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TPU Hot Melt Adhesive Film for Garment Accessories
Bond elastic waistbands, labels, trims and no-sew panels with a solvent-free adhesive layer that stays soft, stretches with the fabric, and survives the wash – supplied to your thickness, activation temperature and width by Tengyang.
tpu hot melt adhesive film is a thermoplastic polyurethane bonding layer, non-tacky at room temperature, that activates under heat and pressure to form a soft, elastic, wash-durable bond between fabrics and trims – with no stitching and no solvent glue. For garment accessories it’s chosen where the bond must flex, stay invisible, and pass laundry testing.
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Not sure which grade fits your fabric? Send us your substrate and process
0.025–0.30mm
Custom film thickness
65–180°C
Activation range (grade-dependent)
1–/2-side
Single or double-sided adhesive
Paper/film/none
Release carrier options
30+ cycles
ISO 6330 wash target (hi-temp)
15+ years
In-house film & web production
Bonding Garment Accessories Without Stitching or Solvent Glue
Challenge
Every garment-accessory line eventually hits the same problem: stitching punctures elastic panels and leaves a hard 2-3mm seam, while solvent-based glues release VOCs and cure unevenly.
Dry Solution
A tpu hot melt adhesive film removes both failures because it replaces liquid chemistry with a dry, pre-measured adhesive layer. You place the hot-melt adhesive film between two materials, activate it with a heat press or lamination roller at a set temperature, and let it cool into a flexible bond – no drying time, no stitch line, no mess.
Chemistry
Chemically, TPU is an advanced adhesive material: a thermoplastic copolymer of a diisocyanate and a polyol (see patent WO2020136106A1). That structure is the root cause of its range – the same tpu material can be engineered to run as a very soft, low-temperature grade or a firm, high-wash grade with strong bonding and water resistance.
Performance
Unlike traditional hot melt glue, which sets hard, TPU stays elastic, which is why it has become the practical adhesive solution for waistbands, bra components, labels, appliqué badges and reflective trims that must move with the body.
Tengyang TPU Films & the Garment-Trim Grade Playbook
A hidden risk in sourcing hot melt film is buying by thickness or price and discovering the grade is wrong on the line. A bonded waistband, a printed care label and a reflective strip don’t share the same heat tolerance or wash demand, so one universal film always fails somewhere. Tengyang produces tpu hot melt adhesive film and web in single- and double-sided adhesive constructions, with or without release paper, engineered to the job rather than sold as a single spec. The formulation freedom behind this – trading melting point against bonding strength – is documented in patent CN104263259A, a low-melting-point, high-adhesive-strength tpu film.
Why grade matching is decided in-house
Tengyang has our own casting, blown-film, granulating, melt-blown web, slitting, and rewinding production lines. And we’ve the benefit of 15+ years experience selecting hot-melt materials. It’s the in-house chain that gives us the structure to tailor the melt point, weight, substrate, and hand of the two fabric partners, rather than try to mold your application into the standard specifications of an off-the-shelf roll – a capability OEM buyers need for consistency.
Low-Temperature TPU
Activates ~65–90°C. For heat-sensitive substrates: reflective film, printed labels, coated or elastic fabric that scorch or shrink under high heat. Available as clear or frosted TPU.
Medium-Temperature TPU
Activates ~110–140°C. Balanced soft hand and wash resistance for everyday apparel trims, elastic panels and home textiles.
High-Temperature TPU
Activates ~150–180°C. Firmer, higher wash and dry-clean resistance with excellent adhesion for outdoor, sports and heavy-laundry garments.
Clear / Double-Sided
Transparent film from ~0.03mm for invisible bonds; double-sided hot melt adhesive film for laminating two fabrics or turning badges into iron-on trims. Also supplied as a protective film layer.
