A

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 of 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, 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.

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.

B

Back Split Linear slits through the liner put in during coating or converting to meet specialized end-use requirements.

Backing An inexact term used in the pressure-sensitive adhesive industry. When referencing double-coated tapes and single coated products, it is the release liner. When referencing self-wound tapes, it is the material to which the adhesive is bonded.

Basis Weight The weight of a ream of paper. Traditional version is given in pounds per ream. The modern version is given in grams per square meter.

Biaxially Oriented Films A film which is extended and stretched in both the machine and cross direction. This stretching improves physical properties over non-oriented polypropylene.

Bleed Through See PENETRATION.

Bleeding The undesirable penetration of the adhesive onto the surface to which the tape is applied.

Blocking Condition where the labels stick to the back side of the liner above them. Usually due to adhesive flow, incomplete die cutting of the adhesive, improper drying of inks or improper drying or curing of coatings.

Bond The adhesion of a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape to the surface to which it has been applied.

Bond Strength The amount of force required to separate the joined surfaces.

Buckling A deformation of a layout of tape which appears laterally across the roll causing an opening between layers.

Butt Cut Labels Labels separated by a single cross-direction cut to the liner. No matrix area exists between labels. Butt cut labels are not suitable for automatic dispensing.

Butt Splice A splice made by joining tape end to end without overlapping. The splice is assembled by a thin single coated tape centered on both sides.

C

Calender Rolls A set or stack of horizontal cast-iron rolls at the end of the paper machine. The paper is passed between the rolls to increase the smoothness and gloss of its surface.

Caliper See THICKNESS.

Carrier When referring to double-coated tapes, it is the thin medium to which the adhesive is anchored to on both sides.

Cast Coated Coated paper dried under pressure against a polished cylinder produce a high-gloss finish to the paper.

Chalking In printing, a term which refers to improper drying of ink. Pigment dusts off because the vehicle has been absorbed too rapidly into the paper.

Chemical Pulp In papermaking, treatment of wood chips with chemicals to remove impurities such as lignin, resins and gums and to separate the wood fibers. There are two types, sulfite and sulfate.

Chemical Resistance The resistance of a PS label to the deteriorating effects of exposure to various chemicals under specified conditions.

Clear Coat A varnish. A coating that protects the printing and the surface of a pressure-sensitive label from abrasion, sunlight, chemicals, moisture, or a combination of these.

Coated Paper General term applying to all papers which have been surface coated with pigments.

Coater A machine composed of an unwind stand, coating devices, rollers, ovens and wind-up stand used to apply adhesive to backing and or carriers to produce a pressure-sensitive tape.

Coating A material, usually liquid, used to form a covering film over a surface. Its function is to decorate and or protect the surface from destructive agents or environment.

Coating Weight The amount or weight of coating (normally adhesive) per unit area. This can be expressed as grams per square meter or pounds per ream.

Cohesion The internal strength of an adhesive, its resistance to flow, and the resistance to failure or splitting when labels are removed, or under stress.

Cohesive Strength The internal strength of an adhesive and its ability to resist splitting caused by external forces. It is measured by its resistance to forces parallel to the surface. Good cohesion is necessary for clean removal. Cold Flow The flow of a PS adhesive under pressure or stress.

Color Separation In photography, the process of separating color originals into the primary printing color components in negative or positive form. In lithographic platemaking, the manual separation of colors by handwork performed directly on the printing surface. An artist can pre-separate by using separate overlays for each color.

Conformability The ability of a PS material to yield to the contours of a curved or rough surface.

Contact Print A photographic print made from a negative or positive in contact with a sensitized paper, film, or printing plate.

Contact Screen A photographically-made halftone screen on film having a dot structure of graded density, used in vacuum contact with the photographic film to produce halftones.

Continuous Tone A photographic image which contains gradient tones from black to white

Contrast The tonal gradation between the highlights, middle tones, and shadows in an original or reproduction.

Core A honeycomb or variegated structure used in sandwich panel construction. The innermost portion of a multi-layer adherent surface.

Core Plugs Metal wood or compressed paper pulps which are driven into the paper core of the finished roll to prevent crushing or the damaging of the core.

Corrugated Board Kraft or jute board consisting of two sheets of flat board glued with one sheet of corrugated board between.

Coupon Base A splittable film product with adhesive and protective liner. When used in combination with another pressure-sensitive coated facestock affords the label converter the capability of manufacturing on press a redemption coupon that has a lift tab and is printed on both sides. A clear film remains on the labeled item after the coupon has been removed.

Crazing The network of small cracks that can appear in a varnish coat or plastic facestock. Usually caused by a combination of expansion and contraction during weathering or excessive solvents in an ink system.

Creep The small slow movement of the adhesive caused by .

D

Dandy Roll In papermaking, a wire cylinder on paper making machines that makes wove or laid effects on the texture, as well as the watermark itself. Used in the manufacture of better grades of business and book papers.

