Glossary

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ABHESIVE

A material that resists adhesion. Abhesive coatings are applied to surfaces to prevent sticking, etc.

ABRASION RESISTANCE

The inherent ability of a surface to inhibit deterioration or destruction by friction. Also called `rub or scuff resistance’, it relates to the toughness of an ink or coating. Refer NS & IM.

ABRASIVENESS

The tendency of a paper, coating or ink to abrade or wear away die edges, slitting blades, printing type, plates, etc., by friction. Refer NS.

ABSORBENCY

That property of a porous material which causes it to take up liquids or vapours.

ABSORPTION

The penetration of one substance into the mass of another. ie. Ink absorbed into paper.

ACCELERATE

To hasten the natural progress of an event or a series of events. To speed up a reaction or process. ie. This can be accomplished by using heat, fast drying solvents, moving air or using chemical agents in inks to cause a reaction. ie.

Drying an adhesive or sealer faster than normal by increasing the temperature.

Adding an accelerator (Chemical), to Ultra Violet inks to assist a faster cure.

Refer NS & IM.

ACCELERANT - Chemical. (Not to be confused with Accelerated Aging)

A material (catalyst), added to a liquid compound to convert the whole mass into a solid, or speed up its cure as in Ultra Violet Inks. (Was known as ACCELERATOR - misnomer)

ACCELERATED AGING

Procedures for subjecting pressure sensitive label stock to special environmental conditions in order to predict the course of natural aging. (Can also be printed for ink & paper aging tests combined).

Refer NS, LM & IM.

ACETATE

A plastic synthesised from cellulose dissolved in acetic acid which exhibits rigidity, dimensional stability & ink receptivity. Transparent or matt films, sometimes used for label stocks.

ACETATE FILM

A clear film made from cellulose acetate.

ACID-FREE PAPER

A paper made for use where acid is harmful to the material with which that paper is in contact. (See Neutral Papers or pH Value).

ACIDITY

A general term applying to paper on the Acid side of neutral (Degree of Acidity).

ACRYLATE RESINS

A type of copolymer used in UV inks, adhesives and coating formulations.

ACRYLIC

A general chemical term of a particular family of thermoplastic resins based on acrylic acid and its derivatives.

ACRYLIC BASED ADHESIVE

A pressure sensitive adhesive based on high strength, acrylic polymers. Can be coated as a solvent or emulsion system.

ACRYLIC EMULSION

A water based latex made with acrylic polymers, used in coatings and adhesives.

ACRYLIC INK

Ink containing acrylic polymers used for printing on some plastics and other substrates, especially where outdoor exposure may be involved.

ADHERE

To stick or hold fast. To bond; to cause two surfaces to be held together by adhesive (Stuck).

ADHERENCE

See Adhesion

ADHEREND

The substance or surface to which the adhesive is applied. ie. Face Stock.

ADHESION

The quality or condition of sticking together or holding fast two surfaces - one to the other. Term is also used to describe the measure of strength with which one material sticks to another. Refer NS & LM.

ADHESION BUILD-UP

An increase in the ‘peel’ adhesion value of a pressure sensitive material after it has been allowed to dwell on the applied surface.

ADHESION, MECHANICAL

Adhesion caused by the physical interlocking of the adhesive with the base surface irregularities of the adherend.

ADHESION, PEEL

The measure of the force required to remove a pressure sensitive material from another surface at a specified angle and speed, after the material has been applied under specific conditions. Refer NS & LM.

ADHESION PROMOTER - See PRIMER

ADHESION, SHEAR

A measure of the time required to slide a specific sized area of pressure sensitive label material from a standard flat surface in a direction parallel to that surface. Weight and heat are sometimes used to accelerate the test. Refer NS & LM.

ADHESION, SPECIFIC

The adhesion to a specified surface.

ADHESION TEST

Any of a variety of test methods used to determine the adequacy of ink, coating or adhesive adhesion to a substrate. Refer NS, LM & IM.

ADHESION, ULTIMATE

The mature or final bond achieved, under controlled conditions, between ink, coating or adhesive to any flexible or rigid substrate.

ADHESIVE

A substance capable of holding materials together by surface attachment.

ADHESIVE BLEED

Ooze - Adhesive ooze, flow or excretion from between pressure sensitive material or label and the surface to which the material or label is bonded, as a result of cold flow or edge ooze. Refer NS & LM.

ADHESIVE BUILD-UP

The transfer of adhesive from pressure sensitive label material to label machinery parts during conversion or applicator parts during dispensing and applying of labels. Also may be transferred from leading edge of sheets in laser or ink-jet printer hoppers and photocopiers. Refer NS & LM.

ADHESIVE, COLD TEMPERATURE

An adhesive that will induce a bond to cold surfaces in a cold environment. Refer NS & LM.

ADHESIVE DEPOSIT

See Adhesive Residue. Refer NS & LM.

ADHESIVE FILM

Thin layer of dried adhesive (1 - 3 mils) provided in dry film form, with or without reinforcing material, which is cured by means of heat and pressure. (Iron-on Labels).

ADHESIVE, HIGH TEMPERATURE

An adhesive that will enable a pressure sensitive label material to withstand sustained high temperatures. Refer NS & LM.

ADHESIVE, PERMANENT

An adhesive characterised by relatively high ultimate adhesion. May be removed if the force used overcomes the bond, however permanent is considered non-removable under normal circumstances. Refer NS & LM.

ADHESIVE, PRESSURE SENSITIVE

A type of adhesive which in dry form is aggressively tacky at room temperature. It has the capability of promoting a temporary bond to dissimilar surfaces on contact, but needs pressure to complete the action of being stuck - hence pressure sensitive label. Refer NS & LM.

