Common Problems and Solutions in Water-Based Adhesive Applications (1)
- For water-based adhesive lamination, the recommended applicator roller has 180–200 lines, 32u–35U depth, hexagonal cell walls, channels between cells, and U-shaped cell bottoms, with shallow, large-opening cells to support uniform coating, drying efficiency, peel strength, and transparent appearance.
- Wet water-based adhesive is best cleaned with water, while dried adhesive should be cleaned with methyl ethyl ketone and ethyl acetate; for a clogged gravure roller, wipe the surface with a cloth dampened with a small amount of ethyl acetate and avoid excess solvent falling into the adhesive trough.
- Leftover water-based adhesive should be stored at 5–30°C in an appropriately sized container with minimal empty space, protected from freezing, heat sources, and direct sunlight, and used within its shelf life where possible.
- Robond L series products already contain a defoamer and generally require no additional defoamer; excess defoamer can reduce peel strength, and if foaming is severe the dosage must be strictly controlled at no more than 2 oz per 200 kg drum (1 oz = 28.35 g) with even stirring, while Rohm and Haas does not recommend adding defoamer.
- A laminated film that comes off the machine very transparent with no haze indicates the adhesive is completely dry, and a transparent OPP/OPP structure can be used at start-up to adjust machine parameters.
- How to select the applicator gravure roller for water-based adhesive lamination?
Zhu Jianliang of Dow: The cells of the applicator roller should be shallow with a large opening, so that the wet adhesive contacts the substrate over the largest possible surface; this helps achieve uniform coating, improves drying efficiency, and gives the best peel strength and the most transparent appearance. It is recommended to use an applicator roller with 180~200 lines, 32u-35U depth, hexagonal cell walls, channels between cells, and U-shaped cell bottoms.
- How to clean water-based adhesive left on equipment?
Zhu Jianliang of Dow: Do not wait until the adhesive dries before cleaning; wet adhesive is easy to clean, and water is the best cleaning solvent for wet adhesive. If the water-based adhesive has dried, clean it with methyl ethyl ketone and ethyl acetate.
- If the gravure roller becomes clogged during operation, how should it be cleaned?
Zhu Jianliang of Dow: Wipe the surface of the gravure roller with a cloth dampened with a small amount of ethyl acetate; try not to let excess solvent fall into the adhesive trough.
- What are the storage requirements for leftover adhesive?
Zhu Jianliang of Dow: The storage temperature should preferably be 5~30℃. The container for water-based adhesive should be of an appropriate size, with as little empty space as possible to avoid too much air in storage; prevent freezing, keep away from heat sources and direct sunlight, and use within the shelf life as much as possible.
- Bubbles appear when the lamination speed is very fast; can a defoamer be added?
Zhu Jianliang of Dow: Robond L series products already contain a defoamer, so generally no additional defoamer is needed; excessive defoamer will affect the peel strength of the product. If foaming is severe, an appropriate amount of defoamer may be used, but the dosage must be strictly controlled: no more than 2 oz per large drum (200kg) (1oz=28.35g), and it must be stirred evenly. (Rohm and Haas does not recommend adding a defoamer.)
- How to determine whether the adhesive is completely dry?
Zhu Jianliang of Dow: When the laminated film comes off the machine, it is very transparent with no haze, indicating that it is completely dry. At start-up, a transparent structure OPP/OPP can be used first to adjust the machine parameter settings. In addition, check the lamination peel strength; if there is no strength, it proves that it is not dry either.
- Will the lamination strength decline after a few months?
Zhu Jianliang of Dow: It will not; the adhesive force will not change.
- Why does the appearance of the laminated film differ when different inks are used? Even when the surface energy of the ink film is greater than 40 dyne/cm?
Zhu Jianliang of Dow: In addition to the ink and the film-forming resin, different ink films also contain varying amounts of wax, slip agents, defoamers, plasticizers, etc., and all these components may adversely affect the adhesive.
Related reading
- Guangxi's Three-Year Sugar Industry Plan Releases Market Dividends for Food Equipment2026-10-28Industry NewsSource: 食品机械设备网
On September 18, the Department of Industry and Information Technology of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region issued the Sugar Industry Development Action Plan (2025–2027) (Gui Gong Xin Food [2025] No. 767), specifying that by 2027 the industrial output value of the sugar industry chain will strive to reach RMB 81 billion. As the country's main sugar-producing region, Guangxi has locked in a batch of equipment renewal directions in the form of a policy list, opening up market space for enterprises in sugar-making main equipment, harvesting machinery, deep processing and green energy-saving equipment.
- Reply | Inquiry on Production Date Labeling for Multi-layer Packaging under the Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Food Labeling2026-10-27Industry NewsSource: 食品伙伴网
Inquiry Content For pre-packaged food in multi-layer packaging, the production date shall be the date on which the packaging process that comes into direct contact with the food (i.e., the inner packaging) is completed. If the inner packaging contains multiple products of different varieties, different production dates, and different shelf lives, and only one production date is marked on the outer packaging, should the earliest production date or the packaging date be indicated? If all shelf lives are more than 6 months, and the outer packaging does not indicate a production date but only indicates the shelf life and the shelf-life expiry date,
- Amcor European Consumer Survey on Wet Pet Food Packaging2026-10-26Industry NewsSource: 包装前沿
Amcor Solutions has released a new European survey focused on the purchasing habits and packaging preferences of wet pet food consumers. The survey covered six countries—France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the UK—and a total of 2457 wet pet food buyers. The survey shows that the core decision factors for consumers when choosing wet pet food are ingredients and nutrition, price and perceived quality, followed by pack size and ease of use; among which wet dog
- UPM, Ingredion and Paramelt Launch Starch-Based Barrier Paper Packaging Prototype2026-10-26Industry NewsSource: 包装前沿
On October 21, 2026, UPM, Ingredion and Paramelt jointly developed a starch-based barrier recyclable paper packaging prototype, which was showcased at the Pack‑Expo international packaging exhibition in Chicago. The solution features a plant-based starch barrier layer and a bio-based heat seal coating, and has passed the first stage of recyclability testing at Western Michigan University in the United States, while also completing grease resistance performance validation, for PFAS-free
Need a packaging solution for your liquid product?
Send us the volume, material and quantity. Our engineers and designers will advise you and produce free samples.