Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2026-04-06 Origin: Site
Have you ever noticed the smooth texture when you tear off the label of a beverage bottle? Have you seen the small removable circular labels on fruits in the supermarket? Have you received the transport labels on delivery packages that can be peeled off directly? These seemingly insignificant details all hide a common protagonist - self-adhesive tape.
This low-key industrial product is quietly infiltrating into every corner of our lives. From the sticky notes on your desk, to the huge advertisements in the shopping malls; from the instructions on the medicine bottles, to the dashboard of the cars; from the price tags on the supermarket shelves, to the warranty stickers on electronic products. Self-adhesive, this "paper with glue", is staging a revolution in the world of stickers.
Self-adhesive material, scientifically known as self-adhesive label material, is a composite material made of paper, film or special materials.
The backside is coated with adhesive, and the bottom paper is coated with silicone to protect. In simple terms, it is a material that can be easily stuck and used immediately.
Self-adhesive three-layer structure:
Material: Determines the final use and appearance of the label. It can be coated paper, thermal paper, PET, PVC, etc.
Adhesive: The core technology lies here. Permanent, removable, freeze-grade, high-temperature resistant... Different formulations cater to different needs.
Backsheet: A protective layer coated with silicone oil, which ensures that the label does not stick randomly before being removed, and protects the glue from contamination.
Self-adhesive paper: The most common type. Coated paper is suitable for ordinary product labels, thermal paper is the preferred choice for express labels and supermarket weighing labels, and writing paper is used for price tags and office purposes.
Film self-adhesive: PE (polyethylene) is soft and resistant to compression, suitable for shampoo bottles; PP (polypropylene) has high transparency and is suitable for "label-free" mineral water bottles; PET (polyester) is stiff and resistant to high temperatures, suitable for electronic products; PVC (polyvinyl chloride) has strong weather resistance and is the favorite for outdoor advertising.
Many people mistakenly believe that self-adhesive is simply "a sticker with glue", but this is only its surface form. In essence, it is a multi-layer composite material. In the industry, it is also commonly referred to as self-adhesive labels, instant stickers, or back-attached stickers. In simple terms, the core definition of self-adhesive is: a composite sticker with a self-adhesive coating on the back, which does not require additional application of glue or water, and can be directly adhered by removing the protective backing paper. It has the characteristics of convenience, stable adhesion, and strong adaptability. It can be customized in shape, size, and function according to needs, and is suitable for different usage requirements in various scenarios.
The reason why it can achieve "easy sticking and long-lasting adhesion" lies in the three-layer composite structure of the self-adhesive material. These three layers are interdependent and indispensable, jointly determining the stickiness, durability and application scenarios of the self-adhesive material. The detailed breakdown is as follows:
The face material is the outermost layer of the self-adhesive material and is also the core carrier that we can see with our naked eyes and that can print text and patterns. It is equivalent to the "outer coat" of the self-adhesive material. Its main function is to carry information and decorative effects, while protecting the underlying adhesive coating. The material selection directly determines the applicable scenarios of the self-adhesive material. The common face materials include the following types: coated paper, which has high cost performance and is suitable for ordinary printing, often used for supermarket price tags and basic product labels; PET film, which is waterproof, scratch-resistant, and heat-resistant, suitable for outdoor, cosmetics, and electronics scenarios, such as skincare product bottle labels and electronic product identifiers; BOPP film, which has high transparency and strong toughness, suitable for scenarios that require the display of the object's appearance, such as labels on transparent packaging; synthetic paper, which is waterproof, tear-resistant, and has strong weather resistance, suitable for complex environments such as logistics and outdoor; kraft paper, which is environmentally friendly and has good texture, suitable for retro-style labels and packaging sealing stickers.
Adhesives are the key to achieving the stickiness of self-adhesive materials, equivalent to the "heart" of self-adhesive products. They directly determine the stickiness strength, durability and usage effect of self-adhesive materials. According to the stickiness requirements and usage scenarios, adhesives are mainly divided into three categories, which are suitable for different sticking needs: First, permanent glue, with extremely strong stickiness. After sticking, it is not easy to fall off or peel off, and is suitable for scenarios that require long-term fixation, such as product labels, industrial equipment identification, and anti-counterfeiting labels; Second, removable glue, with moderate stickiness. After sticking, it can be easily removed without leaving residue on the object surface, and is suitable for temporary sticking and scenarios that require replacement, such as notebook stickers, temporary notices, and exhibition labels; Third, special function glue, designed for special scenarios, such as high-temperature and low-temperature resistant glue, suitable for high-temperature workshops and outdoor low-temperature environments; Oil-resistant glue, suitable for food and machinery scenarios where contact with oil is required; Waterproof glue, suitable for daily care and outdoor scenarios where contact with water is involved, ensuring that the labels do not fall off or become blurry.
The backing paper, also known as release paper, is the bottom layer of self-adhesive material. Its main function is to protect the adhesive in the middle layer, preventing it from adhering to dust and impurities before use. At the same time, it makes it convenient for the self-adhesive to be stored in rolls, printed, cut, and labeled. The backing paper usually consists of paper or film with a release agent, which is lightweight, moderately tough, and easy to tear without adhering to the adhesive, ensuring that we can easily peel off the backing paper when using it, quickly complete the sticking process, and without affecting the adhesive's stickiness. Common backing papers include ordinary release paper and silicone oil release paper. Among them, silicone oil release paper has a better release effect and is suitable for self-adhesives with strong stickiness.
In conclusion, self-adhesive labels are not a single material. Instead, they are a composite structure consisting of "surface material + adhesive + backing paper". It is precisely the perfect combination of these three materials that enables them to eliminate the cumbersome process of "gluing and pasting" of traditional labels, becoming a convenient and efficient identification carrier, and being widely used in various fields.
