Solventless Lamination: The Modern Answer to Lamination, 1991 Polymers, Laminations & Coatings Conference Proceedings

The utmost problem facing the laminating converter today is the manufacture of a quality high performance lamination in the face of today’s environmental concerns. The converter is confronted with increasingly demanding structures while at the same time facing restrictions of solvent control legislation.

Currently about 40% of the laminations in Europe are achieved through the solvent free (100% solids) lamination process. European forecasts for 1995 show that 65% will be done by the 100% solids approach.

Why is Europe taking the solventfree approach while the U.S. has moved in the direction of water reducible adhesives?

There were about 20 solventfree laminators sold in the U.S. and then converters slowed the move toward solventfree, yet there are over 200 solventfree machines operating successfully worldwide. Why? Our aim today is to describe installations and experiences that show that the solventfree process is the alternative to consider for laminations.