Glossary Of Terms

ABC Anti-Block Coating applied to the back side of the liner to prevent label transfer to the liner back when rolls of labels are unwound. Generally used with film facestocks or heavy adhesive coat weights.

Abrasion Resistance The degree to which a label surface, including printing and protective coatings, is able to resist rubbing or wearing away by friction.

Absorption In paper, the property which causes it to take up liquids or vapors in contact with it. In optics, the partial suppression of light through a transparent or translucent material.

Accelerated Aging Test procedures for subjecting PS label stock to special environmental conditions in order to predict the course of natural aging but in a far shorter period of time.

Acetates Transparent and matte case triacetate films used as facestocks.

Acrylic Adhesive PS adhesives base on acrylic polymers. Can be coated as a solvent or emulsion system. Noted for excellent stability in outdoor exposure.

Activate To change an adhesive film from a dry stage into a useful tacky state.

Additive Primaries In color reproduction, red, green and blue. When lights of these colors are added together, they produce the sensation white light.

Adhere To bond; to cause two surfaces to be held together by adhesion.

Adhesion A measurement of the force required to remove a label from a substrate. Several test methods normally characterize this force at various time intervals after application to various substrates.

Adhesion Build-Up An increase in the peel adhesion value of a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape, after it has been allowed to dwell on the applied surface. Result of the adhesive "wetting out" on the substrates.

Adhesive A substance capable of holding materials together by surface attachment.

Adhesive Failure A partial or total lifting of the label from the substrate.

Adhesive Residue The adhesive remaining behind on a substrate when a PS label is removed.

Adhesive Sandwich A pressure-sensitive adhesive sandwiched between two release liners with a differential release coating so the adhesive can be exposed on one side allowing it alone to be applied to a surface.

Adhesive Splitting Condition where part of the adhesive remains on the facestock and part on the substrate when the label is put under stress or removed.

Adhesive Transfer The transfer of adhesive from its normal position to the surface from which it was unwound. Transfer tapes demonstrate this phenomenon because of the differential release on the release liner.

Adhesive, Cold Temperature An adhesive that will enable a PS label to adhere when applied to refrigerated frozen substrates, generally +35 degrees F or colder.

Adhesive, Confusion A term used to describe the situation that can occur when unwinding a roll of tape. When adhesive bonds to both the unwind and liner side of the paper used, the adhesive is "confused." The adhesive should always bond to the liner side of the paper. Thi

Adhesive, High Temperature An adhesive that will enable a PS label to withstand sustained elevated temperature (+200 degrees F or higher).

Adhesive, Permanent A PS adhesive characterized by having relatively high ultimate adhesion. The label either cannot be removed intact or requires a great deal of force to be removed.

Adhesive, Removable A PS adhesive characterized by low ultimate adhesion. The label can be removed from most substrates without damaging the surface or leaving a residue or stain.

Ambient Temperature Normal fluctuating temperatures in an environment which are not closely controlled, e.g. in a typical warehouse, boxcar, office building, etc.

Anchorage The degree of adhesion to a surface. Insufficient anchorage results in the adhesive transferring to another surface when the tape is removed. This is distinct from splitting where only a layer of adhesive is transferred.

Apolar (also: non-polar) Refers to teh high surface tension (=low wettability) of a (plastic) surface. Apolar surfaces do not readily permit printing or adhesion.

Application Temperature Temperature of a substrate or label material at the time the label will be applied. All Fasson adhesives have a minimum application temperature rating. Testing is recommended when approaching minimum application temperature.

Aqueous Adhesives that use water as the carrier system.

Autoclave (Steam) Most commonly used sterilization process which utilizes steam heat to destroy micro-organisms. Actual sterilization takes place in a sealed chamber where a vacuum is drawn, the internal temperature is elevated and pressurized steam is injected.