QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE

MELT FLOW INDEX

The Glue Line Temperature (GLT) refers to the actual temperature that the adhesive is exposed to during the bonding
process. To achieve a high-quality bond, an adhesive formulation must reach its Bemis recommended GLT range.
Glue Line Temperature is affected by the following:
THERMAL PAPER
• Material type
154
• Machine type
• Machine settings (machine temperature, dwell time, pressure) 149

143
A testing process using thermal paper or a thin “fast response” thermocouple
138
enables the adjustment of machine settings to achieve optimal GLT.
132
A common misconception is that the machine temperature and the GLT are 127
one and the same. That is not the case. The machine temperature, along with GLT
121
dwell time and pressure, all affect the GLT. The illustrations below depict how
variations in settings and the resulting Glue Line Temperatures affect 116
adhesion.

Insufficient adhesive penetration Good Adhesion - Excess adhesive penetration into

into outer and/or inner fabric CORRECT Glue Line Temp (GLT) outer and/or inner fabric,
increases hand/feel

Fabric Fabric
Fabric
Adhesive Adhesive Adhesive
Fabric Fabric Fabric

• Glue Line Temp. too low? • Correct GLT, enough pressure • Glue Line Temp too high?
• Not enough pressure? and sufficient time under heat • Too much pressure?
• Dwell time too short? and pressure • Dwell time too long?
• One third of the adhesive
remains between the two
pieces of fabric, while the
remaining two thirds penetrate
evenly into the two pieces of
fabric.

When you do not achieve the necessary GLT, change the variables and retest. Increase (or decrease) the machine
temperature and/or dwell time. As a best practice, adjust one setting at a time.

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