Deboss Condition in which the image is depressed below the normal surface of the label stock. Positive printing generally has a debossed effect.

Degradation The deterioration of a film over time, which is evidenced by cracking, chalking, blistering, color fading, etc.

Delamination The separation of a material into layers, in a direction approximately parallel to the surface. For instance, a facestock separating from the liner during processing.

Destaticization Treating plastic materials to minimize their accumulation of static electricity.

Deterioration Undesired change in properties of an adhesive caused by aging, weathering, etc.

Die Any of a variety of tools or devices used for cutting material to a desired shape.

Die Cut The line of severance between a pressure-sensitive label and its matrix or adjoining label made by the cutting edge of a die.

Die Cut Label Pressure-sensitive labels mounted on a release liner from which the matrix has been removed.

Die Load Monitors Gauges that indicate the amount of pressure exerted on rotary dies.

Dimensional Stability The property of a material which relates to the degree of its growth or shrinkage under various environmental conditions.

Direct Thermal A specialized printing technology using rapidly heated pins that selectively activate a heat sensitive coating applied to the facestock thus forming the desired image.

Doctor Blade An adjustable knife-like bar which controls the amount of adhesive on the glue wheel.

Dot The individual element of a halftone.

Double-Sided A double coated tape incorporated with two release liners.

Double Coated A pressure-sensitive product consisting of a carrier material with similar or dissimilar adhesives applied to the two surfaces.

Dry Back A non-blocking adhesive which has been precoated on an adherent and is ready for bonding by solvent reactivation at anytime.

Dry Seal Adhesive One which is non-blocking except to itself. Two adherents may be precoated, dried then bonded at any time using only nominal pressure.

Dry Tag A 9 pt. uncoated tag facestock designed to separate from a liner with no functional adhesive on the tag. Typical uses are clothing tags, temporary I.D. cards, and hang tags.

Dryers Steam-heated cylinders over which paper in the web is passed to be dried.

Dwell The time during which a PS material remains on a surface before testing for permanence or removability

Dyes Synthetic or natural organic chemicals that are soluble in most common solvents. Characterized by good transparency, high tinctorial strength and low specific gravity.

E

Edge Curl The peeling back of lifting of the outer edge of a tape which has been applied in a curve.

Edge Lift The tendency of the edge of a label to rise off the surface of the substrate. This condition occurs most frequently on small diameter curved surfaces. Resistance to edge life is dependent on the bond strength of the adhesive and the flexibility of the facestock.

Edge Ooze Uneven adhesive residue around label perimeter

EDM Electronic Discharge Medium. An electronic discharge method of manufacturing rotary dies.

Elastomer Generally a rubber-like substance which is easily deformed by a force but returns to its original shape. Elastomers are the basis of most pressure-sensitive adhesives.

Electronic Data Processing Data processing by electronic equipment. Pressure sensitive labels produced for imprinting on this equipment incorporate line hole punching and perforations.

Electrostatic Printing The property of a material which relates to the degree of its growth or shrinkage.

Elongation The increase in length of a material produced by extending it to the point of rupture.

Embossed Finish Paper with a raised or depressed surface resembling wood, cloth, leather or other pattern.

Embossing Impressing an image in relief to achieve a raised surface; either overprinting or on blank paper (called blind embossing).

Emulsion A dispersion of fine particles or globules of a liquid in liquid normally incompatible with it.

Emulsion Adhesive A dispersion of the fine particles or globules in another liquid. Many PS adhesives are emulsion systems.

Ethylene Oxide Gas A widely used sterilization process utilizing either pure Ethylene Oxide gas or a combination with an inert gas such as carbon dioxide or Freon. Sterilization is done in a sealed chamber where a vacuum is drawn.

Exposure Temperature The temperature that a labeled product is exposed to.

Extrude To expel or force through a measured orifice to apply a molten thermoplastic adhesive onto a web.

F

Face Material Any material, including paper, film, fabric, laminated or solid foil, suitable for converting into PS label stock.

Face Side The unlined side of a double-coated tape.

Face Splits Linear cuts put in the facestock during coating or on press to meet specialized end-use requirements.

Facestock Any material, including paper, film, fabric, laminated or solid foil, suitable for converting into PS label stock.

Fan Fold Zig-zag fold. The put-up of pressure-sensitive labels on a continuous backing in such a way as to form a flat pack as different from roll form.

FasStrip 40# and 50# bleached super-calendered paper liners. Characterized by good surface hardness and good tensile strength.

FDA Food and Drug Administration. Regulations for PS applications apply to the following area: Adhesives: (1) Direct food contact, such as labeling of fruit and vegetable with an edible skin (175.125); (2) Indirect food contact, where incidental between an adhesive and a food may be possible (175.105). Facestocks: (1) Contact between paper and dry foods (175.180); (2) Contact between paper and aqueous and/or fatty foods (176.170).

