Bonding
The Bonding production stage has different process options depending on whether the material type is a Coating or a Laminate.
The process options have two considerations: the type of coating and the number of times the coating is applied.
- Number of Times Applied:When choosing the number of timesa coating is applied, the selection should be based on the number of material layers. As an example, for a two-layer material (such as one fabric layer and one coating layer), “1 time (for 2 layers)” should be selected. If there are more material layers (up to 5 are available), then select the corresponding number of times. Above 5 material layers, select the maximum number of times (i.e. “4 times (for 5 layers)”). If a material has more than 2 layers and has different bonding types for the different layers, then multi-select a mixture of the process options. For instance, for a three-layer material with two types of bonding, select the “1 time (for 2 layers)” option twice – once for each bonding type – rather than selecting one bonding process and the “2 times (for 3 layers)” option.
- Solvent Emulsion should be selected when the coating type uses volatile organic compounds (such as toluene and/or methyl ether ketone) to dissolve the coating polymer.
- Water Based Emulsion should be selected when the coating type uses water as the primary solvent to dissolve the coating polymer. Small amounts of organic solvents are sometimes included in water based emulsions. Organic solvent content under 5% is allowable when choosing water based emulsion.
- Hotmelt Glue,also known as hotmelt adhesive, should be selected when the coating polymer is liquified using heat rather than dissolved in a solvent. Hotmelt glues are made of thermoplastic polymers.
If the bonding process is not known or is not mentioned above, then the default selection of Coating, solvent emulsion, 1 time (for 2 layers) should be left unchanged.
The process options have two aspects that need to be considered: the type of laminate and the number of times the laminate layers are bonded.
- Number of Times:When choosing the number of times the laminate is bonded, the selection should be based on the number of material layers. As an example, for a two-layer material (such as one fabric layer and one laminate layer), select “1 time (for 2 layers)”. If there are more material layers (up to 5 are available), select the corresponding number of times. Above 5 material layers, select the maximum number of times (i.e. “4 times (for 5 layers)”). If a material has more than 2 layers and has different bonding types for the different layers, then multi-select a mixture of the process options. For instance, for a three-layer material with two types of bonding, select the “1 time (for 2 layers)” twice – once for each bonding type – rather than selecting one bonding process and the “2 times (for 3 layers)” option.
- Hotmelt Glue,also known as hotmelt adhesive, should be selected when the laminate is bonded using a thermoplastic polymer glue that is liquified using heat rather than being dissolved in a solvent.
- Flame should be selected when the laminate is bonded by using an open flame to melt the surface of the laminate material, which then acts as the glue.
- Solvent Glue should be selected when the laminate is bonded using a polymer glue that is dissolved using volatile organic compounds (such as toluene and/or methyl ether ketone).
- Water Based Glue should be selected when the laminate is bonded using a polymer glue that uses water as the primary solvent. Small amounts of organic solvents are sometimes included in water based emulsions. Organic solvent content under 5% is allowable when choosing water based emulsion.
If the bonding process is not known or is not mentioned above, then the default selection of Lamination, hotmelt glue, 1 time (for 2 layers) should be left unchanged.