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There's a Duck in My Duct!

Published: December 31, 2003, By David J. Bentley Jr., RBS Technologies
Duck tape generally is a clear plastic film using an equally clear polyacrylate pressure-sensitive adhesive. It has use in packaging and protective applications. Duct tape frequently is a gray cloth-like material with a very aggressive rubber-based p-s backing. It finds use for many miscellaneous applications.

Exercising Environmental Responsibility: Part 3

Published: December 01, 2003, By David J. Bentley Jr., RBS Technologies
The columns appearing in this space for the past two months presented instances in which people were not being environmentally responsible in their jobs.

Exercising Environmental Responsibility: Part 2

Published: October 31, 2003, By David J. Bentley Jr., RBS Technologies
The column in this space last month presented two examples that indicated a lack of environmental responsibility. Unfortunately, numerous other examples exist. Chemical bashing is very popular today. Many people automatically assume that anything chemical is bad.

Exercising Environmental Responsibility: Part 1

Published: October 01, 2003, By David J. Bentley Jr., RBS Technologies
As a concerned user of a particular consumer product, I used the toll-free telephone number recently to contact the manufacturer. The friendly voice that

Permanent & Removable Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives

Published: August 01, 2003, By David J. Bentley Jr., RBS Technologies
An intriguing aspect of pressure-sensitive adhesives is the wide variety available. They come in different forms for application as solutions in solvent,

An Innovative Approach to Coloring Adhesives & Coatings

Published: July 01, 2003, By David J. Bentley Jr., RBS Technologies
In the April 2003 issue, this column (Do You Really Want to Color That Adhesive or Coating?) explained that coloring adhesives and coatings often is not

Defoamers or Antifoamers? How Best to Combat Foam

Published: June 01, 2003, By David J. Bentley Jr., RBS Technologies
In the war against foam that often is waged when using aqueous coatings and adhesives, the first line of defense simply might be a dictionary. The battle

Despite Problems, China Presents Hot Market for Packaging

Published: May 01, 2003, By David J. Bentley Jr., RBS Technologies
Often called a sleeping giant in the past, China certainly has stirred from its slumber and awakened in many areas. In the approximately 25 years since

Controlling Color Change in Adhesives and Coatings

Published: March 01, 2003, By David J. Bentley Jr., RBS Technologies
The column in this space last month discussed color in adhesives and coatings with emphasis on avoiding color during the manufacture of the products.

Colorful Adhesives and Coatings? Probably Not a Good Idea

Published: February 01, 2003, By David J. Bentley Jr., RBS Technologies
Most people have color preferences. My favorite color is black. Some individuals have very strong feelings about their favorite color. A granddaughter

It's a New YearTime to Ask, What Does the Future Hold?

Published: January 01, 2003, By David J. Bentley Jr., RBS Technologies
January is always a good time for introspection or reflection. The month is an excellent opportunity for assessing past accomplishments or failings, resolving to improve, and guessing about the future.

Is Your Laboratory Safe?

Published: December 01, 2002, By David J. Bentley Jr., RBS Technologies
The popular press did not cover it, but the March 18 issue of Chemical & Engineering News reported an unusual incident at the University of Texas, San

In the Converting Industry, an Audit Can Be a Good Thing

Published: November 01, 2002, By David J. Bentley Jr., RBS Technologies
In the US one word almost certainly will bring feelings of apprehension and fear to everyone. That word is audit. Mention of the word causes visions of

Halloween Is Coming: PSA Ghosts Can Be Pretty Scary

Published: October 01, 2002, By David J. Bentley Jr., RBS Technologies
October is an exciting month. In many areas Mother Nature creates an amazing display of colors. The weather is often ideal without the extreme hot and

More Food for Thought

Published: September 01, 2002, By David J. Bentley Jr., RBS Technologies
A few months ago the column in this space addressed the use of edible wraps. It discussed a new edible film made at the Agricultural Research Service

