It is one thing to have a well-designed product label while it is another to ensure that they are carefully applied on your product. When it comes to label application, it is not all about finding the strongest adhesive but also one that is appropriate for your product. Different products need different type of adhesives depending on functionality. In this article, we will highlight on how to select the right adhesive for bath and body labels and how to avoid branding blunders. Let’s start with understanding the different types of adhesives available for bath and body labels.
Adhesives Types
Label adhesives are available in four different types namely:
- Removable adhesives: These adhesives are applied on items and products with an intention to be removed later on since they are not meant to stick permanently. They are used on most retail products like clothes and glassware. They do not leave a residue once the label is peeled off. Labels on glassware can easily be washed off using water and soap.
- Permanent adhesives: These adhesives are applied on labels that are meant to stick on a product permanently. Once you apply a label using permanent adhesives, you cannot risk removing the label without destroying the surface applied or the label.
- Cold temp adhesives: These are adhesives approved to be used on labels that are to be applied on products to be stored under cold conditions and surfaces.
- Repositionable adhesives: These adhesives are applied on labels that need to be removed and re applied on flat surfaces. They work well on promotional labels where they can be used to attach coupons on product labels.
Adhesive Performance Factors
All types of adhesives have the same distinct performance factors which include shear, adhesion and tack.
- Shear: Pressure sensitive labels need to be slid from a flat surface to a parallel surface within a specified time so that they can stick effectively. This amount of time used is what is called shear.
- Adhesion: This is the bond that is created after pressure has been applied between the adhesive and the product’s surface to affix the label.
- Tack: This is the initial bonding of the adhesive to a surface when pressure has not been applied yet.
Rubber-based vs. Acrylic Adhesives
Rubber-based: This type of adhesive is lower in cost and has instant bonding properties. It is mostly used for indoor applications and for short term use. They are easily affected by chemicals and UV rays so they are not ideal for outdoor applications.
Acrylic: These adhesives are resistant to most chemical solvents and they are more durable than rubber-based adhesives. They do not get affected with UV resistance and they have a long term bonding which makes them prefect for outdoor label applications.
Knowing all these factors well will help you in choosing the right adhesive for your products. This information helps you to know which adhesive will work best on which surface. Bath and body labels are mostly exposed to places with a lot of moisture and for this reason you need to find the right adhesive that will hold the label the entire product’s lifetime.
