Applicable Base Polymer Properties
Starch and dextrin adhesives are readily available, low in cost, and easy to apply from water dispersion. They are considered to be the least expensive class of paper packaging adhesive. Formulated starch and dextrin adhesives can be applied hot or cold. These adhesives are generally provided to the end-user as powder and mixed with water prior to use to form a relatively thick paste.
Dextrin adhesives are manufactured by dry-roasting starch in the presence of an acid catalyst. Through treatments with heat and acid, the starch molecules are hydrolyzed into small fragments, and then repolymerized into highly branched, readily soluble polymer molecules of moderate size. Corn starch is commonly used because of its low cost and ready availability, although other starches are also employed.