Application: adhesion on demanding surfaces and processes
High-adhesion labels
High-adhesion labels: when the standard label lifts
We supply self-adhesive labels with a permanent hot melt adhesive of high initial tack and high final adhesion, for surfaces and processes where a standard label lifts at the edges or falls off. We offer them in polypropylene (Ref. 875) and in polyester (Ref. 862), with the same UV1P adhesive. Before production, we send you a sample to validate adhesion on your actual part.
Adhesive
Permanent hot melt UV1P
Initial tack
>15 N/inch
Adhesion at 24 h
>13 N/inch
Service
−20 to +50 °C
Where these labels are used
- Product and packaging labelling that must stay adhered from the first contact, also in automatic labelling.
- Rough, textured or curved surfaces, where the adhesive needs immediate grip.
- Low surface-energy plastics, such as polyethylene and polypropylene, always with a prior test.
- Labels exposed to sunlight: UV1P has high solar resistance and high cohesion.
- Food packaging: the UV1P adhesive is suitable for food contact according to the technical data sheet.
What decides whether a label stays adhered
- Surface: cleanliness, roughness, curvature and type of material. Low surface-energy plastics, such as polyethylene and polypropylene, are the most demanding.
- Adhesive: initial tack decides the grip at the moment of application; final adhesion and cohesion decide whether the label is still in place weeks later.
- Temperature: application and service temperature. Outside its range, any adhesive loses performance.
Quick stick
>15 N/inch
Shear
>15 hours
Application
0 to +40 °C
Materials
PP (875) · PET (862)
The problem
Why a label lifts
A label lifts for three distinct reasons, and it is worth separating them because each one has its own solution.
Lack of initial grip. The adhesive does not fully wet the surface at the moment of application. This happens on rough, textured or dusty surfaces, on low surface-energy plastics and when labelling in the cold. The label looks applied, but lifts within a few hours.
Lack of cohesion. The adhesive grips, but gives way under tension. This happens on curved or small-diameter surfaces, where the film tends to spring back to its flat shape, and when the label is under continuous pulling force.
The environment degrades the adhesive. Heat, sunlight, chemicals or moisture. Here more grip is not enough: an adhesive formulated for that agent is needed.
What each value measures
Tack, final adhesion and cohesion of UV1P
| Value | What it measures | UV1P | Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quick stick (initial tack) | Force with which the label adheres the moment it touches the surface, without prolonged pressure. | >15 N/inch | FTM 9 |
| Peel adhesion 180° · 20 min | Force needed to peel it off shortly after application. | >10 N/inch | FTM 1 |
| Peel adhesion 180° · 24 h | Force needed to peel it off once the adhesive has already set. | >13 N/inch | FTM 1 |
| Shear | Time it withstands a sliding load before giving way. Measures the internal cohesion of the adhesive. | >15 h | FTM 8 |
Values on stainless steel, from the technical data sheets of Ref. 875 and 862. Adhesion changes on other surfaces: that is why we validate with a sample.
Recommended material
Hot melt UV1P: immediate grip and high cohesion
Cast polypropylene of 125 µm with a coating for Water Inkjet.
Polyester of 50 µm for thermal transfer and Epson ColorWorks inkjet.
For good adhesion
- Surface: clean, dry and free of grease
- Application: between 0 and +40 °C
- Service: from −20 to +50 °C
What this adhesive does not cover
Heat above +50 °C, paint ovens, autoclave and immersion in chemicals. For those cases there are high-temperature labels, the guide to powder coating, cataphoresis and shot blasting and chemical-resistant labels.
What frequently goes wrong
Common mistakes when a label does not adhere
Mistake 01
Asking for "more adhesive" without knowing why the label lifts
If the failure is caused by heat, a chemical or moisture, an adhesive with more grip will not hold either. You first need to know whether the problem is initial grip, cohesion or resistance to the environment: each case has a different solution.
Mistake 02
Applying onto a dirty, damp or greasy surface
No adhesive adheres well on dust, oil or condensation. Cleaning and drying the surface before labelling solves many failures without changing the material.
Mistake 03
Using a hot melt above its service temperature
UV1P works from −20 to +50 °C. Above that, a hot melt softens and the label shifts or falls off. For parts that go through an oven or continuous heat, you need high-temperature labels.
