The Future of Hot Melt: Adhesive Industry Outlook 2018 and Beyond

The adhesive industry is booming, and that trend likely will continue, according to most industry experts. According to a Business Insider's report, most researchers expect the market to increase by 60 percent from the final 2016 number of $7.39 billion to over $12 billion by 2023. This translates to a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.3 percent.

 

The adhesive industry is booming, and that trend likely will continue, according to most industry experts. According to a Business Insider's report, most researchers expect the market to increase by 60 percent from the final 2016 number of $7.39 billion to over $12 billion by 2023. This translates to a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.3 percent.


Asia and South American appear to have the most potential for growth, due to the increase in nonwoven and packaging applications in these two regions.

What Are Hot Melt Adhesives?

Hot melt adhesives are thermoplastic materials comprised of stabilizers, additives, pigments and polymers, which are sold in the form of solid, cylindrically-shaped sticks or pellets. The sticks are melted and applied using a hot melt gun or sprayer.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are organic chemical compounds that get volatized or released into the atmosphere during the manufacturing process. There is increased regulatory concern across the globe regarding VOCs and the effects on health and the environment.A key market advantage for hot melt adhesives is that they are not considered VOCs.

Components of Hot Melt

Hot melt consists of three primary parts: high molecular weight polymer, a tackifier and a plasticizer.

· The polymer acts as the primary adhesive.

· The tackifier or resin provides more adhesion and the wetting properties.

· The plasticizer (wax or oil) controls the viscosity and the ability for small machinery to easily dispense it.

Types of Polyolefins

The most common type of hot melt adhesive is the ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) variety. Styrene-butadiene is the second most popular. Other categories include polyamide, thermoplastic polyurethanes and polyolefin (PO)。

What Companies Produce Hot Melts?

Six companies hold a large portion of the market share in hot melt adhesive production: Dow Chemical, 3M Company, Avery Dennison, Henkel, Sika AG and H.B. Fuller.Most analysts expect further industry consolidation in 2018 and beyond.

Solvent-Based Adhesives

Solvent-based adhesives have traditionally been used in the automotive, furniture and construction industries. The base liquid used to dissolve the polymer that forms the adhesive bond uses a solvent.

Depending on the type of solvent used, you may need to apply the solvent-based adhesive with a brush, roll, spray or something else. Some solvents are flammable, and many are poisonous, and cleanup and handling require special precautions.

Solvents evaporate quickly, and cleaning up after using it may require special methods.

Environmental Problems With Solvent-Based Adhesives

Solvents can harm the environment and our ecosystems in a number of ways:

Soil Pollution

Solvents that leach into the soil eventually contaminate groundwater. Plants and animals can die, and the solvent wastes may pollute drinking water.


Water Pollution

Dispersion (emulsion) adhesives cause particular problems when released into the environment. The wastes that solvent-based adhesives release do not dissolve readily in water. Solvents contamination in water also harms wildlife and plants.


Air Pollution

Breathing in solvent fumes pose serious health risks, including asthma and lung disease. Solvents that enter the body often are stored in the brain’s fatty tissue and adversely affect cognition.

Hot Melt and the Environment

Hot melt does not contain solvents. Hot melt uses water to dissolve the polymer. This is another reason why many different sectors are switching to hot melt from solvent-based products.


Hot melt produces minimal pollution and has little-to-no environmental effects. Unlike adhesives with solvents, you don’t need any special ventilation, nor are they flammable. The price point is very low, so for industries like construction and packaging with high-volume operations, it keeps costs down.


Hence, governments, regulatory agencies and environmental organizations all support the use of hot melt over solvent-based products. The favorable policies enacted by governments around the world will continue to help increase the use of hot melt, which is expected to grow its market share at the expense of solvent-based adhesives

Other Advantages of Hot Melts

The superior bonding of hot melt adhesives, along with the adhesion abilities and speedy applications, make hot melts particularly useful for multi-functioning packaging applications.Hot melt has a much longer shelf life than solvent adhesives.



Source:https://www.hotmelt.com/blogs/blog/future-hot-melt-adhesive-industry-outlook-2018-beyond