Material
Hot Melt Adhesive
Any thermoplastic adhesive that softens and bonds under heat, then re-solidifies on cooling.
Definition
Hot melt adhesive is a thermoplastic bonding compound that softens at elevated temperature, flows under pressure to wet the substrate, and resolidifies on cooling to form a permanent bond. In DTF production the hot melt is a polyamide powder dusted onto wet ink. In heat transfer vinyl and other decorated goods, the hot melt is integrated into the substrate. Hot melt adhesives are activated by a heat press at 285 to 325 F for 10 to 20 seconds. The cooled bond is wash-durable, stretch-tolerant on apparel-grade formulations, and chemically inert to common household detergents.
Related Terms
Polyamide Adhesive
A thermoplastic hot melt powder dusted onto wet DTF ink that bonds the transfer to fabric under heat and pressure.
Heat Press
A machine that applies controlled heat, pressure, and time to bond a transfer to a substrate.
DTF
Direct-to-film transfer printing process used to produce full-color heat-applied graphics for apparel decoration.
Adhesive Backing
A heat-activated bonding layer on the back of a patch that attaches the patch to a garment under a heat press.