A hot melt adhesive (also called hot melt glue) is a type of thermoplastic adhesive that usually comes in the form of hot melt glue sticks. For applying the hot melt glue, you will need training on how to use a hot melt glue gun (a cordless hot melt glue gun or a corded hot melt glue applicator) to melt the glue sticks.

Hot melt adhesives come in different types such as reactive hot melt adhesive, hot melt polyurethane adhesive and hot melt adhesive tape. Keeping yourself updated on technological developments helps to keep up with the pace of this industry. To accomplish this, you can refer to various sources such as scholarly papers; websites that educate you on usage, repair and maintenance of a hot melt glue machine; and websites that give information about new products and technology developments.

To educate yourself or your staff on hot melt adhesives, you can:

1. Browse sources that provide practical information regarding hot melt adhesives
2. Read scholarly papers and articles
3. Watch educational webcasts

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Find useful, practical information regarding hot melt adhesives and their application

Use hot melt adhesive education and training to find information on choosing the right hot melt adhesive or hot melt glue gun, including its operation, maintenance and repair.

I recommend: You can train yourself or your employees about the application of hot melt glue by referring to SpecialChem SA training courses and online guides. You can also check out information available at gluegunsdirect.com, a website by Kenyon Group that can help you to select a suitable glue gun and hot melt adhesive supplier.

Educate yourself by reading scholarly papers on hot melt adhesives

You can read research papers by scholars to gain in depth knowledge about various aspects of hot melt adhesives.

I recommend: Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center offers some scholarly papers on hot melt adhesives that include various relevant topics such as cost advantages, case studies, industry trends and research needs. You can also read the scholarly articles at Plastemart.com. The Annals of Occupational Hygiene, a journal published by Oxford Journals, provides research articles related to hot melt adhesives.

Find articles on new developments in hot melt adhesive technology and new products in the industry

To keep up with the pace of industry, update yourself about the new advancements in hot melt adhesive technology and new products on the market.

I recommend: A one-hour educational webcast by Dow Chemical Company provides detailed information about a new adhesive technology called Metallocene. In addition, you can buy a research document by D.C. Stauffer and I. Lindermooy explaining some newly formulated hot melt adhesives at the website of CAT.INIST.

Hot melt adhesives are used in many different businesses. Industrial hot glue is the most common adhesive used for plastic products. Hot glues are also common in the craft market because of their durability and quick drying qualities. Hot melt adhesives are inexpensive and available in a wide variety to fit any company's needs.

Hot melt adhesives come in two basic forms: adhesive tape and glue sticks. Hot melt adhesive tape is manufactured so the hot glue adheres to a tape backing and activates with heat. Hot melt glue sticks are inserted into a glue gun that heats the glue sticks to activate the glue. Glue sticks and glue guns are sold in craft supply stores. When buying hot melt adhesives, consider the following to find the products that meet your company's needs.

1. Use hot melt adhesive tape for security purposes.

2. Find hot melt glue for retail or industrial uses.

3. Buy hot melt glue guns for hot melt applications.

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Know your hot melt adhesive tape options

Hot melt tape is generally used as security tape to confirm packages are not tampered with during shipping. Temperatures of 120 to 140 degrees are needed to activate the reactive hot melt adhesive of the tape.

I recommend: Find hot melt security tape that prevents product tampering at ITCO International. Covalence Adhesives provides hot melt tapes including filament tapes made with backings made of fiber glass, silicon and BOPP. Buy bulk hot melt adhesive tape in cartons and cases at JOSCO Products.

Buy hot melt glue sticks

Hot melt glue sticks are long tubes of solid glue. When heated in a glue gun, the sticks melt into liquid glue. Hot melt glue sticks are available in regular strength for craft projects, industrial strength as well as in colors so the glue blends with the product.

I recommend: Purchase wholesale-priced 12-pack glue sticks by the carton at Concord Enterprises. Adhesive Solutions is a hot melt adhesive supplier with a variety of colored and clear glue sticks to meet your company's needs. Browse through the online catalog from Bostik, Inc., a hot melt adhesives manufacturer of industrial strength hot melt glue sticks.

Locate hot melt glue guns for industrial or retail use

Hot melt glue sticks require special guns to melt the glue. A hot melt glue gun is used in both industrial and craft related markets. These guns are usually powered by electricity, however butane guns are available for cordless hot melt glue guns.

I recommend: Buy wireless hot melt glue guns that are powered by butane at All-Cordless.com. S&J's Discount Tool carries industrial strength electric hot glue guns. CraftHobbyWholesale.com, a hot melt adhesive distributor of craft grade glue guns for retail, provides wholesale prices for glue guns bought in quantities of 12 or more.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Never touch a hot melt glue until it is completely cooled. The hot glue will burn skin on contact.

A hot melt adhesive (also known as a hot melt glue) is a thermoplastic adhesive that usually comes in the form of either hot melt glue sticks or adhesive tapes.

Whether you want to become a hot melt adhesive manufacturer or you want to use hot melt adhesives for your applications, you will need to be conversant with the technical terms that indicate types, specifications and standards for hot melt adhesives.

This guide will familiarize you with some of the key terms related to hot melt adhesives, such as adhesive tapes, melt viscosity, cohesion and shear adhesion.

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Adhesive tape

An adhesive tape is a form of hot melt adhesive. An adhesive tape is a fastening tape which allows temporary or permanent adhesion between objects. These tapes are either single-sided or double-sided and can be activated by water or heat depending on the application purpose.

I recommend: Electro Tape Specialties, a manufacturer of pressure sensitive tape products, provides more description about adhesive tapes.

Self adhesive tape

A self adhesive tape (or a pressure sensitive adhesive tape) is a type of adhesive tape that is sticky at room temperature.

I recommend: For information about self adhesive tapes, you can refer to Prostick Adhesive Tapes Pvt. Ltd., an adhesives manufacturer.

Melt viscosity

Melt viscosity is an important characteristic of a hot melt adhesive. In general, as the temperature of a polymer increases, its viscosity decreases. In a hot melt adhesive, the melt temperature controls the viscosity. This controls the degree of surface wetting.

I recommend: To learn more about melt viscosity, you can refer to the Digital Library and Archives (DLA) (PDF), a department in the University Libraries at Virginia Tech.

Cohesion

Cohesion is the internal strength of an adhesive. It is the result of a number of interactions within the adhesive.

I recommend: The Adhesive and Sealant Council, Inc. provides detailed information about adhesion and cohesion.

Shear adhesion

Shear adhesion (also known as holding power) refers to the time an adhesive tape holds under definite shear load.

I recommend: monta Klebebandwerk GmbH (PDF), a manufacturer of self-adhesive packaging tapes, explains more about shear adhesion. Glue Machinery Corporation also provides information about shear adhesion.

CTE (Coefficient of Thermal Expansion)

CTE is the total linear expansion or shrinkage that occurs in a substance or material due to a change in temperature.

I recommend: GlobalSpec, an online information resource, provides detailed description about CTE.

ASTM D4499 - 07

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) offers the standard ASTM D4499 - 07 for hot melt adhesives. This standard outlines the normal test method for heat stability of hot melt adhesives.

I recommend: For a complete understanding about this standard, you can refer to ASTM International’s website.