Solvent Base :- Solvent base is also type of dry lamination & solvents are used in this process. Solvent base is also known for good quality & higher shelf life. Solvent base is costly process as compared to solvent less due to high adhesive cost & high coating required for the bonding between subtracts. Solvent base lamination is suitable for high quality job, long shelf life, heat resistance, high bond strength etc. In this process we can use more variety of subtract like Paper, aluminum foil, PET, BOPP, CPP, LDPE, BOPA etc. Disadvantage of this process is some environmental impacts during process due to mixing the solvent in adhesive but solvent is evaporate through dryer before laminate both subtract.
Solvent less :- Solvent less is a type of dry lamination. Solvent less most popular lamination in flexible packaging industries due its lowest adhesive cost & lowest coating required for bonding. We can achieve various properties like barrier properties, tensile strength, good visibility etc which is not possible in single layer. Solvent less is suitable general purpose, frozen grade and also applicable for heavy duty application. In solvent less lot of verity of adhesive available according to application like general purpose, frozen, heavy duty, weather resistance. It is also ecofriendly no impact on environmental . Solvent less lamination is mostly applicable for Pet , BOPP , CPP, LDPE etc.
| Characteristics | Solvent Base | Solvent Less |
| Costing | Expensive | Cheap |
| Medium | Solvent ( Ethyl acetate ) | NA |
| Production | Low line speed process | High line speed process |
| Curing time | Low curing time ( 12 Hrs ) | High Curing ( Min 24 hrs ) |
| Applications | More variety ( food packaging ,Tabaco packaging , pharma packaging, milk powder ,general purposes , heavy duty etc. | General purpose application, frozen application, heavy duty, etc |
| Shelf life | High shelf life | Normal shelf life |
| Eco friendly | During process solvent evaporate | It is environmental friendly. |
| Quality | Better quality for all application | Quality is better except some application . |
| Adhesive coating required | High coating required (2.0-4.0) | Low coating required (1.0-2.5) |
| Type of process | Dry lamination | Dry lamination |
| Viscosity | High viscosity not easy to mix & applying | Low viscosity easy to mixing. |
| Pot life | 30 min | Generally 8 Hrs |
| Solid content | Generally (60% -70 %) depends on suppliers | 100 % |
| Bong Strength | High | Low |
| Applicable | Applicable long, short run job . | Only applicable for long run job. |
| Setup cost | High | Low |