| HS Code | 550015 |
| Appearance | White milky liquid |
| Solid Content | 50-55% |
| Viscosity | 3000-8000 mPa·s |
| Ph | 4.5-6.0 |
| Density | 1.05-1.10 g/cm³ |
| Glass Transition Temperature | 0°C to 10°C |
| Peel Adhesion | 8-15 N/25mm |
| Tack | Moderate to high |
| Shear Resistance | Good at room temperature |
| Water Resistance | Moderate |
| Drying Time | 10-30 minutes at room temperature |
| Voc Content | Low (<50 g/L) |
As an accredited Water-Based PVAc Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | Supplied in 25 kg HDPE drums with tamper-evident lids, ensuring safe transport, stable storage, and convenient dispensing for PVAc adhesive. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | Load 20′ FCL with palletized drums of water-based PVAc pressure-sensitive adhesive; secure properly, ensure dry container, and prevent moisture contamination. |
| Shipping | Ship Water-Based PVAc Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive in sealed, corrosion-resistant containers, avoiding extreme temperatures. Use dedicated or properly cleaned transport to prevent contamination. Ensure spill containment and ventilation during loading. Classify as non-hazardous if applicable, but follow local regulations and provide SDS. Label clearly and secure against shifting. |
| Storage | Store Water-Based PVAc Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive in tightly sealed original containers, away from direct sunlight, heat, and freezing. Keep in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area between 5–30°C. Avoid contamination and evaporation. Under proper conditions, shelf life is typically 6–12 months from manufacture; stir thoroughly before use. |
| Shelf Life | Shelf life is typically 6–12 months when stored sealed, above freezing, and away from direct sunlight. |
Water-based vinyl acetate-rich pressure-sensitive adhesive dispersions at 50–55% solids are coated by direct gravure or slot-die onto machine-finished kraft release liner and transfer-laminated to metallised paper face stock for labelstock. The dry deposit ranges from 18 g/m² to 30 g/m² depending on mandrel curvature and face-stock stiffness. Drying tunnel setpoints in three-zone air-float ovens follow 80°C, 100°C, and 115°C at line speeds of 80–150 m/min. Residual moisture must remain below 0.5% by Karl Fischer titration. Before coating, pH is adjusted to 4.5–5.5 with ammonia; below 4.0 the dispersion rheology becomes unstable under high-shear pumping. Peel adhesion after 24 h on glass according to ISO 29862:2007 at 300 mm/min falls between 2.0 N/25mm and 4.0 N/25mm. Loop tack measured according to ASTM D3654/D3654M-06 is commonly 1.5–3.0 N/25mm. The formulation typically contains 10–20 phr triacetin or dibenzoate plasticizer to depress the dry-film Tg from 28–33°C to 6–12°C. If the adhesive is applied to polyethylene without corona treatment, peel values fall below 1.0 N/25mm because the polar vinyl acetate repeat unit has limited interaction with non-oxidised polyolefin surfaces. A functional barrier or compliance under FDA 21 CFR 175.105 is required for indirect food labelstock. For direct-contact fresh-produce labels, FDA 21 CFR 175.125 must be reviewed, but published data for this specific PVAc configuration is limited.
Die-cutting at speeds above 120 m/min requires a high-shear viscosity below 300 mPa·s at 10,000 s⁻¹; otherwise matrix stripping generates adhesive stringing and label edge defects. On rotary die-cutters with 0.5–1.0 mm cutting depth, the adhesive thickness contributes to compression set, and room-temperature flow above 0.5 mm in 24 h under FINAT FTM 8 shear is a common cause of edge bleed. The release liner must have a silicone migration barrier; otherwise dibenzoate plasticizer can transfer to the release surface and reduce subsequent peel by 15–25% after three months of warehouse storage at 35°C.
