Alkaline soluble pressure sensitive adhesives for recycling

This is an alkaline soluble pressure sensitive adhesives (water-based based acrylic pressure sensitive adhesives) for film labels that can be removed cleanly through alkaline treatment during the recycling process. Contributes to more efficient recycling of plastic packaging containers for food and daily necessities.

Relationship between labels and recycling
Peeling
Possible usage examples

Relationship between labels and recycling

In order to realize a sustainable world, further promotion of plastic resource circulation is important.
While recycling of plastic containers and packaging is being promoted in various industries including food and daily necessities, one of the issues is labels.
Items whose labels cannot be removed by the alkaline treatment during the recycling process cannot be recycled.
Therefore, there is a need for labels that can be removed cleanly during the recycling process.

Package labels are hindering recycling, and there is a need for labels that can be easily removed during the recycling process.

There is a need for labels that can be removed cleanly during the recycling process.

Film labels are particularly difficult to remove because alkaline treatment liquids are less permeable to them than paper labels.
Using our polymer design technology, we have developed a water-based pressure sensitive adhesives for labels that can be easily removed from paper or film by alkaline treatment.

Existing PSA

Alkaline water does not penetrate the interface and cannot be peeled off.

New alkaline soluble PSA

Alkaline water penetrates the interface and makes it easier to peel off.

Peeling

It can be peeled off in a short time when treated with alkali.
It exhibits strong adhesion that is equivalent to or better than existing label products.
It is an environmentally friendly product as it does not use solvents.

Pressure sensitive adhesives			EXK 23-065	for labels Existing products
Alkali removability [min]	Film		2	>30
Alkali removability [min]	Paper base material* 1		<1	>5※2
Peeling strength [N/25mm]	VS. PET	24hrs dwell	5.8	5.5
	To PE	24hrs dwell	1.3	1.5
	To PP	24hrs dwell	3.8	8.2
	VS. SUS	24hrs dwell	8.7	10.2

* Composition: PET50μm / PSA15μm / Paper separator (transfer coating)

*1 Composition: Thermal paper / PSA15μm / Paper separator (transfer coating)

*2 Evaluation using existing products for paper labels; measurement not possible due to dissolution of the base material

Test Method

1. Charge test pieces to alkali aqueous solution 80℃
2. Agitate and checking time to remove

Alkali aqueous solution: 2.0%NaOH aqueous solution200mL, 80℃
Test pieces:1cmx1cm 10 sheets pasted label samples to 200μ PET

Possible usage examples

Labels for daily necessities and food

Inquiries

TOYOCHEM CO., LTD. Packaging and Industrial Materials Sales Division Sales Department 1

TEL:+81-3-3272-0940

TOYOCHEM CO., LTD.