TAGS: Hot-melt Adhesives Sealants Polyurethane Adhesives Reactive Adhesives
Transparency Market Research (TMR) anticipates that the hot-melt adhesives market which stood at USD 12.1 Bn in 2021, is poised to reach USD 25.6 Bn by 2031 at a CAGR of 8.7% between 2021 and 2031 forecast period.
Composition and Application of HMAs
Hot melt adhesive is defined as an adhesive system that is thermally melted and develops cohesion through cooling. Akin to all adhesives, hot melt adhesive is composed of one or more polymers as well as additives such as pigments and stabilizers.
Hot melt adhesives are multicomponent systems that can combine various polymers and additives. They are applied using an electric hot glue gun. The hot glue gun has a loading compartment, where hot melt adhesives (HMA) are heated to their melting point.
Hot melt adhesives are thermoplastic adhesives that are solid at room temperature, but melt and turn to liquid when heated for application to an adherent. Prominent applications of hot melt adhesives include packaging, construction, non-woven, bookbinding and paper binding, furniture, footwear, and electronics. Hot melt adhesives can be classified into polyester hot melt adhesives and reactive hot melt adhesives.
Polyester hot melt adhesives refer to thermoplastic adhesives that are non-volatile in nature. They are commonly found in a solid state at room temperatures and can be liquefied upon heating. Polyester hot melt adhesives are widely used to form instantaneous bonds and reduce product weight while improving the overall product appearance.
Reactive hot melt adhesives are high-performance hot melt materials that crosslink within the polymer matrix, and yield a temperature-resistant bond line. Reactive hot melt adhesives have high adhesion to a wide range of materials, including metals, plastics, glass, thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO), fabric, and leather.
The global hot melt adhesives market is estimated to grow, owing to favorable properties of hot melt adhesives, specifically for industries such as packaging, construction, and non-woven/hygiene. This is evident since hot melt adhesives offer more benefits than conventional adhesives, making them a popular choice among end-users.
Demand for HMAs in Packaging Industry
Hot melt adhesives are widely used in packaging applications such as case sealing, corrugated waxed board, tray forming, carton sealing of standard bleached sulfate (SBS), heat sealing, and container labeling.
Hot melt adhesives are also extensively used in converter and packaging applications. These adhesives outperform water-based adhesives, in terms of set time and water resistance. This is one of the highly impressive benefits of hot melt adhesives. The packaging system or space is reduced significantly due to the use of these adhesives.
The demand for online shopping is rising in emerging economies such as China and India. These countries have a large number of e-commerce businesses. A rise in the demand for labels and plastic bags for packaging is driving the demand for hot melt adhesives in the packaging industry.
Rapid Development of Non-woven Hygiene Products for Healthcare Industry
Hot melt adhesives are used in the production of disposable non-woven hygiene products such as baby diapers (nappies), feminine care products, adult incontinence products, medical dressings, hospital bed pads, and surgical drapes.
Increase in demand for hot melt adhesives for non-woven hygiene products in the healthcare industry is anticipated to drive the market in the near future. Advantages of hot melt adhesives over other alternatives, such as high resistance to acids & solvents and cost-effectiveness, are also anticipated to boost the hot melt adhesives market in the near future.
The rise in aging population and advancements in medical procedures are boosting the demand for hot melt adhesives for hygiene products. Improvements in standard of living and increase in per capita income in developing countries such as India, China, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Malaysia are driving the demand for non-woven hygiene products. This, in turn, is augmenting the hot melt adhesives market.
Advantages of Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Adhesives
In terms of product, the hot melt adhesives market has been classified into ethylene vinyl acetate, polyolefins (amorphous polyolefin and metallocene polyolefin), polyamides, polyurethanes, styrene block copolymers, and others.
The ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) segment dominated the global hot melt adhesives market with more than 35% share in 2021. EVA hot melt adhesive is a copolymer adhesive, deployed in various industries including packaging, assembly, paper, and automotive. Excellent adhesion, strong mechanical strength, paraffin solubility, and superior flexibility are the key features propelling the segment. EVA hot melt adhesives are economical and effective at service temperatures ranging from −22°F to 176°F. The segment is expected to register the fastest CAGR of 8.5% during the forecast period.
Regional Outlook of Global HMAs Market
The Asia Pacific region held the largest volume share of more than 47% of the global hot melt adhesives market in 2021. Growth of packaging and healthcare industries in countries such as China, India, Japan, & South Korea is boosting the consumption of hot melt adhesives in the region. An increase in purchasing power in China, India, Japan, and South Korea, along with changing consumption patterns has resulted in more diversified, sophisticated, single-serve pack sizes for various end-use products. Product standards and expectations are less stringent in China. Firms are also investing more in this space due to the availability of low-cost raw materials, abundant labor force, and less stringent regulations.
In terms of volume, North America and Europe are also major regions of the hot melt adhesives market. These regions accounted for 25% and 22.1% value share, respectively, of the global market in 2021. The implementation of stringent environmental laws on materials with high volatile organic compound (VOC) content is expected to drive the demand for hot melt adhesives in Europe and North America.
Latin America is a larger market for hot melt adhesives than Middle East & Africa. However, the market in Middle East & Africa is likely to mature at a faster growth rate during the forecast period. Companies in the Middle East & Africa are diversifying their business for hot melt adhesives in profile-wrapping, product assembly, and laminating applications in the woodworking industry.
Source: TMR