LEVAMELT Copolymers Meet Application Needs For Pressure Sensitive, Hot Melt And Coating Type Adhesives

Pittsburgh - LANXESS is energizing the chemistry of ethylene and vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymers with its elastomeric LEVAMELT line of products.

Copolymers of ethylene and vinyl acetate (EVA – less than 40 percent vinyl acetate) are well known to the adhesive industry, and these thermoplastic-type materials are well established in hot melt formulations. However, LANXESS's LEVAMELT copolymers, which contain 40 percent to 80 percent vinyl acetate, are able to fill the need for a high vinyl acetate alternative to traditional EVA products.

According to Dr. Terry Dee, LANXESS Corporation technical specialist, the unique production process used at LANXESS provides products with high vinyl acetate content. For that reason, the LEVAMELT line of products exhibits outstanding tack characteristics and excellent shear strength.

"The range of high vinyl acetate content offered by the LEVAMELT line provides varying degrees of adhesion to a wide range of substrates," explains Dee. "Tapes and films formulated for low adhesion can be removed easily with an even application of force," says Dee, adding that co-extruded LEVAMELT tapes and films also meet the industry's movement away from solvent systems.

"LEVAMELT provides a unique elastomeric alternative to traditional EVA thermoplastics," concludes Mitch Bassi, LANXESS Corporation market development manager. "Manufacturers developing new brands of hot melt adhesives, pressure sensitive tapes or films, or adhesive coatings, would be well served to consider LEVAMELT products."

SOURCE: LANXESS