Optimizing the Coating of Pressure Sensitive Adhesives, 1993 Polymers, Laminations & Coatings Conference Proceedings

Don G. Pierson, E. Jack McConnell, Frank M. Huminski

A wide range of coating methods are currently in use for the application of pressure sensitive adhesives (PSAs) to wide webs. No single type of coater is suitable for all situations, and variables such as adhesive type, capital investment, line speed, coat weight control, and substrate must be considered in choosing a coating head. With a given coater, many variables are available to the operator for fine tuning the equipment and the process to obtain the best coating possible in terms of both coating quality and economics. Both adhesive suppliers and equipment suppliers can be valuable resources for advice on choosing and/or improving a PSA coating operation. This paper will review several of the more common methods of coating PSAs, and will delineate the advantages, disadvantages, and typical use of each type. Included will be an examination of rod, knife, reverse roll, deformable roll, calendering, and forward gravure coating equipment. Two of the newer methods of PSA coating, reverse gravure and slot die, will also be reviewed.