Glue & Adhesive Coat Weight Moisture
Overview
Accurate coating weight control is critical in the manufacturing of glue- and adhesive-based products, including pressure-sensitive labels, laminates, packaging films, tapes, bookbinding adhesives, corrugated bonding glues, and industrial sealants.
Coating weight directly influences bond strength and adhesion performance, product flexibility and tack, dry time and curing uniformity, surface smoothness and functional coating behavior, and waste, line speed, and energy consumption. Excess adhesive increases material cost, slows drying, and causes blocking or over-bonding. Too little adhesive leads to weak bonds, delamination, edge lift, and premature product failure.
MoistTech’s IR-3000 NIR sensor provides direct, real-time measurement of wet or dry coating weight and moisture, enabling precise control of adhesive application at production speeds exceeding 1,000 m/min.
Why Measure Moisture
Accurate, real-time moisture monitoring delivers multiple process and product benefits.
Quality Assurance
Energy Efficiency
Reduce Waste
Process Stability
RECOMMENDED MEASUREMENT LOCATIONS
Substrate Infeed Moisture Check
Before adhesive is applied to paper, film, foil, fabric, or board, the incoming substrate moisture must be stable. Moisture imbalance affects:
- Adhesive penetration
- Bond uniformity
- Curing/setting times
Typical substrate moisture ranges: 2–8%, depending on material.
Wet Adhesive Application
This is a crucial point of measurement. The IR-3000 can monitor:
- Wet coat weight (gsm)
- Moisture of water-based adhesives
- Thickness uniformity across the web
- Streaking or application voids
Real-time measurement provides closed-loop control of slot-die, gravure, metering rod, curtain, and extrusion coaters.
Post-Dryer / Final Coat Weight Verification
Once the adhesive is dried or cured, final coating weight must remain within tight tolerances to ensure long-term bonding performance. The IR-3000 verifies the final coat weight and ensures:
- Consistent adhesive coverage
- Minimal variability across the web
- Stable tack and bond properties
Understand the Process
Using the IR-3000, you’ll save money throughout the entire production process, while making the best quality product at the same time. With MoistTech, you don’t need to compromise.