Garment-Trim Grade Playbook: Match a TPU Grade to Each Accessory
this will provide you the proper setting for an initial grade – but always cross check your results with a test run against your production materials, with the same sampling logic used by your most successful converters.
| Accessory / application | Suggested grade | Typical activation | Thickness | Carrier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elastic waistbands & no-sew panels | Medium-temp, elastic | 110–140°C | 0.08–0.15mm | Release paper |
| Bra cups, moulded lingerie | Low/medium, soft hand | 90–130°C | 0.05–0.10mm | Paper / film |
| Woven & printed care labels | Low-temp | 70–100°C | 0.05–0.08mm | Release film |
| Reflective tape & heat-transfer badges | Low-temp, clear | 65–100°C | 0.03–0.08mm | Film / none |
| Outdoor & sportswear trims (high wash) | High-temp | 150–180°C | 0.10–0.20mm | Paper |
| Nylon / coated technical fabric | Medium/high, high-tack | 130–160°C | 0.08–0.15mm | Paper |
Activation Windows & Substrate Heat Ceilings
tpu film – low or high temperature grade? Neither is the default answer. Low-temperature grades safeguard sensitive finishes; high-temperature grades increase resistance to washing and dry cleaning. Make the decision by what’s least hardy – the weaker of the two substrate materials. Don’t pick based on the hardest weld you can achieve.
Everyone is led to believe that weak bond = bad film. However experience in the field shows this isn’t always the case: Bubbling or delamination after bonding is often a result of process or material errors (such as trapped moisture, incorrect temperatures, insufficient dwell and pressure) as opposed to being an adhesive failure, this is the reality of the majority of “poor adhesion” problems and it’s also the reason the temperature ladder that follows is only one half of the issue, the other is the temperature limit of the substrate.
Low-temperature
Melt Point
~65–90°C
Bonding Window
~90–110°C
Best For
Reflective, labels, coated / elastic
Watch-out
Lower heat resistance in wear
Medium-temperature
Melt Point
~110–130°C
Bonding Window
~130–150°C
Best For
General apparel trims, waistbands
Watch-out
Balance point — confirm dwell time
High-temperature
Melt Point
~150°C
Bonding Window
~170–190°C
Best For
Sportswear, outdoor, high-wash
Watch-out
Can scorch heat-sensitive substrates
Given that hot air, high-frequency and ultrasonic sealing, roller lamination, heat press and other tpu hot melt methods all exist for films, a given film could potentially run on disparate pieces of equipment; as can be seen in this example of multi-method activation of textile bonding from Covestro. The path to a low-melt film that nonetheless offers excellent bond strength and chemical resistance (a non-reactive hot melt TPU derived from an excess of polyol) is described in patent US20170058163A1. What matters on your line is matching activation temperature, dwell time and pressure to the substrate, which is where a sample trial replaces guesswork. Because the film keeps good resistance and good resistance to chemicals across these hot melt applications, confirming the bonding window against your substrate is the right call, and Tengyang will run a sample to set it.
“On heat-sensitive trims we start a full 20–30°C below the substrate’s damage point and win the bond back with dwell time and pressure, not more heat. Most weak-bond complaints we see are under-pressed, not under-heated.”
Need the bonding window set for your fabric?
Request a bonding sampleTPU vs EVA, PES, PA and PO Hot Melt Films
The issue most buyers struggle with is performance versus price – EVA or PO can be supplied more cheaply than TPU and frankly you only buy them if the requirement to stretch and survive laundering is more than you can afford from a cheaper hot melt – otherwise you compromise too much on the strength of a genuine adhesive film. This chart compares performance typical in industry — the way 3M and HB Fuller draw distinctions between the film family of product as well as way the convertor selects grade to match function, not lowest cost.
| Film | Typical melt point | Elasticity | Wash resistance | Hand feel | Best-fit use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TPU | ~65–180°C (wide) | High | High (esp. hi-temp) | Soft, elastic | Elastic apparel, waterproof, reflective |
| PES (polyester) | ~120–150°C | Low | High / dry-clean | Firm | Polyester fabric, labels, shape stability |
| PA (polyamide) | ~110–170°C | Low–medium | High + dry-clean | Firm | Embroidery badges, technical textiles |
| EVA | ~70–110°C (low) | Medium | Low | Soft | Cost-sensitive, low-wash bonding |
| PO (polyolefin) | ~90–130°C | Medium | Medium/washable | Medium | Economical washable components |
The TPU adhesive film also goes well beyond garments, as that formula flexibility allows it to be formulated into foams or composite constructions (patent CN103571364A), or even into zigzag and medical applications. For an economical low-wash trim, EVA or PO works best. For something that stretches and is subject to laundering, a TPU is well-justified. Tengyang sells all five film families, so if a more affordable film can do the job, the company recommends it. TPU adhesive film uses are not always the premium call: for a low-wash trim a cheaper film is engineered to the job, and that is the honest recommendation.