Feeder In printing presses, the section that separates the sheets and feeds them in position for printing.

Feel The degree of stickiness of the adhesive determined by touching with one’s finger. This is often a misleading test to determine adhesion.

Felt Side The smoother side of the paper for printing. The top side of sheet in paper manufacturing.

Fiber Filled An adhesive that has had fibers added to it. These fibers help in conversion of the products, by preventing adhesive flow. Fiber filling does allow for as much elongation as a regular transfer tape. Fiber filling does not provide as much stability on conversion as a “Carriered” product.

Film Coating Application of light, pigmented coating.

Films Acetate, polyester, polyethylene vinyls and other polymeric. Face material manufacturing from synthetic high molecular weight polymers.

Finish The surface property of a film determined by its texture and gloss. A gloss finish, for example, can be shiny and highly reflective, while a matte finish is generally dull and reflects little light.

Firm Refers to the resistance of an adhesive to flow. Fish Eye Round or oval deformation in an adhesive, coating, or ink.

Flagging A lifting or peeling away of the end of a tape wound on a spiral-wrap application.

Flame Resistant The ability of a tape to withstand exposure to a flame. Flame resistant (fire-retardant self extinguishing) materials will burn when exposed to flame, but will not continue to burn after the flame is removed. Burning rate, smoke density, toxicity of fumes and melt drippings are important factors in assessing flame resistance.

Flame Retardant A material that resists burning when exposed to a flame.

Flexibility Property of facestock material that indicates how readily it conforms to curved surfaces.

Flexographic Printing A method of rotary letterpress printing.

Flow In printing, the ability of an ink to spread over the surface the rollers of a press.

Flow Out The ability of an adhesive to level after application.

Food Contact Adhesives Adhesives meeting specified sections of the Food & Drug Administration Code of Federal Regulations. These regulations cover direct food labeling as well as incidental contact. Special product recommendations are necessary for specific applications.

F.O.B. Free on board. Indicates that a quoted price includes loading on a railroad car or truck at the designated point, but no further transportation cost are included.

G

Gapping That type of deformation wherein any two layers become separated from each other causing an opening.

Ghosting A haze-like deposit of an adhesive left by a tape after its removal.

Gloss A shiny finish on a smooth surface such as vinyl or paint.

Grain The machine direction of paper as opposed to the cross direction. Also, a measurement of pressure-sensitive adhesive on a given area.

Gravure Coating The amount of coating applied to the web is metered by the depth of the over-all engraved pattern in a print roll.

Gravure Printing A printing process that employs minute engraved wells. Deeply etched wells carry more ink than a raised surface, hence print darker value shallow wells are used to print values. A doctor blade wipes excess ink from the cylindrical printing surface.

H

Haze A degree of cloudiness in a plastic material.

Heat Activated To soften a dried thermo-plastic adhesive film to a sticky stage by application of heat. After bringing the adhesive to its melting point, the process of bonding can then take place.

Heat Aging A controlled environment to provide an indication of any deterioration of an end use or finished product.

Heat Resistance Property of a material which inhibits the occurrence of physical or chemical changes caused by exposure to high temperatures.

High Temperature Adhesive An adhesive that will enable a pressure-sensitive label to adhere or stick well when applied to a hot substrate and has a high degree of resistance to aging or deterioration at elevated temperatures.

Holding Power The ability of a tape to resist slippage under shear stress. Usually measured by applying a standard area of tape to a vertical test panel and suspending standard weight on the free end of the tape.

Hot Melt A pressure-sensitive adhesive applied to the liner or backing in a hot molten form which cools to form a conventional pressure-sensitive adhesive.

Hot Stamping A decorating process in which the desired image is transferred to a substrate by a heated, positive copy die. Images are normally limited to one color positive copy line.

I

Impact Printing Any printing system where a micro processor controlled drives a ribbon into contact with the print surface (dot matrix) or the print surface into contact with the ribbon drum printer).

Impregnated Paper A general term for soft porous papers which are to be or impregnated with solutions or compounds of various types. Wet tensile strength and degree or rate of are important qualities.

Impression Cylinder In printing, the cylinder on a printing press against which paper picks up the impression from the inked plate in direct printing, or the blanket in offset printing.

Infra-Red Part of the electro-magnetic spectrum between the visible range and the radar range. Radiant heat is in this range, and infra-red heaters are much used in sheet thermoforming.

Inhibitor A substance which slows down chemical reaction. Inhibitors are sometimes used in certain adhesives to prolong its life or storage.

Initial Tack Adhesives usually have two adhesive stages: 1) Initial tack at which time it is sticky enough to hold parts together; (2) Set at which point the adhesives has firmly bonded them.

Injection Blow Molding A molding procedure whereby a heat softened plastic is forced from a cylinder into a relatively cool cavity which gives the article the desired shape.