Knowing Your Limitations Can Accentuate Your Strengths

Published: August 01, 2002, By David J. Bentley Jr., RBS Technologies
A baby can place a big toe into his or her mouth. Adults usually cannot accomplish this feat. Mathematicians can solve differential equations. Many accomplished

Compliance Monitoring: Finding a Middle Ground

Published: July 01, 2002, By David J. Bentley Jr., RBS Technologies
The good old days is a phrase that means something different to everyone. People usually use the term in a nostalgic sense looking for a return to previous

Medical Packaging and Its Special Needs

Published: June 01, 2002, By David J. Bentley Jr., RBS Technologies
Medical packaging has many applications today. They range from a simple unit dose plastic package that might contain two aspirin tablets to a plastic

The Good and Bad Sides of Offset Powder

Published: May 01, 2002, By David J. Bentley, Jr., RBS Technologies
Many things in everyday life can be good or bad, depending on circumstance and use. We need food to sustain ourselves, but too much leads to obesity and

A Day in the Lives of Some Very Smart Packages

Published: April 01, 2002, By David J. Bentley Jr., RBS Technologies
The date is April 1. The location is a typical home. It could be almost anywhere. The time is 4:30 A.M., too early for the family occupying the home to

Would You Eat That? Some Readers Say No to Edible Film

Published: March 01, 2002, By David J. Bentley, Jr., RBS Technologies
Many people have eating habits that preclude foods they do not like and will not eat. Escargot and octopus are two examples of foods that commonly are

Overcoats Offer Protection (and You Don't Have to Button Up)

Published: February 01, 2002, By David J. Bentley Jr., RBS Technologies
Printed paper is a key ingredient in many packages and labels. And whether the printing provides information, graphics, or both, it has to be protected.

Fundamentals Keep the Converting Industry Strong

Published: January 01, 2002, By David J. Bentley Jr., RBS Technologies
Everyone is keenly aware of the disappearance of so many supposedly promising dot.com organizations. Fortunately, this has not occurred in the converting

Will We Soon be Eating the Film Along with the Food?

Published: December 01, 2001, By David J. Bentley Jr., RBS Technologies
The May issue of TECHNOLOGY REVIEW had a brief article with the heading Edible Wraps. It described a new edible film made at the Agricultural Research

Orange Peel in a Coating Is Not Very Tasty

Published: November 01, 2001, By David J. Bentley Jr., RBS Technologies
A friend talking about orange peel recently said he preferred his with a dark chocolate coating! Sounds delicious, but orange peel is actually a phenomenon

Crosslinking Agents Can Improve Physical Properties

Published: October 01, 2001, By Richard M. Podhajny, Ph.D., Contributing Editor
One of the key areas of ink/coating formulation is the use of crosslinking additives to improve physical resistance properties, such as ink adhesion and

The Miracle of Coextrusion Makes Believers of Many

Published: September 01, 2001, By David J. Bentley, Jr., RBS Technologies
Coextrusion has allowed converters to make different constructions using alternate materials for new applications. Since its introduction only a few decades

Tamper-Evident, Tamper-Proof Packaging Part of Life Today

Published: July 01, 2001, By David J. Bentley Jr., RBS Technologies

A tamper-proof package, i.e., one that could never be opened, would mean no one could tamper with the cookies, but no one could eat them either!

What Is Converting? It Helps to Ask That Simple Question

Published: June 01, 2001, By David J. Bentley Jr., RBS Technologies
Converting is unwinding a roll of relatively thin material, processing it in some fashion, and then rewinding it into a roll (unless it has been sheeted).

The Sweet Smell of Success in Coatings and Adhesives

Published: May 01, 2001, By David J. Bentley Jr., RBS Technologies

Contamination is a frequent cause of odor in adhesives and coatings applied to a substrate. This normally occurs inadvertantly in the facilities of the formulator or at the converting plant.

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