TPU vs your incumbent adhesive?
Request a sample side-by-side
Garment Accessory Applications: Elastic, Trims, Labels & Reflective
What does tpu film replace? Wherever stitches are slow or liquid glues are messy. tpu film, as a fabric interlayer, runs the length of the garment and apparel-accessories value chain and can even expand into the broader textile sector where an effective, no-sew, flexible attachment outperforms other methods. The following chart describes a number of production scenarios, and the ideal tpu film grade for each.
In fact, tpu film works so well it can integrate into and simplify many adjacent lines, including footwear uppers/soles, outdoor gear, automotive textiles, and home decor, enabling converters that produce garment accessories to source most films from one manufacturer. Within the tpu film industry, your combination of fabric-to-fabric pairing and application process determines the correct film starting grade, which the Playbook guides you toward and sample testing verifies. Tengyang supplies these grades from its own production lines, which is the reason a converter can consolidate textile industry sourcing across garments, footwear and automotive interiors; as a tpu hot melt adhesive film for fabric, the grade is engineered to your pair because the fabric leads the decision, which is the right call.
Consolidating garment, footwear and reflective bonding?
Request a grade recommendation
Cleaner and Faster Than Solvent Glue or Stitching
Cost mistake with hot melt film is in the per unit cost not in the true cost of usage. Our dry, pre-measured sheet form eliminates the costly and variable expenses of buying, storing and handling of liquid glues and stitching for most trim applications. By improving production efficiency without the need to add staff, total cost savings are substantial, although hard to put an exact number on. Here’s why our costs differ.
Total-cost factors a hot melt film changes
Solvents & VOC’s
Purchasing and storing large volumes of solvents for glue are eliminated. Environmental compliance and worker safety controls related to workplace VOCs are bypassed as there are no solvent emissions when the dry film is heated and activated.
Labor & Steps
Simply place and press, versus spreading, drying time, and, for many trim applications, a secondary stitch application.
Waste & Rework
Eliminates many common liquid glue rejects, like uneven distribution, while improving application quality and speed. Most rework failures for dry films are attributable to inadequate application temperature/pressure, not the film itself.
Clean-room and appearance
no glue mess or needle holes protects the finished-garment look and the wearer’s comfort.
In practice, an OEM apparel producer that switches a trim from sewing or solvent glue to tpu film trades a higher material line-item for lower labour, lower reject and lower compliance overhead. Where those numbers land depends on your volume and process, which is why we scope them per application. To see the drivers mapped to your line, request a factors worksheet. Because Tengyang runs its own production lines, the cost of a switch is engineered to your process rather than guessed; unlike a stock roll, the grade is matched to your line.
Compliance and Wash Testing for Textile Bonding
The trust gap for international buyers is real: “eco-friendly” is no longer accepted as a claim, and a supplier that cannot name the standard, class and document loses the audit. tpu hot melt film is solvent-free by construction, and Tengyang can supply grades tested and documented to the standards your market requires under quality-managed, ISO 9001-aligned production. The scopes below are not interchangeable, so precision matters:
ISO 6330
Textile wash-test method — the reference for wash durability
OEKO-TEX® 100
Product-class certification; Class 1 = direct skin contact
REACH / SVHC
Substance-level EU obligation
PFAS-free
Increasingly required by textile brands
Wash durability is measured, not asserted: the recognised method is ISO 6330 domestic washing and drying, and specialist textile-bonding films are engineered to hold peel strength through 30 or more ISO 6330 cycles for high-wash apparel – an industry-typical benchmark, to be confirmed against your grade by sample testing. OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 (per oeko-tex.com) is product- and component-class specific: Class 1 covers items in direct skin contact, whereas REACH/SVHC (per ECHA) is a substance-level obligation, so a supplier can meet one and still owe documentation on the other. Tengyang provides certified third-party test reports for supplied grades and prepares OEKO-TEX / REACH-aligned documentation on request, rather than claiming a blanket certificate an auditor would question.