Repositionable pads are coated by interrupted stripe application across the top edge of 70–80 g/m² uncoated offset paper, using an engraved roll with stripe widths of 38–45 mm and dry deposit 8–14 g/m². The water-based PVAc PSA is thickened with alkali-swellable associative thickener to a Brookfield RV viscosity of 1800–3200 mPa·s at 20 rpm, #4 spindle, 23°C, to hold stripe geometry before forced-air drying at 90°C for 45–60 s. Because PVAc is water-sensitive after drying, the coating is applied in a pattern rather than a full flood to limit curl and fibre swelling. Initial 180° peel to stainless steel after 20 min dwell is 0.3–0.9 N/25mm under ISO 29862:2007, rising to 1.0–1.6 N/25mm after 24 h. Loop tack under ASTM D3654/D3654M-06 is 0.5–1.5 N/25mm. The clean-removal window after 30 days on paper, measured according to FINAT FTM 1, remains below 1.8 N/25mm, with no fibre tear. Shear resistance under FINAT FTM 8 at 1 kg load and 25 mm × 25 mm bond area is deliberately low, showing 0.5–2.0 mm creep in 24 h, which prevents surface damage on removal. The dry-film Tg is maintained between −2°C and +4°C, typically by copolymerising vinyl acetate with 20–30 wt% butyl acrylate, rather than by adding migratory plasticizer. This is relevant because low-molecular-weight plasticizer migration can cause visible staining on uncoated paper after six months. The finished pad is cut by guillotine, and the cut edge must be free of adhesive squeeze-out; this is controlled by a high-shear viscosity of 80–150 mPa·s at 1000 s⁻¹. A biocide blend containing 2-methylisothiazol-3(2H)-one and 1,2-benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one at 30–60 ppm total active prevents in-can growth. Products intended for toys or school use are assessed against EN 71-3:2019 migration limits, but the specific PVAc dispersion must be tested because ammonia content and preservative type affect extractable metals.
In high-speed web offset and paper mill sheeter operations, the flying splice bond is formed when the new roll is accelerated to line speed and pressed against the expiring roll with a repulpable PVAc PSA. The adhesive must develop instantaneous peel resistance above 4 N/25mm on kraft to withstand splice tension, but must also disperse completely during mill repulping. Dry coat weight on the splicing tape is 25–40 g/m², applied to 55–70 g/m² lightweight tissue or kraft. The dispersion is tailored with a Tg below −5°C and high wet tack, often by incorporating 15–25 wt% ethylene or butyl acrylate in the vinyl acetate backbone. Splice failure rate in production is held below 0.5% when the splice is made at a roll surface speed of 800–1200 m/min and a nip dwell of 40–80 ms; above 1200 m/min, the elastic energy stored in the web exceeds the cohesive strength of the wet film unless the nip pressure is raised and the adhesive Tg is lowered further. Repulpability testing uses TAPPI UM 213 screen rejection procedures, with target rejects below 1.0% of dry charge after 20 min disintegration at 50°C and neutral pH. The dried film is resistant enough to pressroom humidity up to 70% RH but disrupts under alkaline pulping conditions at pH 10–12. Because PVAc dispersions are anionically stabilised and dried films are re-dispersible only with difficulty, the splice adhesive is formulated with 3–8 wt% water-soluble polymeric protective colloid, such as polyvinyl alcohol or hydroxyethyl cellulose, to enable fibre separation. A pH of 5.0–6.0 after ammonia addition avoids corrosion of steel doctor blades and anilox rolls. In operations where the spliced web passes through heat-set dryers above 170°C, residual unreacted monomer must be below 500 ppm to prevent odour and roller buildup. Compliance with FDA 21 CFR 176.170 is not automatic and depends on the finished article; published data for this specific splicing configuration is limited.
Film-to-paper lamination for book covers and point-of-sale graphics uses a water-based PVAc PSA applied to the non-print side of a 12–18 μm BOPP or PET film by direct gravure. The film must be corona pre-treated to 38–42 dyn/cm immediately before coating, because PVAc wetting drops sharply on film with surface energy below 36 dyn/cm. Dry adhesive coat weight is 4–8 g/m², which is sufficient for a clean-peel bond to matte coated paper. The gravure cylinder has a theoretical cell volume of 40–60 cm³/m², and the wet adhesive is dried in two zones at 70°C and 85°C over 8–12 s. A residual moisture content above 0.3% causes visible bubble entrapment between film and paper during thermal nip lamination at 60–80°C and 2–4 bar line pressure. Peel bond after 24 h measured by ASTM D903-98 at 180° angle and 300 mm/min is 1.0–2.5 N/25mm; loop tack under ASTM D3654/D3654M-06 is 0.8–2.0 N/25mm. Higher peel is not always desirable because the laminated product must be converted by guillotine without edge lift. The adhesive must contain 0.1–0.2 wt% defoamer based on mineral oil or silicone, but excessive silicone defoamer above 0.3 wt% migrates to the interface and reduces peel by 20–40% in production trials. pH is adjusted to 4.5–5.5 to stabilise the anionic dispersion, but low pH accelerates corrosion on mild steel gravure trays; therefore stainless steel or ceramic-coated equipment is standard. If adhesion to PET is below 0.8 N/25mm after lamination, the failure mode is typically film reclaiming, and the line operator verifies dyne level before adding wetting agent. Compliance for book covers is normally not food-contact, but the laminate must meet EN 71-3:2019 if used in children's books; migration testing is required because the adhesive film stays in the article.
