UV/EB laminating adhesives are used on labels, flexible packaging, folding cartons, and other converted packs. Label UV lamination was already established when this AIMCAL (2003) sheet was written; the same chemistry fits film and carton lines. Four types:
UV laminating adhesive
Usually free-radical acrylate monomers and oligomers plus a photoinitiator. Cationic photoinitiators with epoxy resins are also used. UV through one film; at least one ply must be clear. Typical: coat the printed web, nip a clear overlaminate, cure through the clear web. Bond is tack-free, with chemical and heat resistance. Slit, rewind, die-cut, or sheet right away.
UV pressure-sensitive laminating adhesive
Lets you bond two opaque webs (or clear). Higher coat weight and a slower cure than a standard UV/EB laminating adhesive. After UV the adhesive stays tacky, so it is not for every permanent-bond spec. Coat the base web, UV to a PSA state, nip a clear, reverse-printed, or opaque top web. Ready for converting.
UV post-cure laminating adhesive
Also for two opaques, but the nip is not the final bond. Usually cationic cycloaliphatic epoxy with onium-salt photoinitiators. Cure is acidic, so bases in inks or substrates can stall it — qualify the stack. Coat and UV the base web to a green tack, nip the second web, then post-cure (time/temperature vs the UV dose) to a permanent bond.
EB-curable laminating adhesive
Free-radical acrylates, no photoinitiator. The beam voltage sets penetration, so opaque webs can go to a permanent, tack-free bond in one pass. Coat, nip clear/printed/opaque, EB the laminate, convert in-line. Unlike EB inks and coatings, nitrogen inerting is not required for laminating: the laminate already keeps oxygen off the wet adhesive. If you EB in air, vent ozone.
Labels and cartons
In-line UV lamination of roll-fed and cut-and-stack labels was the main UV/EB packaging use on the sheet: scuff, moisture, chemical, and tear protection, plus a glossy wet look. Cost and noise can beat self-wound overlaminate tape. Emissions beat solvent; the UV lamp is smaller than a water-based dryer. On a flexo press the last station is a doctor-bladed anilox; some setups skip extra nips and use the same UV lamp as the inks. The sheet cites about 400 fpm with one 400 W lamp. Nip, coat weight, and adhesive set the look.
Folding-carton UV/EB lamination was newer: clear, metallized, or holographic film for looks and water resistance, in-line on narrow-web carton presses. EB in particular can laminate reverse-printed film to board.
Related: how UV and EB coatings work, laminating adhesive, laminating, packaging.