Need the paperwork for your market?
Request compliance documentation
Procurement Guide: Custom Specs, Samples and OEM Supply
The procurement risk is a vague RFQ that produces a vague quote and a wrong film. The fastest route to a usable quotation is to tell us the application, not just a thickness. Tengyang supplies to OEM specification – custom thickness, width, melting point, colour and application-specific formulation – as an adhesive solution engineered around your process, under quality-managed production consistent with ISO 9001 practice and backed by 15+ years in hot-melt materials. For teams researching where to buy TPU adhesive film in production volumes, pricing is driven by the variables below rather than a single list price:
Send this before asking for a quote
- The two substrate materials to be bonded (for example elastic fabric plus nylon)
- Finished-product use and wash or dry-clean requirement
- Activation equipment: heat press, roller, hot air, high-frequency or ultrasonic, with your temperature, time and pressure window
- Target thickness or hand feel, required roll width and length
- Release paper, film or carrier-free preference
- Colour, transparency or surface need
- Trial quantity and estimated bulk volume
For new bonding structures we recommend a sample trial before bulk commitment – it settles thickness, carrier, temperature and pressure with your real materials and removes the largest source of production surprise. Firm price, MOQ and lead time follow the specification: contact Tengyang for a quotation based on your application parameters. Confirming the grade against your real materials first is the right call before you commit to a bulk run.
TPU Material Technical Tools
Technical selection and parameter validation systems.
SYSTEM / 01
Garment-Grade TPU Selector
TPU film selection tool for garment accessories, assisting in matching base substrates with specific processing requirements.
SYSTEM / 02
Activation Temperature Guide
Reference guide for hot melt film operating temperatures and activation conditions to ensure bond strength and production yield.
SYSTEM / 03
RFQ Spec Builder
Standard technical specification generator for bulk procurement and custom processing, outputting standardized RFQ documents.
FAQ: TPU Hot Melt Adhesive Film for Garments
01
What is the difference between TPU hot melt adhesive film and TPU film? / How do I choose high-temperature vs low-temperature film?
Choose by the more heat-sensitive of your two substrates. Reflective trims, printed labels and coated or elastic fabrics usually need a low-temperature grade (~65–110°C); sportswear and high-wash items justify a high-temperature grade (~150–180°C) for stronger wash resistance and excellent adhesion.
02
Which TPU hot melt adhesive film has good washability?
Higher-temperature TPU grades give the best wash and dry-clean resistance. For apparel, look for grades formulated to hold bonding strength through 30+ ISO 6330 wash cycles, and validate on your own fabric before bulk ordering.
03
Is it environmentally friendly and non-toxic?
TPU hot melt film bonds without solvents, so there are no VOCs during application, which makes it an environmentally friendly material for modern production. For skin-contact garments, ask for a grade supplied to OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 and confirm REACH/SVHC and PFAS-free status for your market.
04
Why does the bond bubble, foam or peel after pressing?
Usually the film isn’t the cause. Bubbling and delamination most often come from trapped moisture, the wrong activation temperature, or too little dwell time and pressure. Dry the substrates, confirm the temperature window and increase press time or pressure before changing film.
05
Will it melt or come apart in summer or in the wash?
A correctly matched grade won’t. The activation temperature is well above normal wear and storage conditions, and high-temperature grades are built for repeated laundry. Problems point to an under-specified grade for the end use, which the grade guide above is meant to prevent.
06
Can you supply custom thickness, width and colour?
Yes. Tengyang supplies OEM: custom thickness, width, melting point, colour and application-specific formulation, in single- or double-sided constructions with paper, film or carrier-free release.
07
Do you provide samples before a bulk order?
Yes. Send your two substrates and process details and we prepare a sample direction for trial bonding. Sample validation is the recommended step before any bulk purchase.