| Application context | Dry coat weight | Initial 180° peel | Loop tack | Critical process limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper labelstock | 18–30 g/m² | 2.0–4.0 N/25mm after 24 h on glass | 1.5–3.0 N/25mm | Residual moisture 0.5% maximum |
| Repositionable notes | 8–14 g/m² | 0.3–1.6 N/25mm 20 min to 24 h | 0.5–1.5 N/25mm | Tg −2°C to +4°C |
| Flying splice tapes | 25–40 g/m² | 4.0 N/25mm minimum on kraft | not used as release criterion | Line speed 800–1200 m/min |
| Display mounting films | 4–8 g/m² | 1.0–2.5 N/25mm on paper | 0.8–2.0 N/25mm | Corona treatment 38–42 dyn/cm |
When water-based PVAc PSA replaces solvent acrylic in low-tack paper masking tape, the limiting unit operation is often the forced-air drying tunnel rather than the slitting station. Adhesive solids of 50–55% are coated by comma bar onto saturated crepe paper of 80–120 g/m² at dry deposit 20–30 g/m². Because PVAc retains water at the fibre interface, the web must be dried for 60–120 s at 75–95°C and then conditioned at 23 ± 2°C and 50 ± 5% RH for 48 h before slitting to avoid telescoping or blocking. Peel adhesion to stainless steel after 24 h is 1.5–3.0 N/25mm under ISO 29862:2007, while loop tack by ASTM D3654/D3654M-06 is 1.0–2.5 N/25mm. The adhesive film Tg is kept at −5°C to +5°C to balance quick tack and clean removal from acrylic latex paint after 14 days. Water resistance of the dry film is limited, so the tape is not specified for exterior exposure or high-humidity painting. The backsize of the crepe paper is a critical substrate variable: a low-density polyethylene or silicone release layer prevents adhesive transfer, but the PVAc dispersion must not re-wet the backsize, and wetting angle below 90° on the backsize is a production control criterion. In slitting, the high edge shear imposed at 200–400 m/min causes adhesive delamination if shear adhesion by FINAT FTM 8 exceeds 3 mm creep in 24 h under 1 kg. Formulators add 5–10 phr dibenzoate plasticizer to reduce brittle edge pick-off, but this reduces cohesion at temperatures above 30°C and may lead to residue on dark painted surfaces. Compliance is typically assessed by EN 71-3:2019 for toy-related masking products and by REACH Article 33 for substances of very high concern if plasticizer content exceeds 0.1% by weight.
Pressure-sensitive closure mailers utilise a stripe of water-based PVAc PSA on the inside flap, matched with a silicone release lacquer on the body panel. Dry adhesive deposition is 12–18 g/m², applied by interrupted roller coating to keep the adhesive away from the tear line. The dispersion is compounded at 48–52% solids with a Brookfield RV viscosity of 2500–4000 mPa·s at 20 rpm and 23°C. Because mailers are stored in stacks, blocking resistance defines the upper service temperature. The adhesive is formulated with a dry-film Tg of 5–10°C and contains 2–5 wt% high-molecular-weight polyvinyl alcohol as a partial protective colloid to increase cohesive strength without solvent. Face-to-face blocking point measured according to ASTM D1146-00 is typically 55–65°C; below that, stacked mailers do not tear or transfer adhesive in overnight truck trailers. Opening peel after 24 h on coated envelope paper is 1.5–3.5 N/25mm under ISO 29862:2007, and the failure mode is adhesive film splitting rather than substrate fibre tear, which allows subsequent resealing. At line speeds above 25,000 envelopes/h, the wet adhesive must dry within 2–4 s under infrared panels at 120°C to avoid transfer to folding belts. The wet edge has a surface tension of 38–42 mN/m, verified by dyne pens, to maintain stripe geometry. Compliance for mailers containing paper-based advertising is not food-contact; if the mailer may contain seeds or other plant material, the adhesive must meet EU Regulation 10/2011 overall migration limits only if it is intended for direct contact, which is not the case for closure stripes separated by paper.
