Core correlation: Performance matching and industrial dependence
Polyurethane adhesives, especially the two-component polyurethane type, have become an indispensable "blood" in the modern flexible packaging industry. Its dominant position stems from the high degree of alignment between its outstanding performance and the strict requirements of flexible packaging.
1. Performance advantage: Meets diverse demands
Flexible packaging materials are often composed of different base materials such as plastic films (like BOPP, PET, PE), aluminum foil, galvanized films, etc. These materials have different properties and extremely high requirements for adhesives.
(1)Outstanding bonding performance: Polyurethane adhesives exhibit strong bonding force to a variety of polar and non-polar materials, enabling firm interlayer lamination.
(2)Good flexibility and durability: The packaging bags made should remain intact during transportation, compression and dropping. The polyurethane film is flexible, impact-resistant and resistant to media (oil, acid, spicy, etc.), ensuring the safety of the contents and preventing the bag from breaking.
(3)Adjustable processability: Through formula design, its initial viscosity, curing time, operation window, etc. can be adjusted to adapt to different production processes such as high-speed dry lamination and solvent-free lamination.
2. Application and Data Support
Globally, polyurethane adhesives hold an absolute dominant share in the market for adhesives used in flexible packaging. According to relevant industry reports and analyses, its share in China's flexible packaging adhesive market may exceed 80%. Behind this data lies a vast array of application scenarios:
(1)Food packaging: Widely used in retort pouches, puffed food packaging, upright bags for liquid condiments, etc. For instance, polyurethane adhesives that can withstand high-temperature cooking above 121℃ have enabled the safe circulation of ready-to-eat meals such as "convenience dishes".
(2)Pharmaceutical packaging: With extremely high requirements for barrier properties and hygiene, polyurethane adhesives can be used to form water-blocking, oxygen-blocking and light-blocking pharmaceutical blister packaging and aluminum-plastic composite bags.
(3)Daily chemical and electronic packaging: Heavy-duty packaging bags for shampoo, laundry detergent, etc., as well as packaging for electronic components that require anti-static and high barrier properties, all rely on its reliable performance.
3. Technological development trends: Green and functional
With the tightening of environmental protection regulations (such as VOCs emission limits) and the upgrading of consumption, polyurethane adhesives are also evolving:
(1)Solvent-free polyurethane adhesives: They produce almost no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during the production process and represent the current mainstream development direction, with their market share growing rapidly.
(2)Waterborne polyurethane adhesives: With water as the dispersion medium, they are more environmentally friendly and safe, and the technology is constantly maturing.
Conclusion
The
Polyurethane Adhesive industry and the flexible packaging industry have a typical relationship of mutual drive and common development. The pursuit of lightweight, functionalization, safety and environmental protection in the flexible packaging industry is constantly driving the innovation of polyurethane adhesive technology. Each performance breakthrough of polyurethane adhesives has opened up new application fields for flexible packaging. It can be said that without high-performance polyurethane adhesives, there would be no such rich and diverse, safe and convenient modern flexible packaging products as we have today.
