At their core, adhesives work through two main forces:
- Adhesion – The bond between the glue and the surface.
- Cohesion – The internal strength of the adhesive itself.
For a label to stick well, it needs the right balance of both. Too much adhesion, and you’ll struggle to remove it when needed. Too little, and your label may start peeling prematurely.
Now, let’s explore the three main types of label adhesives and how they work:
1. Permanent Adhesives (The Stick-and-Stay Solution)
Most permanent adhesives use acrylic or rubber-based formulas, which are best for food packaging, shipping labels, and product branding. Acrylic-based adhesives are durable and resistant to heat, harsh chemicals, and UV exposure. Rubber-based adhesives offer aggressive initial stickiness but may break down over time when exposed to extreme heat or cold.
Permanent adhesives are best used for product labels that need to stay in place for the product’s lifetime (e.g. food labels), security and tamper-evident seals, and industry labels exposed to harsh environments.
They form a strong and lasting bond with the surface on which they are applied. Once applied, permanent adhesives create a molecular grip that make removal nearly impossible without damaging the label or the surface.
2. Removable Adhesives (Sticky but Flexible)
Removable adhesives, on the other hand, offer a balance between adhesion and easy removal. They stay put when needed but can be peeled off cleanly without leaving behind sticky residue. Commonly made with low-tack acrylic adhesives, removable adhesives are best used for price tags, promotional stickers, and other temporary labels.
Removable adhesives rely on low-tack acrylic polymers, which means that they can be removed without pulling apart the label or damaging the material underneath.
Over time, removable adhesives can become permanent! Exposure to heat, pressure, or aging may cause the adhesive to “cure”, making removal difficult.
3. Freezer-Grade Adhesives: Built for the Cold
Ever placed a regular label on a frozen package, only to find it falling off a few hours later? That’s because standard adhesives lose their stickiness in cold temperatures.
At low temperatures, many adhesives become brittle and lose their ability to bond. However, freezer-grade adhesives are designed with special low-temperature acrylics that remain flexible and sticky even in freezing conditions. They are best used for frozen food packaging, beverages, medical labels for lab samples stored in refrigeration, and other cold storage applications. For example, the labels on ice cream tubs or frozen meat packages stay put because of freezer-grade adhesives engineered to withstand extreme cold.
Choosing the right label adhesive isn’t just about picking what sticks, it’s about ensuring functionality, durability, and ease of use. For labels that should never budge, go for permanent adhesives. If your products require temporary labeling needs, removable adhesives will work best. To ensure that your labels survive in extreme cold conditions, freezer-grade adhesives are your best option.
Need labels designed for specific applications? Contact us today, and we’ll help you find the perfect adhesive solution for your product needs.
