How many types of label adhesives are there? Permanent adhesive / Removable adhesive / Freezer adhesive – 3 selection decision types
💡 💡 At a Glance
Permanent adhesive: strong adhesion, non-removable. Removable adhesive: no residue. Freezer-grade adhesive: maintains tack at low temperatures. Repositionable adhesive: reusable.
Last week, a customer launching a new business asked me: "How many types of label adhesives are there? Which one should I choose?"
I said: "3 main categories — permanent adhesive / removable adhesive / freezer adhesive, each with a different molecular structure."
He asked, "How do I choose?"
I said: "A 5-step decision tree — based on 'whether it tears / whether it stays intact after removal / temperature requirements.' This article doesn't discuss 'which adhesive is best' — it explains the chemical structure of the 3 adhesive types + selection for 7 scenarios + a 5-step decision tree."
3 Types of Adhesive Chemical Structures
Type 1: Permanent Adhesive (Acrylic / Rubber)
Chemical Structure:
Acrylic Adhesive ├─ Long-chain polymer (carbon-carbon long chain) ├─ Polar groups (-COOH / -OH) └─ Forms hydrogen bonds + van der Waals forces with surface
Properties:
- Initial tack: 2000-4000 N/m (strong)
- Tear destruction (cannot be removed intact)
- Temperature resistance: -20 to 100℃ (standard grade)
Applications:
- Product labels (food / cosmetics / daily chemicals)
- Anti-counterfeit labels (tear destruction)
- Industrial identification
Type 2: Removable Adhesive (Microsphere Acrylic)
Chemical Structure:
Microsphere Acrylic ├─ Microsphere structure (diameter 1-10 μm) ├─ Small contact area between microspheres and surface └─ Repositionable (no residue upon removal)
Properties:
- Initial tack: 50-500 N/m (weak)
- Removes intact (no residue)
- Temperature resistance: -10 to 80℃
Applications:
- Price labels (supermarket price adjustments)
- Promotional labels (holiday promotions)
- Temporary labels (exhibitions)
Type 3: Freezer Adhesive (Modified Rubber)
Chemical Structure:
Modified Rubber ├─ Natural/synthetic rubber ├─ Antifreeze agent (ethylene glycol, etc.) ├─ Low T_g formulation (-40℃) └─ Maintains contact force on icy surfaces
Properties:
- Initial tack: 1000-2000 N/m (medium)
- Temperature resistance: -40 to 80℃
- Low-temperature adhesion: still bonds at -20℃
Applications:
- Cold-chain food (ice cream / frozen products)
- Cold storage identification
- Outdoor use in northern regions (-30℃)
Comparison of 3 Types of Adhesives
| Dimension | Permanent Adhesive | Removable Adhesive | Freezer Adhesive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical Structure | Acrylic / Rubber | Microsphere Acrylic | Modified Rubber + Antifreeze Agent |
| Initial Tack | 2000-4000 N/m | 50-500 N/m | 1000-2000 N/m |
| Removal Effect | Destruction / Adhesive Residue | Intact / No Residue | Partial Destruction |
| Temperature Resistance | -20 to 100℃ | -10 to 80℃ | -40 to 80℃ |
| Cost | 0.05-0.1 RMB | 0.3-0.8 RMB | 0.2-0.5 RMB |
| Applicable Scenarios | Product / Anti-counterfeiting | Promotion / Pricing | Cold Chain / Outdoor |
5-Step Decision Tree
Step 1: Does it need to be peeled off?
- No → Permanent adhesive
- Yes → Proceed to Step 2
Step 2: Does it need to remain intact after peeling?
- Yes → Removable adhesive
- No → Permanent adhesive (destructible peel-off)
Step 3: Operating temperature?
- Room temperature (0-40°C) → Permanent adhesive / Removable adhesive
- Low temperature (-40 to 0°C) → Freezer-grade adhesive
- High temperature (40°C+) → Modified acrylic / Silicone
Step 4: Contact type?
- Food → Food-grade adhesive
- Cosmetics → Cosmetics-grade adhesive
- Electronics → Industrial-grade adhesive
Step 5: Reuse?