Ink Fountain In printing presses, the device which stores and supplies ink the inking rollers.

Ink Jet A method of printing using liquid ink projected a drop at a time against a substrate.

Instron Test instrument used to determine tensile and adhesion values.

K

Kiss-Cut Kiss-cutting refers to a die cutting method where the die cuts through the laminated material and adhesive and stops before rupturing the liner. In this process the waste matrix is often removed.

Knife Coating A method of adhesive coating. It essentially consists of a rigid adjustable blade mounted above a roll. The adhesive is pumped behind the blade so it is pulled under the blade.

Kraft A sulphate wood pulp paper.

L

Label The functional portion of a pressure-sensitive construction comprising the face sheet and adhesive, die cut into various shapes.

Lacquer A solution or suspension of one or more materials in volatile solvents capable of forming a protective and or decorative film or a film with special surface properties, after the solvents have evaporated.

Laminate A web material formed by bonding two or more materials together.

Lap Splice A splice made by overlapping the ends.

Laser The acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission radiation. The laser is an intense light beam with very narrow band width that can produce images by electronic. It makes possible imaging by remote control from computers or facsimile transmission.

Laser Printing A non-impact electrophotographic process utilizing a laser beam to scan the surface of the drum creating a latent image which attracts toner. The toner is then transfer fused into the print surface.

Latex An emulsion of rubber or resin particles dispersed in an aqueous medium a natural synthetic elastomeric dispersion in a aqueous system.

Latex Paper Impregnated Paper / Saturated Paper. Paper manufactured by two major processes: 1) the latex is incorporated with the fibers in the beater to formation of the sheet; 2) a performed web of absorbent fiber is saturated with properly latex. The papers are characterized by strength, folding endurance, resistance to penetration by water, flexibility durability and resistance to abrasion.

Lay Flat An adhesive material with good non-curling and non-characteristics.

Legging Legging can be exhibited when unwinding a roll, or in the end-use application. When peeling back adhesive backed products, one can witness the adhesive bonding to both the end use, and laminated materials. When this occurs, the adhesive strings between both materials upon removal. In an end-use application, legging can be the result of Plasticizer migration. In a roll of tape, legging can be the result of an inadequate release system.

Letterpress Printing Printing process in which ink is applied to a surface from portions of rigid printing plates or type.

Lifting Refers to the condition when a tape, on its own accord comes away from the surface to which it was applied.

Liner Side In roll form it is referred to that side of the roll protected by the release liner.

Luster Gloss of a finish.

M

Machine Coated Paper which is coated one or two sides on a paper machine.

Machine Direction The direction of paper parallel to its forward movement on paper machine.

Machine Finish The finish applied on the paper machine. The finish is in a wove or laid design and is between Vellum and English finish in smoothness. The finish is commonly referred to as MF (machine finish).

Magenta One of the four primary colors for printing. One of the subtractive primaries the hue of which is used for one of the four color process inks. It reflects blue and red light and absorbs light.

Mandrel The core around which paper, fabric, or resin-impregnated fibrous glass is wound to form pipes or tubes. In extrusion, the central finger of a pipe or tubing die.

Mandrel Hold The ability to adhere to a curved or tight radius surface. Mandrel hold is the resistance to “Fflag” or “wing up”.

Mass Sometimes used as another name for the adhesive.

Matrix Ladder, skeleton, waste. The face and adhesive layers of a sensitive construction surrounding a die-cut label which have been removed after die-cutting.

Matte Finish A dull finish. A deglossed surface.

Mechanical Pulp In papermaking, groundwood pulp produced by mechanically grinding logs or wood chips. It is used mainly for newsprint and as an ingredient of base stock for lower grade publication papers.

Memory The property of a material that attempts to return to its original dimensions after being distorted.

Metallized Film A plastic or resinous film that has been coated on one side with a very thin layer of metal.

Migration The movement of one or more of the components of a pressure-sensitive adhesive to either a substrate or face material; the movement of one or more of the components of either or both the face material and the substrate into the adhesive and ink.

Mils Used in describing adhesive coat weights, thickness. The term means thousandths of an inch.

Minimum Application Temperature The lowest temperature at which an adhesive will function.

Moisture Content Percent moisture. The moisture present in a material, as determined by specified methods.

Moisture Resistant That property of a sheet which resists uptake or passage of moisture. Usually achieved by adding sizing.

Monomer The basic building block from which a polymer chain is made. Many monomer molecules are chemically joined to make up the polymer.

Mottle Non-uniform coloring, coating or printing of a face material.

N

Natural Colored Applied to papers whose colors result from the nature of the stock used when no bleach or coloring has been added. In the case of kraft, its natural color is a tan or light brown.

Natural Resins The products obtained from the exudations of trees and sometimes used as adhesive, coatings or sealer bases. Common natural resins are the copals, damar, shellac accroides, sandarac, rosin and mastic.