ADHESIVE, REMOVABLE

An adhesive characterised by relatively high cohesive strength and low ultimate adhesion. It can be removed easily from most surfaces. Some adhesive transfer could take place depending on the affinity of the adhesive to the surface to which it is stuck. Refer NS & LM.

ADHESIVE RESIDUE

The pressure sensitive adhesive remaining behind on a surface due to cohesive or priming failure when a pressure sensitive label is removed from that surface. This also refers to the release from the liner or backing. Refer NS & LM.

ADHESIVE SPLITTING

Failure within the adhesive mass when labels are placed under stress or removed. If splitting occurs, part of the adhesive remains on the substrate, and part on the labelled object. Appearance is like stringing of adhesive or like stringing chewing gum.

ADHESIVE STRIKE-THROUGH

When adhesive penetrates through the face material of a pressure sensitive label. Also called Migration of adhesive. Refer NS & LM.

ADHESIVE TRANSFER

The transfer of adhesive from the label to the surface of the labelled article. Refer NS & LM.

AFFINITY

Chemical attraction - The attraction between the adhesive and the surface to be labelled.

AGED RELEASE

After premature aging in a laboratory - The force required to remove a release liner from an adhesive after a measured period of time, often at elevated temperatures in controlled test conditions. Refer NS & LM.

AGING

The change or changes undergone by a material or adhesive as a result of the passage of time, or adverse climatic changes. Refer NS & LM.

AIR DRIED

Forced air drying of coatings or inks. (Usually heated air). Refer NS & IM.

ALCOHOL

A colourless flammable liquid (organic solvent) used as a solvent in flexographic inks.

ALIGNMENT (Line-up)

Refers to the relative alignment of printing stations to each other and to die stations on a label press. Also used to describe the relative position of a scanner or light source to a bar code.

ALLIGATORING

Term used to describe the appearance of an adhesive, coating or sealer film that is cracked into large segments. Also called Cracking or Crazing.

AMBIENT TEMPERATURE

A term used to describe the temperature of the surrounding air. Atmosphere. Refer NS & LM.

ANALYSIS

The division of a substance into its constituent parts with the purpose to examine or determine their relationship to each other. Refer NS & LM.

ANCHORAGE

The specific adhesion of a pressure sensitive adhesive to a face material or an anchor coat. Refer IM.

ANILINE DYES

Coal-tar derivatives classified according to the degree of fastness to light or brightness. Basic dyes have extreme brightness, but are not fast to light. Acid dyes are less brilliant, but have greater light fastness. Direct dyes are much more fade resistant than basics and, in some cases, than acid dyes.

ANILINE PRINTING

Early name for rubber plate printing, using fast-drying liquid inks.

ANILOX INKING

In flexography, a two roller inking system consisting of a smooth roller which sits in an ink trough and transfers the liquid ink to an engraved metal roller with cells of a fixed size that then transfer the ink controllably (metered) to the plate.

ANILOX ROLL (ROLLER)

Mechanically engraved steel or chrome coated or ceramic metering roller used in flexographic printing presses to meter a controlled film of ink from the contacting rubber covered doctor roller to the printing plates which then transfer the ink to the web. Volume of ink is affected by the cell count per linear inch and dimension of the cell and cell wall of the engraving. Sometimes manufactured from copper and chromium plated steel, but ceramic rollers, which are laser engraved, are becoming more common.

ANTIOXIDANTS

Agents which retard the action of oxygen in substances subject to oxidation.

ANTISTATIC AGENTS

Ingredients in coatings that make the coating antistatic.

ANTISTATIC BAR - DEVICE

A bar or device fitted to a Label machine that disperses static to ground.

ANTISTATIC COATINGS

Coatings applied to one or both surfaces of a substrate to reduce the electrostatic build up, so that the material can be further processes. ie. Sheeted, stacked, collated etc.

ANVIL CUT LABELS

A pressure sensitive label which has been die-cut through all components of the label stock, including the liner, steel to steel cut. Full punch out of labels.

ANVIL ROLLER

Hardened steel roller upon which bearers of a rotary die cutter ride which also provides the hardened surface for die cutting.

APPLICATION

Refers to a pressure sensitive label actually being adhered to a product.

APPLICATION TEMPERATURE

Temperature of the product or ambient air at the time the label is applied. Note: Most adhesives have a minimum and maximum application temperature rating. Refer LM data sheets to clarify this, however if in doubt, testing of labels or labelstock on the product is highly recommended. Refer NS & LM.

APPLICATOR

A device that automatically feeds and applies pressure sensitive labels to a product.

APPLICATOR ROLLER

Coating, print, tint, lacquer or varnish roller, or laminating roller that actually applies any of these to a substrate.

AQUEOUS

Water containing or water based. Refers to adhesive or inking systems which use water as the carrier or vehicle. Refer IM.

AQUEOUS INKS

Inks produced utilising a water base.

ARTIFICIAL AGING

The accelerated testing of specimens to determine a change in properties, carried out over a short period of time. Such tests are indicative of what may be expected of a material under actual service conditions over extended periods. Refer NS & LM.

ARTWORK

The original design, including drawings, sketches and text produced by the artist (graphic). This may be presented as a black and white art sheet with colour overlays, or in disk format for a computer printout using laser printers. All elements of the design should be representative of the completed work and printing plates should be able to be made from the artwork or disc.

ASPECT RATIO

The ratio of height to width of a bar code symbol.

AUTO IGNITION POINT

The temperature at which mixtures of solvent vapour and air will ignite without the aid of a spark or flame.

AUTOCLAVE

A pressurised, steam heated vessel generally used for sterilisation. In label application, label must endure a cooking process by superheated steam under pressure. Refer to Labelstock manufacturers’ data sheets. Label tests are highly recommended.