Plasticisers

Substances which are added to, for example, plastics, paints, varnishes, rubber and adhesives to make them softer, more flexible and elastic.

For the production of hot melt adhesives, the raw materials, base polymers, resins, plasticisers and additives are combined in mixers at high temperatures. The resins and plasticisers are kneaded into the base polymer. These mixing ratios vary according to the type of hot melt adhesive.

Typical plasticisers in hot melt adhesives are e.g. medicinal white oil and polyisobutylene (abb: PIB).