GREM - What does GREM stand for?

Definition of GREM: