Impact of Hot Melt Adhesives on the Paper Recycling Process, 1993 Hot Melt Symposium Proceedings

P.J. Hayes

T. Kauffman

Hot melt adhesives, as "stickies" contaminants, have long been a problem for paper recycling mills. The paper recycling process will be discussed with specific reference to the impact of these "stickies" on fouling of mill equipment and paper quality.

Some types of hot melts cause more problems than others. The classes of hot melts will be reviewed to show which have the most and least effect.

The term "repulpability" has an ambiguous definition when it refers to adhesives in the paper recycling process. The reasons why a standard lab test has not been developed will be discussed. The technical approaches being employed to develop a "repulpable" adhesive will be reviewed along with the relative advantages and disadvantages of each approach.

The future of environmentally friendly hot melts will be discussed. Hot melts made from renewable sources as well as compostable/biodegradable hot melts will be examined.