- Composite paper tubes for snacks and dry foods need a bond that flexes without cracking. Rigid adhesives simply cannot do the job alone.
- TOPCORE elastic adhesives combine strong penetration with polymer flexibility, creating a joint that withstands pressure and impacts.
- The product is fully certified for indirect food contact and is 100% PFAS-free.
The Challenge: A Bond Must Flex
The paper tube market is growing rapidly, expanding from $11.34 billion in 2025 to a projected $21.61 billion by 2035. With this dynamic growth comes a major challenge for packaging manufacturers: the adhesive must be both exceptionally strong and highly flexible.
Pushing a lid down, stacking pallets, or dropping a parcel during transport—every movement puts stress on the bond line. Traditional rigid adhesives often fail here. They can develop microfractures along the seam, leading to packaging failure and reduced shelf life. The application requires an adhesive that holds fast but bends under pressure.
The TOPCORE Solution
To solve this, we developed a hybrid water-based chemistry. Our elastic adhesives penetrate the paper fibers to create a solid anchor, but they also contain an elastic polymer fraction that prevents the cured film from becoming glass-hard. The result is a strong, reliable joint that bends like an elastomer and does not crack under stress.
This formulation is the successful outcome of a multi-year R&D programme, co-funded by the EU under project CZ.01.01.01/01/22_002/0000869 (“Research and Development of a New Generation of Elastic Adhesives”). It is available in two practical forms:
- Liquid: Plug-and-play, ready for immediate use on the line.
- Powder: Lower transport costs and allows you to tune the viscosity directly on-site.
Where It Makes Sense
- Composite paper tubes for dry food: Ideal for snack tubes, oats, powdered drinks, and coffee packaging where the bond must survive lid manipulation and cold-chain cycling.
- Protective paper edges: Used for furniture and palletised goods. The bond absorbs the impact instead of cracking.
- Paper honeycomb panels: The adhesive absorbs drop-test energy right along with the core.
- Specialty paper packaging: For premium or fragile products where rigid bonds cannot survive transport.
Fully Certified and Safe
Food safety and compliance are critical. TOPCORE’s elastic adhesives are designed specifically for indirect food contact regimes. They comply with European regulations (Framework Regulation (EC) 1935/2004) and industry standards. Statements of Compliance are readily available on request.
Furthermore, our starch-based chemistry contains absolutely no fluorine. This means the adhesive is completely PFAS-free, keeping your packaging compliant well ahead of the upcoming PPWR substance bans.