Natural Rubber Derived from the latex of rubber trees. It imparts tack and adhesion properties to pressure-sensitive adhesives.

Non-Blocking Pertaining to an applied adhesive to itself and or other surfaces under normal stacked storage conditions.

Non-Impact Printing This encompasses various print processes including Thermal (direct and indirect), Ink Jet and Toner.

Non-Oriented Film Film which has not been subject to stress to align the polymer chains and improve properties.

Non-Woven Materials Random interlocked paper tissues or synthetics bonded to each other with heat pressure or resinous materials.

Nylon A strong plastic which can be used as a film with high oil and gas resistance, or used as filament in strapping tapes, with high impact resistance.

O

Offset Set-off. A defect characterized by the partial transference of ink from a freshly printed surface to an adjacent surface as that of another sheet of paper.

Offset Printing A process of indirect printing in which an impression of type or a design on a flat plate is printed on a rubber blanketed cylinder from which it is impressed.

Olefins A group of unsaturated hydrocarbons of the general formula CnH2n and named after the corresponding paraffins by the addition of “ene” or “ylene” to the stem. Examples are ethylene and propylene.

Oozing A “squeezing out” of the adhesive from under the backing, occurring when the tape is in roll form, the edges of the roll become tacky.

Opacity That property of a paper or film which prevents “show through” of dark printing on or in contact with the backside of the sheet. This is opposite of transparency.

Opaque Ink An ink that conceals all color beneath it.

Orange Peel A pebbled appearance of a surface. Small, rounded hills and valleys caused by uneven liquid flow in coating or printing.

Orientation The alignment of the crystalline structure in polymeric materials so as to produce a highly uniform structure. Can be accomplished by cold drawing or stretching during fabrication.

Outgas Vaporization of a solid or liquid under heat. Outgassing can occur in some plastics and insufficiently dried plants, resulting in adhesive failure of films applied over them.

Overcoating In extrusion coating, the practice of extruding a web beyond the edge of the substrate.

Overlaminating Application of clear film to a graphic for the purpose of protection or to enhance the graphic quality.

Overlap Wrap-around labeling of a container in which one end of the label overlaps the other.

Oxidation The chemical reaction involving the process of combining with oxygen to form an oxide; the deterioration of an adhesive film due to atmospheric exposure; the breakdown of a hot melt adhesive due to prolonged heating and oxide formation.

P

Pallet A portable platform device onto which paper can be loaded for storage and/or transporting.

Paper A homogeneous formation of primarily cellulose fibers which are formed in water suspension on the machine wire and bound together by weaving of the fibers and by bonding agents.

Pattern Coating Refers to the width and spacing arrangement of adhesive laid down parallel to machine direction, across the width of a pressure-sensitive stock, during its manufacturing.

Pattern Gum An adhesive coating that alternates strips of adhesive/no adhesive parallel to the machine direction. The areas of no adhesive are frequently used as “lift-tabs” for order-picking type labels.

Pattern Release Selectively applying alternating strips of release coating/no release coating in a machine direction pattern that results in a permanent facestock/release liner bond in the non-release coated areas.

Peel Adhesion Adhesion strength. Peel adhesion is the force required to move a pressure-sensitive label from a standard test panel at a specified angle and speed after the label has been applied to the test panel under specified conditions.

Penetration Bleed through. Change of appearance of the face material due to movement of one or more components from the adhesive or the substrate.

Perforation Series of small cuts made in labels and/or their release liner to facilitate tearing along a predetermined line.

Permanent Adhesive An adhesive characterized by having relatively high ultimate adhesion to a wide variety of surfaces.

Pick That quality of paper as it relates to the tendency of fibers or particles to be pulled away from the sheet surface when removed from tacky surfaces such as printing plates.

Picking The lifting of the paper surface during printing. It occurs when pulling force (tack) of ink is greater than surface strength of paper.

Pigment In printing inks, the fine solid particles used to give color, body or opacity.

Plastic One of many high-polymeric substances, including both natural and synthetic products, but excluding the rubbers. Plastic is capable of flowing and pressure or tensile stress, if necessary, into the desired final shape.

Plasticizer Softener. A substance added to materials to impart flexibility, workability and elongation.

Plasticizer Migration Loss of plasticizer from an elastomeric compound that is absorbed into the adhesive. The result is a softening of the adhesive to the point of adhesion failure.

Plate Cylinder The cylinder of a press on which the plate is mounted.

Pli-A-Print Latex-impregnated, flexible stock suitable for exposure to moisture.

Polyester A strong film having good resistance to moisture, solvents, oils and many other chemicals. It is usually transparent.

Polyethylene An extruded, tough stretchy film having limited temperature resistance but good moisture barrier properties.