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PVAc-PSA 4015 is an aqueous pressure-sensitive adhesive based on a vinyl acetate–2-ethylhexyl acrylate copolymer dispersion stabilized with a nonionic/anionic surfactant pair. The dispersion is supplied at a nonvolatile content of 49–51 wt%, a pH of 4.5–5.5, and a Brookfield RV viscosity of 4,000–6,000 mPa·s at 23 °C using spindle 4 at 20 rpm per ISO 2555. The dried film has a glass transition temperature of approximately −8 °C by ISO 11357-2 and forms a clear to slightly hazy pressure-sensitive layer. The unborated grade PVAc-PSA 4015 is specified where water-redispersibility and repulpability are dominant; the borated grade PVAc-PSA 4020 has higher static shear and moisture resistance but lower water-redispersibility after drying.
Unlike solventborne acrylic PSAs, the aqueous PVAc system relies on water evaporation and coalescence rather than solvent flash-off. The formulation can be direct-coated or transfer-coated at wet film thicknesses between 20–40 µm; at 50 wt% solids this yields dry coat weights of 10–20 g/m². Because water has a latent heat of vaporization of approximately 2,257 kJ/kg, drying capacity rather than adhesive chemistry is the limiting factor on high-speed lines. A three-zone forced-air tunnel with zone settings of 50 °C, 70 °C, and 45 °C is commonly used; web surface temperature should remain below 60 °C on unsupported paper to prevent skin-over and microfoam. Residual moisture above 2 wt% in the adhesive film after drying is associated with blocking and transfer to the release liner.
Table 1. Representative property targets for PVAc-PSA 4015.
| Property | Target range | Test condition | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonvolatile content | 49–51 wt% | 105 °C, 1 h | ISO 3251 |
| Brookfield RV viscosity | 4,000–6,000 mPa·s | Spindle 4, 20 rpm, 23 °C | ISO 2555 |
| pH | 4.5–5.5 | Undiluted, 23 °C | ISO 976 |
| Density | 1.04–1.06 g/cm³ | 23 °C | ISO 2811-1 |
| Minimum film formation temperature | <5 °C | Wet film 200 µm | ISO 2115 |
| Loop tack on stainless steel | 3.0–5.0 N/25 mm | 20–22 g/m² dry coat, 24 h dwell | ASTM D6195 / FINAT FTM 9 |
| 180° peel on stainless steel | 4.0–6.5 N/25 mm | 24 h dwell | ASTM D3330 / FINAT FTM 1 |
| Static shear | >11,000 min | 1.0 kg, 25 mm × 25 mm, 23 °C, 50% RH | ASTM D3654 / FINAT FTM 8 |
The primary differences are regulatory, rheological, and substrate-wetting. Aqueous PVAc-PSA 4015 contains less than 50 g/L VOC by EPA Method 24, whereas a conventional solvent acrylic PSA may contain 500–700 g/L VOC before incineration. The water-based product is shear-sensitive and can be cleaned from equipment with water before drying; the solventborne analogue requires ethyl acetate or toluene cleanup. The PVAc film is generally lower in adhesion to untreated polyethylene than solvent acrylic and typically requires corona treatment of 38–42 dyn/cm on polyolefin facestocks. Peel adhesion on stainless steel from a 20 g/m² dry coat is typically 4.0–6.5 N/25 mm by ASTM D3330, compared with 6–10 N/25 mm for solvent acrylics of similar coat weight. The PVAc system is preferred when paper repulpability is specified; repulping tests in neutral/alkaline furnish generally show stickies below 5 mm², whereas solvent acrylic and SBC hot-melt often fail the same screening.
Table 2. Comparative properties of three pressure-sensitive adhesive platforms.
| Property | Water-based PVAc PSA | Solventborne acrylic PSA | Hot-melt SBC PSA |
|---|---|---|---|
| VOC content by EPA Method 24 | <50 g/L | 500–700 g/L | <10 g/L |
| Dry coat weight for approximately 4 N/25 mm peel on steel | 18–22 g/m² | 12–18 g/m² | 15–20 g/m² |
| Low-energy polyethylene wet-out | Moderate; corona treatment 38–42 dyn/cm required | High; 36–38 dyn/cm often sufficient | High; 36–40 dyn/cm typical |
| Heat resistance | Softens above 60 °C | Resists up to 120 °C | Softens above 70 °C |
| Paper repulpability | Good; stickies <5 mm² in neutral/alkaline furnish | Poor; solvent and polymer residue | Very poor; insoluble |
| Equipment cleanup | Water before drying | Solvent | Heated wash or scraper |
On a 1.6 m wide reverse-gravure coating line fitted with a 140 lines/inch engraved cylinder and closed doctor-blade chamber, the dispersion is transferred at 30–35 µm wet coat weight. Recirculation flow is limited to 6–10 L/min; higher flow can generate foam and raise air release time. A low-foam polyether siloxane defoamer at 0.05–0.15 wt% is used on the basis of total wet adhesive, but over-addition above 0.2 wt% causes fish-eye voids on polyester films. Gravure cylinders with cell depth below 18 µm produce irregular transfer at viscosity above 3,000 mPa·s; viscosity is therefore adjusted with deionized water to 1,200–1,800 mPa·s for reverse-gravure and to 500–900 mPa·s for slot-die coating. Over-dilution below 45 wt% solids reduces wet tack and may destabilize the dispersion during prolonged recirculation.
