Actual shelf life of hot melt adhesive granules inventory: a batch of expired adhesive was re validated, saving 20000 yuan

Can the expired glue in the corner of the warehouse still be used?

At the end of 2025, a textbook printing factory warehouse in Guangzhou discovered 5 boxes during inventoryhot melt adhesive pelletsIt has exceeded the marked shelf life by 3 months. The procurement department is preparing to scrap (worth about 20000 yuan), but the technical department suggests testing first before making a decision.

verification process

Sampling and inspection: viscosity test (rotational viscometer), adhesive strength test (tensile shear), appearance inspection (color/particle integrity). Result: Viscosity deviation<5%、剪切强度下降<3%、外观无变化——完全在合格范围内。

Reason analysis: This batch of adhesive is stored in a constant temperature and humidity warehouse (25 ° C/50% RH), with intact sealing and no unboxing, and its actual performance has hardly deteriorated. Labeling a shelf life of 12 months is a conservative value, and under correct storage conditions, it can usually be extended by 6-12 months.

Follow-up measures

The factory has established a “expired adhesive verification process”: within 3 months of expiration, sampling and rapid inspection (viscosity+appearance) will be carried out, and if it is qualified, it will be downgraded for use (non critical products). Expired for more than 6 months → scrapped. Sunlife hot melt adhesive granules factory moisture content<0.5%、密封包装，正确存储保质期远超标注值。

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: How long is the shelf life of hot melt adhesive granules?

A: The annotation usually takes 12 months, but it actually depends on the storage conditions. It can last for 18-24 months in a sealed, dry, and cool environment.

Q: How to determine if the stock adhesive is still usable?

A: Simplest: Heat a small amount to the working temperature and check if the color is normal (no dark yellow/brownish red), there are no large amounts of bubbles, and the drawing properties are normal. Conditional measurement of viscosity and shear strength.