Ahlstrom Downsizes Wisconsin Mill Tightening Specialty Paper Base Supply
Ahlstrom closes its Wisconsin pulp mill, squeezing domestic supply of specialty paper base for tape and food packaging.
Adhesive Tape Base
Structural Substrate
Specialized paper or polymer webbing provides the foundational carrier required for the uniform deposition of pressure-sensitive chemical coatings. Commonly referred to as adhesive tape base, this intermediate material determines the dimensional stability and tear resistance of the final product. Processing mills evaluate the substrate based on its surface roughness and porosity to ensure that the chemical emulsion does not bleed through the web during high-speed application.
This prevents the rolls from fusing together when wound under tension, maintaining product integrity throughout the distribution cycle.
Tensile Performance
Tensile strength governs the rate at which the material can be processed through coating machinery without tearing. For adhesive tape base, this physical limit dictates the maximum tension applied during both manufacturing and subsequent winding. Higher tensile capacity prevents machine downtime by ensuring continuous web feeding under fluctuating mechanical loads.
This mechanical reliability reduces operational waste.
Surface Finish
Chemical treatment of the web modifies the surface tension to allow either strong adhesion or clean release depending on the application side. The uncoated side of adhesive tape base receives a release agent while the active side undergoes corona treatment to secure the adhesive layer. These surface modifications must remain stable under varying thermal conditions during drying phases.
Finished reels are shipped to converter plants for adhesive coating.