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How to choose the right slip package for film-adhesive lamination
Fatty-amide slip blooms to the film surface. Two-part urethanes scavenge some of it; treat to at least 38 dynes/cm before you laminate. Call 800-249-0337.
These notes come from converters, not a full lab study. Test them on your structure.
Allow 200–300 ppm slip to be scavenged by two-part urethane systems. Moisture-cure urethanes (polyether type) scavenge much more. Polyester systems do not show a scavenge effect.
Slip in the films tries to reach equilibrium through the ink and the adhesive bond line. Erucamide is the usual fatty amide in PE. Treat to a minimum of 38 dynes/cm for adhesion — corona, ozone, flame, or plasma.
How fatty amide blooms
The amide starts randomly dispersed in the solid resin, exudes to the surface, and forms a weakly held, oriented monolayer. Treatment puts polar groups on that side and binds the amide there. Aged film with bloomed slip needs re-treatment before it will wet and bond. Diagrams are in the original PDF.
Watt density (guidelines)
Values are watts per square foot per minute to reach the listed surface energy. They are starting points. Send samples if the film is odd. For pretreated film, cut watt density about 33%.
| Material | 38–40 dyne | 43–45 | 50–60 | 60+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LDPE (no additives) | 0.8 | 1.0 | 1.25 | 1.5 |
| LDPE (low slip) | 1.25 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 2.5 |
| LDPE (med. slip, ~700 ppm) | 1.5 | 1.75 | 2.5 | 3.0 |
| LDPE (high slip, up to ~1,000 ppm) | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 4.0 |
| HDPE | 1.25 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 2.5 |
| LLDPE | 1.25 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 2.5 |
| Styrene | 0.8 | 1.0 | 1.25 | 1.5 |
| Nylon | 0.8 | 1.0 | 1.25 | 1.5 |
| Nylon (high density) | 1.0 | 1.25 | 1.5 | 2.0 |
| Polyester | 1.0 | 1.25 | 1.5 | 2.0 |
| PP | 1.5 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.0 |
| OPP | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 4.0 |
| BOPP | 2.5 | 3.0 | 3.75 | 4.25 |
| Metallized film | 1.5 | 1.75 | 2.5 | 3.0 |
| Foil (“A” wettable) | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 4.0 |
Typical power calculation
Example: 60 in web, 250 fpm, 43–45 dynes/cm, LLDPE with ~600 ppm slip plus antiblock, treat both inside surfaces of the bubble after the split.
(Line speed) × (web width in feet) × (number of sides) = square feet per minute. Then × watt density = watts.
(250 fpm) × (5 ft) × (2 sides) = 2,500 sq ft/min. × 1.75 W/sq ft/min = 4,375 W. Quote a 5.0 kW supply.
Untreated PE sits near 31 dynes/cm; PP near 29. Treat so the adhesive can wet. Dyne liquids and a solids/liquids chart are in the original PDF.
Related Cattie grades
- 8252 — Laminating adhesive for corrugated laminating lines.
- 8600 — Moisture-cure PUR. Polyether moisture-cures scavenge more slip than polyester systems — confirm the grade.
- 8463 — High green-strength PUR for panel work.
- 8362 — Heat seal for polyester films and extrusion laminating.
Call 800-249-0337 or email sales@cattieadhesives.com.
General plant guidance only — not a substitute for your process, SDS/TDS, or line trials. Call 800-249-0337 to match a grade.