What is the purpose of release paper?
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1. What is release paper?
Release paper is a product with a tacky substrate (pressure sensitive adhesive) until it is ready for the next step. Sometimes referred to as "carrier" or "backing" paper/film, release paper can hold or carry the adhesive substrate until whatever it is carrying is ready to be released.
Release papers can be film-based, paper-based, multi-coated paper-based, or even have a unique substrate, such as a metallized paper/film as its substrate. Release liner substrates are typically coated with silicone, which allows whatever the liner is carrying to be released in due course. However, this release can also be achieved by non-silicone coatings or even surface properties of the substrate that do not require a coating at all. These are highly specialized release liners.
2. Where do I use release liner?
Release liners are typically used in two ways.
- They carry and protect self-adhesive products intended to be applied to another surface later (e.g., bottle labels)
- They carry and protect materials that require release properties, or they separate two separate surfaces
Separation liners are often a key feature of layered structures.
However, although they are considered very important materials and key components for delivery and application performance, they are eventually disposed of and are therefore sometimes considered low-value process components.
3. Release paper applications
Companies can use many different types of liners depending on the desired end product, budget and preference.
To produce most types of liners, workers apply a layer of silicone to one or both sides of the substrate. However, while most companies use silicone coated release liners, others use specialized materials depending on the needs of their products.
The following are some of the most effective types of release liners.
Polypropylene liners provide higher strength due to their biaxial orientation, resulting in high tensile strength and dimensional stability. These liners are available in different thicknesses.
High-density polyethylene liners have higher heat resistance than other liner types. They are also available in different thicknesses according to customer specifications.
Polyester liners are more heat resistant and tougher than all other liners, so many heavy-duty applications rely on them for added support.
Paper liners are one of the most cost effective lining solutions available. They offer a wide range of bond strengths, from low adhesion for sticker rolls and displays to high adhesion for home and vehicle insulation.
These categories contain many sub-varieties and include many different types of materials. For example, paper release liner includes supercalendered kraft paper for U.S. labels, which differs from Grassin paper, which incorporates a PVOH polyvinyl alcohol coating on top and appears on European labels.
Over the years, peel-off liners have made great strides in their manufacture and application. For example, the medical industry relies on them to make wound dressings, EKG monitors and skin patches. The shipping and mailing industries use liners to better seal packages, and homes and vehicles use them to separate insulating materials.
4. Isolation liners are used in a variety of applications and fields.
Labeling
Graphics Film
magnetic tapes
health
Medical
Industrial (electronics, building and construction, composites)
Envelopes
Food and bakery