Open time is controlled by water absorption and evaporation. At 23 °C and 50% RH, open time on uncoated kraft is 3–6 s because the paper fibre network rapidly removes free water; on corona-treated biaxially oriented polypropylene at 38 dyn/cm, open time extends to 12–20 s. Wet tack measured 0.5 s after lamination is 1.5–2.5 N/25 mm, sufficient for high-speed envelope assembly but below typical solvent acrylic wet tack of 3–6 N/25 mm. Dry loop tack after 24 h on stainless steel is 3.0–5.0 N/25 mm per ASTM D6195. At 10 g/m² dry coat weight, loop tack falls below 2 N/25 mm; at 25 g/m², loop tack may reach 5.5 N/25 mm but static shear decreases because the thicker film flows under load. For applications requiring repositionability, a stripping coat of 8–12 g/m² is used instead of full coverage.
Rapid skin-over is a known failure mode when the first drying zone exceeds 60 °C. The surface coalesces before free water leaves the wet film; the result is an opaque white film with loop tack below 1 N/25 mm. On a 2.0 m wide flotation dryer with nozzle velocity 20–25 m/s, the practical speed at 20 g/m² dry weight is 60–100 m/min; raising speed beyond 120 m/min requires an IR pre-dryer or additional dryer length. Residual moisture is checked by Karl Fischer titration or oven moisture at 105 °C; values above 1.5–2.0 wt% are correlated with liner transfer on silicone-coated glassine.
At dry coat weights below 15 g/m², the wet film is too thin to maintain a stable bead. Slot-die coating trials on a 1.4 m wide line at 150 m/min show ribbing and die-lip build-up when wet film thickness drops below 8–10 µm. This is influenced by the low-shear viscosity of the dispersion and the dynamic surface tension. Adding 0.3–0.6 wt% of a nonionic acetylenic diol surfactant lowers dynamic surface tension to 34–36 mN/m and reduces ribbing, but excessive addition above 1.0 wt% increases foam and reduces static shear. The minimum practical dry coat weight on kraft with a transfer coater is 10 g/m²; below that, void defects exceed 20% of the coated area in printed-litho labels. On polyethylene facestocks, the minimum is 14 g/m² unless a primer is applied.
PVAc-PSA 4015 is incompatible with high-pH substrates above 9.0, where vinyl acetate repeat units can be saponified, reducing tack and increasing water sensitivity of the dried film. Aluminium salt treated papers and cationic retention aids may precipitate the anionic dispersion; jar tests at 5 wt% dispersion in paper furnish should be performed before mill trials. Plasticized PVC films are not recommended because monomeric plasticizer migration into the PVAc film can reduce cohesion and cause liner ghosting.
The product is protected with 1.5–2.0 wt% of a mixed isothiazolinone/benzisothiazolinone biocide system; pH drift in storage from 4.5–5.5 to below 4.0 indicates biological activity or hydrolysis. Shelf life is 12 months at 5–35 °C in sealed HDPE totes. In open recirculating pans, ammonia is not recommended for pH adjustment because it can destabilize the anionic dispersion; sodium bicarbonate at 0.05–0.10 wt% can be used if pH falls below 4.0. The dispersion is shear stable for 24 h continuous recirculation at 25 °C and 500 rpm in a Cowles-type low-shear mixer; high-shear gear pumps may generate microcoagulum after 8 h. A 100 µm filter bag is placed in the recirculation loop to remove skin that forms at the pan edges.
Paper-to-paper splicing on web offset presses uses PVAc-PSA 4015 at 4–8 g/m² dry coat weight. At those coat weights, the bond is cohesive in nature and does not impart high peel; the splice is intended to hold 1–2 kN/m web tension for 2–5 s during roll change. On coated magazine stock, wet tack can be improved by a 0.5 s infrared pre-dry that removes 5–10% of water before splicing. The adhesive is also used for envelope lay-flat lamination at 10–15 g/m²; in that configuration, blocking is avoided by maintaining ream moisture below 8 wt% and storage below 35 °C. Published data for this specific configuration is limited; pilot trials on the target stock are recommended.