Mistake 04
Validating on a surface different from the real one
The values on the data sheets are measured on stainless steel. A plastic, a cardboard or a painted part behave differently. The test has to be done on the actual part and respecting the adhesive's settling time.
How to choose
Which adhesive, based on the situation
"More adhesion" is not a specification. The choice depends on the surface, the application and service temperature, and what the label has to withstand once applied.
| Situation | Material | Adhesive |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate grip and high final adhesion, up to +50 °C, with Water Inkjet printing | Ref. 875 · White matt PP | Hot melt UV1P |
| Immediate grip and high final adhesion, up to +50 °C, on gloss polyester, with thermal transfer or Epson ColorWorks inkjet | Ref. 862 · White gloss PET | Hot melt UV1P |
| Cold application, chambers and freezing | Ref. RH9 · PP | Cold adhesive |
| Parts that are painted and go through an oven | Ref. 81020 · Heat-stabilised PET | Super-permanent acrylic |
| Prolonged outdoor exposure, chemicals and continuous heat | Polyester depending on the agent | Permanent acrylic |
Starting guidance. In combined conditions (for example, cold plus a difficult plastic), the construction is validated with a sample on the actual part.
Same adhesive, two films
Ref. 875 or Ref. 862
Both carry the hot melt UV1P with the same adhesion values. The difference is in the film: 125 µm matt polypropylene in the 875 and 50 µm gloss polyester in the 862. The 875 has a specific coating for Water Inkjet; the 862 is printed by thermal transfer with ribbon and on Epson ColorWorks inkjet printers.
| Characteristic | Ref. 875 | Ref. 862 |
|---|---|---|
| Film | White matt cast PP | White gloss PET |
| Film thickness | 125 µm | 50 µm |
| Printing | Coating for Water Inkjet (dye and pigment inks) | Thermal transfer with ribbon and Epson ColorWorks inkjet |
| Liner | Super-calendered paper, 53 µm | White coated paper, 100 g/m² |
| Adhesive | Hot melt UV1P · 20 g/m² | Hot melt UV1P · 20 g/m² |
| Application / service | 0 to +40 °C / −20 to +50 °C | 0 to +40 °C / −20 to +50 °C |
Data from the technical data sheets of each reference. Both data sheets can be downloaded as PDF from their page.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about high-adhesion labels
Which adhesive label sticks the hardest?+
There is no single answer: it depends on the surface and the environment. For immediate grip and high final adhesion up to +50 °C we work with the UV1P hot melt of Ref. 875 and 862, with quick stick above 15 N/inch and adhesion of more than 13 N/inch at 24 hours on stainless steel. If there is heat, chemicals or immersion, a different adhesive is needed.
What is the difference between initial tack and final adhesion?+
Initial tack (quick stick) measures the force with which the label adheres the moment it touches the surface, without prolonged pressure. Final adhesion measures the force needed to peel it off once the adhesive has set, at 24 hours. A label can have one without the other: that is why both are measured.
Does it work on plastics such as polyethylene or polypropylene?+
These are low surface-energy surfaces, on which many acrylic adhesives adhere poorly. A hot melt with high initial tack usually performs better, but the result depends on the specific plastic, its additives and its cleanliness. We always validate it with a sample on your part.
Can the label be removed afterwards?+
It is not designed for that. UV1P is a permanent adhesive. If the label needs to be removed without leaving residue, a removable adhesive is needed.
Does it resist heat?+
Up to +50 °C in service. Above that, a hot melt softens. For parts that are painted and go through an oven there is Ref. 81020, and for higher temperatures, high-temperature labels.
Can you send a sample before production?+
Yes. Adhesion depends heavily on the actual surface, so we send you a sample of Ref. 875 or 862 to test on your part, with your application process and the real settling time, before committing to an order.
For technical profiles
Technical data sheets of Ref. 875 and 862
Film, UV1P adhesive and liner properties, with downloadable PDF
Related resources
Adhesives guide for labels
Permanent, removable, high temperature, low temperature. How to choose based on surface and conditions.
Resistant self-adhesive labels: how to choose
Face material, adhesive and printing based on what the label needs to withstand: UV, chemicals, heat, cold, moisture or abrasion.
Contact
Are your labels lifting?
Tell us the surface, how and at what temperature you apply the label and under what conditions it is used. We will send you a sample to validate on your actual part.
- Free technical advice with no obligation.
- Response in less than 24 hours.
- Samples to test on your surface.