Polymer A complex, relatively large, molecule produced by the reaction of a simpler compound with itself. Usually refers to synthesized organic resins, but may also refer to natural materials, such as starch, sugar, cellulose, and natural rubber.

Polymerization The chemical reaction by a catalyst, heat, light or electron radiation in which relatively small molecules link up to form a macromolecule.

Polypropylene A polyolefin plastic similar in properties to polyethylene but with higher temperature capability and greater strength.

Polystyrene A water-white thermoplastic produced by the polymerization of styrene. The electrical insulation properties of polystyrene are outstandingly good and the material is relatively unaffected by moisture.

Polythene Trade name for polyethylene available in films or as custom molded articles.

Porosity The density of the adherent surface, the property of adhesive absorption by the adherent surface.

Post Cure The phenomenon peculiar to radiation curing. Whereas, exposure to ultraviolet radiation will continue to react chemically for a period of minutes to hours after exposure.

Pot Life The time period during which the adhesive remains workable before coating. Some of the phenomenons that can occur are gell particles, thickening, and foaming.

Premask (Application tape, transfer tape) Pressure-sensitive tape used to transfer a cut graphic from its liner to the substrate.

Press (Paper) A pair of rolls between which the web of paper is carried on the felt for the removal of water by the application of pressure before the web enters the dry end of the paper machine.

Pressure-Sensitive A term used to designate a distinct category of adhesive which, in dry (solvent free) form, is aggressive and permanent or removable at room temperature and adheres to a variety of surfaces without the need of more than finger or hand pressure. Requires no activation by water, solvent or heat and has sufficient cohesive strength so it can be handled with the fingers.

R

Radiation Sterilization using either gamma rays or an electron beam to destroy micro-organisms. Radiation sterilization normally takes place in a sealed irradiator unit.

Rate of Set The time required for an adhesive, under a specific set of conditions to arrive at a fiber tearing bond.

Ream Five hundred sheets of paper.

Recycle Ground material from flasit and trimmings which after mixing with a certain amount of virgin material is fed back into the blow mold machine.

Register The exact corresponding placement of successively printed and/or successively die-cut pressure-sensitive labels.

Release The force required to remove the release liner from the facestock at a specified speed and angle.

Release Coat Release lacquer. The release liner treatment material that allows pressure-sensitive labels to release from the release liner.

Release Liner Backing. Liner lining. The portion of the label that receives the release coating. Prior to application, it protects the adhesive and provides support for the facestock during the die cutting operation and allows the label to be transported to a label applicator or through a computer printer.

Release (Mold) A substance applied to pressure-sensitive labels so as to prevent sticking when the molded object is removed from the press or mold.

Removable Adhesive A pressure-sensitive adhesive characterized by low ultimate adhesion to a wide variety of surfaces, that can be removed without damage to either the label or the substrate.

Repositioning The relamination of labels to a different location on the backing paper following die cutting.

Residue Adhesive left on a substrate when a label is removed.

Resilience Capability of a sealer or coating to return to its original size and shape after deformation.

Resin A general term applied to natural and synthetic polymers, amorphous in structure and without fixed melting point characteristic.

Reverse Roll Coating The coating is premetered between rolls and then wiped off on the web. The amount of coating is controlled by the metering gap and also by the speed of rotation of the coating roll.

Rewind Slit A slitting process where a roll of tape is unwound and run through a set of shear or score knives to be slit and then wound up into individual rolls.

Rewinder A machine which takes rolls from the winder, slits or rewinds into smaller rolls.

Rewinding The operation of winding the paper from the reel on to a core to produce rolls of the desired width, diameter and tension.

Rotary Press A printing press using plates formed to fit rolls and using paper in continuous rolls. Newspapers use rotary presses.

Rubber Base Adhesive A pressure-sensitive adhesive based on natural or synthetic rubbers.

S

SAFT Shear Adhesion Failure Temperature. This test measures the cohesive strength of a product when subjected to heat. A shear test is conducted in an oven that gradually and continuously rises in temperature. The temperature at which the product finally fails is called its SAFT temperature.

Scanner An electronic device used in the making of color and tone corrected color separations.

Screen Printing A method of printing in which the ink is forced through the image area of a properly stretched fabric, by the use of a squeegee, or in some cases air pressure directly on to the substrate to be printed.

Sealer Continuous film that prevents the passage of liquids or gaseous media: a high-bodied adhesive generally of low cohesive strength to fill voids of various sizes to prevent passage of liquid or gaseous media.

Self-Wound A roll material with a single liner which is coated on both sides with a release lacquer and a carrier having pressure-sensitive adhesive on both sides.

Self Extinguishing A somewhat loosely used term describing the ability of a material to cease burning once the source of flame has been removed.

Service Temperature The temperature range that a PS label will withstand after a 24 hour residence time on the substrate. The range is expressed in degrees Fahrenheit.

Set The interval of time required for adhesive bonding; relative bonding speed of an adhesive material.

