Posted On
Business Unit
When it comes to labels, adhesives are just as important as aesthetics. If a label’s adhesive isn’t matched to the application, it can result in labels that lift, peel, curl, fall off or leave residue — leaving you and your customers in a sticky situation.
All pressure-sensitive adhesives are not the same. They come in a variety of different formulations, and each will perform differently depending on the surface its applied to, the environment, and the label's intended use.
Knowing the characteristics of the different adhesives and how they perform in real-world conditions will help you deliver the right label solution for your customer's specific application.
Label Adhesive Types and Where They Are Used
When you look at the base chemical composition of label adhesives, they typically fall into the one of the following categories:
- Acrylic-Based
Resin-based and highly durable, these resist UV light, weather, chemicals, and temperature extremes, making them suitable for demanding environments. Acrylic is the most widely used for its versatility, durability and long-term staying power.
Typical applications: Outdoor industrial labeling, bumper stickers, or labels on metal, plastic, or wood surfaces exposed to harsh conditions. - Rubber-Based
Provides strong initial tack and bond well to uneven surfaces but are less resistant to outdoor elements like UV or moisture compared to acrylic types.
Typical applications: Indoor shipping and packaging labels on cardboard, wood, or plastic.
After the base chemical composition, label adhesives are primarily classified by their adhesion strength, performance characteristics, and intended application:
- General Purpose Permanent Label Adhesives
Creates a strong, long-lasting bond that is difficult to remove without damaging the label or the surface. This is the most common and cost-effective option, providing reliable adhesion for extended periods in indoor or climate-controlled environments.
Typical applications: Shipping labels, corrugated and other packaging - High-Performance Permanent Label Adhesives
An aggressive choice for labels that must endure extreme conditions or exposure to moisture or chemicals. High-performance permanent adhesives are engineered to create a very strong bond even in challenging conditions and temperatures.
Typical applications: Product branding on food packaging, caution or warning stickers on consumer goods, and labels on glass, plastic, or paper containers where permanence is essential.
- Removable Label Adhesives
Semi-permanent solutions for temporary labels that need to stay secure yet be removed easily without damaging the surface or leaving behind messy residue. Removable adhesive performance can be affected by temperature, and they may become more permanent over time.
Typical applications: Pricing tags on retail items, promotional stickers for events or store coupons, and temporary labels on smooth surfaces like plastic or glass that may need updating. - Repositionable Label Adhesives
A versatile short-term option for labels that need to be removed and reapplied multiple times without losing stickiness or damaging the label or surface. Repositionable adhesives may also become permanent over time.
Typical applications: Hand-applied labels that might need adjustment (e.g., if applied crooked), bumper stickers for outdoor use, or temporary signage on clean, smooth surfaces like vehicles or windows.
- All-Temperature Label Adhesives
A specialized pressure-sensitive adhesive designed to adhere to surfaces in a wide range of temperatures, from room temperature down to freezer conditions. They maintain adhesion in cold, damp conditions, but also have a high service temperature range, often up to +150°F or higher.
Typical applications: Products in the food and beverage industry, including items that need to be frozen or stored in refrigerated areas, also products labeled in cold storage before shipping. - Freezer-Grade Label Adhesives
Formulated to maintain adhesion in low temperatures, labels with freezer-grade adhesives are designed for use in refrigerated or frozen environments. The main difference between freezer-grade and all-temperature adhesives is freezer-grade is specifically engineered for applications where the product is already frozen or is in a freezer during application and use, while all-temperature is designed for situations where labels are applied at various temperatures, including room temperature, but must still adhere in cold conditions.
Typical applications: Food packaging in freezers or refrigerators, on plastics, metals, or other cold-storage materials.
- Heat-Activated Label Adhesives
Different from standard pressure-sensitive adhesives, heat-activated adhesives require heat to activate and form a bond. Often made from thermoplastics like rubber resins or poly vinyls, they withstand repeated washing and wear.
Typical applications: Clothing tags, fabric labels, or textiles like leather goods. - Water-Soluble Label Adhesives
Dissolve easily in water, leaving no residue, which makes them eco-friendly for easy removal during cleaning or recycling processes.
Typical applications: Labels on recyclable glass or plastic containers, such as beverage bottles that go through washing cycles.
Adhesive performance is measured by three key factors:
- Tack: The initial stickiness of the label to the surface without any external pressure.
- Adhesion: The strength of the label’s bond to the surface once external pressure is applied.
- Shear: The adhesive’s ability to stay secure under stress and pressure over time.
Adhesives are formulated to balance these qualities in different ways, optimizing performance for each application.
Sticking Points: Questions to Consider When Quoting Custom Labels
Selecting the best label adhesive depends on several important factors. When quoting custom labels, make sure you’re asking customers the right questions, like:
- Surface compatibility: Is the label being applied to plastic, glass, metal, cardboard, fabric or another material? Is the surface curved, smooth or textured?
- Environment: Will the label be exposed to extreme hot or cold temperatures at any point? What about moisture, UV rays or chemicals?
- Label lifetime: How long does the label need to be on the surface? Will it be handled roughly in manufacturing or transport? Does the label need to be removed cleanly at any point in the process?
- Special processing: Will the label need to withstand processes such as painting or powder-coating?
- Regulatory changes: Will the label need to be replaced or repositioned if regulatory requirements change midway through production?
Asking these questions in advance will eliminate any guesswork and ensure you can deliver custom labels that perform exactly as expected.
OMG! My Labels Aren't Sticking!
Despite your best efforts working with your customer to understand their application and deliver the best label solution, sometimes your customers will report issues with their labels not sticking. Here's a quick checklist to troubleshoot common adhesive issues:
- Are they trying to use the label on a different surface than what was originally spec'd? Label adhesive performance can vary significantly based on the type (glass, corrugated, plastic, etc) and shape (flat, curved, smooth, rough) of the surface. Sometimes customers will take a label that is designed for a specific surface application and try to use it on another surface, and when it doesn't work, they think there's something wrong with the label.
- Is the application temperature and service temperature within the recommend range? Adhesives have specific temperature ranges they are designed for when the label is initially applied, and also the life of the label. General Data can provide you with these specifications - make sure your customer knows and understand them.
- What is the condition of the surface? Most labels are designed to adhere to surfaces that are clean, dry, and free of contaminants.
- How is the label being applied? Pressure-sensitive adhesives require adequate pressure across the entire label surface when it is applied in order to form a strong bond. Discuss with your customer how they are applying the label.
- How is your customer handling the labeled item? Is your customer doing something with the labeled item that was not discussed or you were not aware of? Examples include abrasion or other rough handling, outdoor exposure, or exposure to water, cleaning products, or other chemicals.
Stick with the Right Label Partner