A new series of pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) developed by Toyochem, part of Japan’s Toyo Ink Group, was recently been introduced on the Japanese market offering a smaller CO2 footprint compared to traditional systems, with no compromise on performance, the company has announced.
Pressure-sensitive adhesive systems are widely used in an extensive range of applications. From Post-it notes to medical applications, from panelling to clutch assemblies in cars, PSAs offer strong and lightweight fastening solutions.
These adhesive systems are characterised by a permanent tackiness with bonds that are formed when pressure is applied to the adhesive against a surface. No solvent, heat or water is needed to activate the system, although some may require heat to apply.
The new Cyabine PSAs from Toyochem are based on plant-derived raw materials, achieving a biomass content on a dry weight basis of up to 45%, leading to a decreased volume of CO2 emissions throughout the lifecycle of the adhesives. Moreover, because the new PSAs feature a biodegradable polymer design, they can also contribute to reducing plastic waste and are particularly suitable for application in the packaging, construction, agriculture, forestry and other industries where the use of biodegradable or recoverable materials may be required.
Currently, the base paper or film substrates may well be biodegradable, but the additives such as adhesives traditionally used to coat or treat them are not, resulting in disposal issues. The new PSA system demonstrates biodegradation rates of 60% or higher after 60 days.
This has been confirmed under controlled composting conditions as prescribed by the Japanese Standards Association’s JIS K 6953-1, the equivalent of the international standard ISO 14855-1.
Sales of the Cyabine PSAs will be further rolled out globally over the next few years.