Set-Off In presswork, when the ink of a printed sheet rubs off or marks the next sheet as it is being delivered. Also called offset.

Shear Adhesion The time required, under specified test condition, to slide a standard area of pressure-sensitive label from a standard flat surface in a direction parallel to the surface.

Shear Cutter A slitting machine that slits tape with two rotating knives duplicating a scissor action.

Shear Strength Internal or cohesive strength of the adhesive.

Shear Test A method of separating two adhesive bonded materials by forcing (either by compression or tension) the interfaces to slide over each other. The force exerted is distributed over the entire bonded area at the same time. Strengths are recorded in pounds per square inch.

Sheeting Process whereby rolls of PS base stock are converted into sheets of finished labels by cutting them to the desired length in the sheeting stations on a rotary press.

Shelf-Life Storage life. The period of time during which a product can be stored under specified conditions and still remain suitable for use.

Shives Uncooked wood particles which show up in the finished sheet.

Shrink Wrapping A technique of packaging in which the strains in a plastic film are released by raising the temperature of the film thus causing it to shrink over the package.

Shrinkage Reduction in any dimension of a tape.

Silicone A unique polymer system which can be a very effective release coating, or pressure-sensitive adhesive capable of functioning effectively at extreme temperatures.

Silicone Adhesive Adhesive compounds of this base have remarkable stability through a wide temperature range. Chief limitations in use are their high temperature cure, sensitivity to and aromatic fuels and relatively high cost.

Single-Faced The adhesive is applied to one side of the backing only. Most pressure-sensitive tapes are of this type.

Size A chemical substance, such as rosin or a synthetic polymer, coated on an adherent surface so as to reduce water absorption, scuffing, and oil penetration.

Sizing See SIZE.

Slip Sheet A release treated sheet used to protect the edges of rolls from sticking to each other while stacked.

Slitter A sharp disk which cuts paper into pre-determined widths.

Smoothness The relative flatness of the tape backing.

Smoothness Test The relative smoothness of a sheet is determined in an instrument, which under close control, measures the length of time for a specified volume of air to pass the surfaces of the samples being tested. The result is expressed in seconds and fractions.

Smudge Resistance Smear Resistance. Resistance of a printed paper surface to ink blurring or smearing and thus related to the absorption of the paper.

Solid Gum The use of 100% adhesive coverage on a pressure-sensitive material.

Solvent A chemical substance capable of dissolving another material; a liquid used to clean adhesive contamination from machine parts.

T

Tack Quick adhesion. The property of a pressure-sensitive label which causes it to adhere to a surface instantly with a minimum of pressure and contact time as measured by TLM Tester or equivalent equipment.

Tack Range The time during which an adhesive film remains tacky.

Tackifier A material such as rosin ester added to synthetic resins or adhesives to improve the initial tack of the adhesive film.

Tamper Proof Label Destructive label. A pressure-sensitive construction made with a face material having a low strength so that attempted removal of a label made from this stock will usually result in destruction of the label.

Tape Usually gummed paper in strip form and wound on spools for use.

TAPPI Technical Association of the Paper and Pulp Industry.

Tear Strength The force required to tear a specimen under standardized conditions in an instrument designed to simulate in a general way the tearing encountered under use conditions.

Tearing Breaking or slivering of a tape during unwind.

Telescoping A sideways sliding of the tape layers, one over the other, such that the roll looks like a funnel or telescope.

Tensile Strength The force parallel to the plane of the specimen required to break a given width and length of paper under specified conditions.

Thermal Adjective describing the effects of temperature or heat, e.g. thermal effects.

Thermal Transfer A thermal printing process utilizing a temperature sensitive ribbon that through heat and pressure is selectively transferred to a printable surface thus creating the desired image. The ink is transferred from the ribbon to the print surface thus the term “thermal transfer.”

Thermoplastic A substance capable of being melted by means of heat repeatedly.

Thermoplastic Adhesives Adhesives which become softer as temperature increases, regardless of the number of heating cycles to which they are exposed.

Thermosetting Adhesives An adhesive coating that becomes rigid or non-meltable when heated with or without pressure and remains set regardless of subsequent temperature cycles.

Thickness Caliper. Distance from one surface of either a tape backing, or adhesive, to the other, usually expressed in mils or thousands of an inch. This is usually measured under slight pressure with a special gauge.

Tie Coat One layer of a coating system used to improve the adhesion of adjacent or succeeding coats.

Tissue Typically referred to as a carrier in a double coated product. A tissue carrier can make slitting and die cutting easier, by preventing adhesive flow. Tissue differs from film carriers in that it does allow for some elongation and permits more conformability.

Titanium Dioxide A white pigment manufactured from titanium ores and used as such or mixed with barium or calcium sulphate as a loading or coating material. These are characterized by great whiteness and brightness. Also used as a paint pigment.

