HERC silicone coating for laminating rollers
In lamination processes for the textile and nonwoven sector, the quality of the bond between materials depends largely on how the roller coating responds to the deformation generated by contact with the counter metal roller. A coating that is slow to recover its original geometry after each pressure cycle causes uneven contact pressure, lamination defects, localized overheating, and premature wear.
To meet this need, we have developed a silicone compound called “HERC” (High Elastic Return Coating), a high elastic return silicone coating designed specifically for laminating rollers used in the production of technical fabrics and nonwovens.
HERC is a silicone compound with high elastic memory: its distinguishing feature is the ability to quickly return to its original shape after each deformation induced by the counter metal roller. This “rapid elastic return” allows the coating to:
- maintain constant contact pressure across the entire working width;
- reduce the mechanical hysteresis phenomenon typical of traditional silicones;
- limit heat generation from cyclic deformation (compression set);
- ensure a uniform response even at the high speeds typical of textile and nonwoven lamination lines.
What truly distinguishes the HERC coating is its dual-layer construction, designed to independently optimize two functions that are often in conflict with one another in traditional single-layer coatings:
- Anchoring layer (inner) Formulated to maximize adhesion to the roller’s metal substrate. This layer ensures stable mechanical and chemical bonding, able to withstand the torsional stresses and cyclic loads typical of continuous lamination, preventing delamination and detachment even after prolonged work cycles.
- Functional layer (outer) Formulated specifically for high elastic return, this is the layer in direct contact with the material being laminated. Thanks to its high elastic memory, it responds quickly to deformation, ensuring uniform pressure and consistent bond quality.
Separating the two functions makes it possible to optimize each layer for its specific task, resulting in a coating that performs better than single-layer solutions, both in terms of the durability of the bond to the metal and in terms of elastic response speed.
The HERC coating has been designed for laminating rollers used in:
- bonding of multilayer technical fabrics;
- lamination of nonwoven fabrics (spunbond, meltblown, needle-punched);
- production of hygiene and medical products;
- lamination of fabrics for technical clothing and padding.
Investing in a coating with HERC technology means reducing machine downtime for maintenance, extending the roller’s service life, and ensuring a consistent quality standard over time, even in the most intensive processes typical of textile and nonwoven lamination