- Yes → Removable adhesive (repositionable)
- No → Permanent adhesive (stronger bond)
7 Scenario Selection
Scenario 1: Food Outer Labels (Permanent)
Recommended: Permanent acrylic adhesive (food-grade)
Reason: Cannot be peeled off + food compliance
Scenario 2: Supermarket Price Labels (Removable)
Recommended: Removable adhesive (microsphere acrylic)
Reason: Can be peeled off and re-applied + no residue
Scenario 3: Cold Chain Food (Frozen)
Recommended: Freezer adhesive + synthetic paper
Reason: Still adheres at -40°C
Scenario 4: Anti-Counterfeiting Labels (Destructive Peel)
Recommended: Permanent adhesive (strong acrylic)
Reason: Destructive upon peeling (anti-transfer)
Scenario 5: Holiday Promotions (Removable)
Recommended: Removable adhesive
Reason: Peeled off after holiday with no residue
Scenario 6: Outdoor Products (Cold-Resistant)
Recommended: Freezer adhesive + UV stabilizer
Reason: Resistant to -30°C + UV-resistant
Scenario 7: Medical Sterilization (High Temperature)
Recommended: Silicone adhesive (resistant to 200°C)
Reason: Compatible with ethylene oxide sterilization
3 Common Adhesive Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using Freezer Adhesive as Permanent Adhesive
Symptom: Poor viscosity at room temperature
Solution: Use permanent adhesive at room temperature, freezer adhesive for cold storage
Mistake 2: Using Removable Adhesive as Permanent Adhesive
Symptom: Customers peel off and re-stick
Solution: Anti-counterfeiting / anti-transfer applications must use permanent adhesive
Mistake 3: Using General Adhesive as Food-Grade Adhesive
Symptom: Food contact compliance violation
Solution: Food-grade adhesive (GB 4806)
To dive deeper into adhesive chemistry — see How to Choose Label Adhesive?, or directly contact a LeXiang Packaging consultant, and receive adhesive selection + test report within 24 hours.
FAQ
How many types of label adhesives are there?
Three major categories of label adhesives by application: (1) Permanent adhesive—tears with substrate damage (one-time use, anti-counterfeiting/product labels), chemical structure acrylic/rubber, initial tack 2000–4000 N/m; (2) Removable adhesive—no residue upon removal (repositionable, price adjustment), chemical structure microsphere acrylic, initial tack 50–500 N/m; (3) Freezer-grade adhesive—low-temperature resistant (-40 °C cold chain), chemical structure modified rubber, T_g = -40 °C. The differing molecular structures of these three adhesive types determine entirely distinct application scenarios.
How to Choose Between Permanent Adhesive and Removable Adhesive?
3-step decision process: (1) Does it need to be peeled off—do not peel: choose permanent; peel off: choose removable; (2) Does it need to remain intact after peeling—intact: choose removable; tears/damages upon peeling: choose permanent; (3) Is reuse required—yes: choose removable (can be reapplied multiple times); no: choose permanent (stronger adhesion). 3 typical scenarios: (1) Product label (permanent) + cannot be peeled off; (2) Price label (removable) + peel off and reapply; (3) Anti-counterfeiting label (permanent) + tears/damages upon peeling (anti-transfer).
What is the difference between frozen adhesive and regular adhesive?
Three differences: (1) Glass transition temperature T_g—cryogenic adhesive T_g = -40℃ (standard acrylic T_g = -20℃); (2) Chemical structure—cryogenic adhesive uses modified rubber + antifreeze agent (standard acrylic does not); (3) Cold resistance—cryogenic adhesive still bonds at -40℃ (standard acrylic fails at -25℃). Three typical application scenarios: (1) Cold storage long-term freezing at -20℃—cryogenic adhesive required; (2) Ice cream / frozen products—cryogenic adhesive + synthetic paper; (3) Northern outdoor -30℃—cryogenic adhesive provides low-temperature resistance. Simple home test: apply label to bottle, freeze at -18℃ for 7 days; if it does not fall off, it passes.
How to Test Label Adhesive?
3 Test Methods: (1) Initial tack test – Steel ball rolling method (steel balls of different sizes; record the largest ball number that stops); (2) Holding power test – Weighted hanging method (1 kg weight, 24 hours without falling off); (3) Peel adhesion test – 180° peel test (force required to tear the adhesive). 3 Standards: PSTC-6 (label tape) / PSTC-7 (holding power) / PSTC-1 (peel adhesion). Household simple method: Hand tear + soaking + high-temperature oven (80-100°C).
How to Choose Food-Grade Glue?
3 Core Requirements: (1) GB 4806 mandatory – must be food-grade; (2) No solvent residue – water-based / hot-melt (non-solvent type); (3) No heavy metals – RoHS certified. 3 Recommended Types: Acrylic (food-grade), rubber adhesive (food-grade), hot-melt adhesive (food-grade). 3 Prohibited Types: Solvent-based adhesives (containing VOC), non-food-grade acrylic, chlorine-containing adhesives. It is recommended to submit for testing prior to initial market launch, with a single test costing RMB 1,000–3,000.
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