TAGS: Hot-melt Adhesives Sealants Polyurethane Adhesives
IMARC anticipates that the global hot-melt adhesive market to grow at a CAGR of 4.5% during the 2021-2026 forecast period. Hot-melt adhesives (HMA) are normally solid formulations that are based on thermoplastic polymers.
They are usually solids under normal temperature but get activated and turn into liquids when they are heated above their softening point. Upon solidification, they return to a physical state that possesses structural integrity and can act as an adhesive.
The HMAs are manufactured by blending thermoplastics with waxes, plasticizers, fillers, resins, and antioxidants. Hot-melt adhesives can be applied in several ways, including extrusion, screen printing, spiral spraying, melt blowing, slot die coating, etc.
In comparison to other adhesives, hot-melt adhesives bond instantly with plastics, ceramics, glass, paper, rubber, wood, metal, etc. As a result, they are widely adopted across the packaging, construction, electronics, textiles, and automotive industries.
Increasing Demand from Automotive Industry
The growing packaging sector is primarily driving the demand for hot-melt adhesives for sealing, assembling, and labeling corrugated boxes and paperboard cartons. Moreover, hot-melt adhesives are also used for assembling car seat covers and carpets, thereby experiencing high demand in the automobile industry.
Additionally, the increasing demand for fully assembled and laminated furniture is also augmenting the market for these products. Rising infrastructural development across various emerging economies, such as India, China, Vietnam, etc. is further propelling the use of hot-melt adhesives for binding ceramics, wood panels, flooring materials, and reengineered plastics.
The rising adoption of customized and flexible packaging in the food and beverage sector is also driving the demand for hot-melt adhesives as they don’t contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can result in foul odor and can also negatively impact the food quality. Moreover, the advent of the PUR technology has led to the introduction of advanced product variants providing high heat resistance, UV protection, and superior binding strength, creating a positive impact on the market growth.
Hot-melt Adhesive Grades
Source: IMARC