Toner Imaging material used in electrophotography. In inks, dye used to tone printing inks, especially black.

Tooth A characteristic of paper, a slightly rough finish, which permits it to take ink readily.

Toxicity A term referring to the physiological effect of absorbing a poisonous substance into the system, either through the skin, mucous membrane or respiratory system.

Transfer Normally refers to “adhesive transfer.” Any tape component which moves from its proper place to some other position during unwind or removal.

Transfer Tape A pressure-sensitive adhesive unsupported applied to a two-sided release coated liner.

Translucency Ability to transmit light without being transparent.

Transparency That property of a material which transmits light rays so that objects can be distinctly seen through the specimen.

Transparent Label A pressure-sensitive label whose face material, adhesive and protective coatings, transmit light so that objects can be seen through.

Tunneling A condition occurring in completely bonded laminates, characterized by release of longitudinal portions of the substrates and deformation of these portions to form tunnel-like structures.

U

Ultimate Adhesion The maximum adhesion available from a pressure-sensitive adhesive, determined by the force necessary to remove a strip of tape from a surface after an extended period of time.

Ultimate Strength Term used to describe the maximum unit stress a material will withstand when subjected to an applied load in a compression, tension, or shear.

Ultra-Violet Letterpress An abbreviation describing the process whereby ultra-violet curable inks are printed via the rotary letterpress process.

Ultra-Violet Resistance (UV) The ability of a material to withstand extended exposure to sunlight (ultra-violet) without degradation, hardening or excessive discoloration.

Ultra-Violet (UV) Zone of invisible radiations beyond the violet end of the spectrum of visible radiation.

Unbleached A term applied to paper or pulp which has not been treated with bleaching agents.

Unsized A term applied to papers to which no sizing has been added.

Untrimmed Paper cut by slitters with the grain and by rotary cutters across the grain on a sheeting machine. This is less accurate and smooth than guillotine cutting.

Unwind The force required to remove tape from the roll.

Unwind Adhesion The force required to remove the tape from the roll under prescribed conditions.

Unwind Side That side of the tape which is exposed as it is unwound from a roll.

UV Ultra Violet light. UV is an important factor to consider when choosing an adhesive. UV can degrade some adhesives with extended exposure.

V

Varnish Over-lacquer. A solution or suspension of one or more materials forming a protective or decorative film by oxidation, polymerization, or evaporation.

Vinyl or PVC Plasticized Poly-Vinyl Chloride. A tough durable plastic film having excellent resistance to oils, chemicals and many solvents. It has excellent abrasion-resistance.

Viscosity In printing inks, a broad term encompassing the properties of tack and flow.

Void An uncoated area of either the adhesive or release coating of the tape.

W

Water Absorption The measure of the amount of water which will be soaked in.

Water Finish (Steam Finish) A high glossy finish produced by moistening one or both sides of the paper as it passes through the calender stack.

Watermark In papermaking, a design impressed on paper by the raised pattern of the dandy roll during manufacture.

Waterproof A relative term applied to papers which have been heavily treated or laminated to resist moisture.

Wax Coating The operation of applying a coating of paraffin or other wax to a sheet of paper.

Weatherability The capability of a pressure-sensitive label to withstand the effects of weather.

Weaving A poorly wound roll of tape in which the individual layers of tape are not in alignment with the other layers.

Web A continuous sheet of pliable manufactured material.

Web Tension The amount of pull or tension applied in the direction of travel of a web of paper by the action of a web-fed press.

Webbing A condition of uneven adhesive transfer characterized by stringing of the adhesive from the applicator mechanism and the formation of dried adhesive film which clings to the applicator parts.

Wet-Strength The tensile strength of paper if it is wetted after manufacture. Wet strength is increased by adding certain synthetic resins to the furnish.

Wet Tensile Strength The tensile strength of a specimen of paper after it has been wetted with water under specified conditions. The wet strength may be of a more or less temporary nature, as in paper towels and tissues of a more permanent nature, as in bag papers, cookery parchment etc., where the paper is in contact with water for longer period of time.

Wetting The ability of an adhesive to flow uniformly over the laminated surface to which it is bonded.

Wicking Tendency of a liquid to travel through paper.

Winder Equipment located at the dry end of the paper machine to take the web from the reel, trim off the edges, wind into firm rolls and slit into several rolls if desired.

Wire Side That side of a paper which has come into contact with the wire of the paper machine during the process of manufacture

With the Grain Folding or feeding paper into a press parallel to the grain of the paper.

Wrap-Around Label Label that extends completely around bottle or can.

Wrinkles Distortion in the material represented by creases which interrupt the continuous, smooth nature of the web. Wrinkles can be encountered running in any direction on the web.

Y

Yellowing Defect manifested by a gradual color change in the original appearance of a pressure-sensitive label characterized by the development of yellowish and brownish hues.