Silicone Coated Materials for the Packaging, Label and Self-Adhesive Tape Industries
Silicone coated materials are papers, films and boards covered with a cured silicone layer that gives the surface release properties – the adhesive holds well enough not to shift in transit, and lifts easily enough not to tear the label during application. In the label and tape industry such a material is called a release liner. At DOLPAP we produce silicone release papers from 35 to 160 gsm in widths from 15 to 1600 mm, and silicone release films in PET, PP and PE in widths from 30 to 1600 mm, with one- or two-sided coating in easy release and controlled release versions. Below we explain how to match the material to a specific production process.
How a release liner works and why it determines line efficiency
The liner looks like a secondary component – after all, it ends up as waste. In practice it determines whether the line runs at its designed speed. The silicone layer lowers the surface energy of the substrate so that the pressure-sensitive adhesive cannot form a permanent bond with it. The result is a three-part construction: face material (label paper or film), adhesive layer and siliconised liner. For that construction to work, the release force has to sit inside the machine process window.
Release force that is too low means labels lifting inside the roll, web shifting and positioning problems. Too high, and you get web breaks, deformed labels and adhesive left on the liner during peel; in die-cutting it can make clean matrix stripping impossible. Release force is usually expressed in cN/25 mm and measured at a defined peel speed and angle – which is why a value on a data sheet only makes sense together with the test method.
Silicone release paper for labels – substrate types
With release papers, the choice of base substrate matters more than the coating itself. Four types cover the majority of applications:
- Glassine – smooth, semi-transparent paper with a closed surface produced by calendering. The standard in self-adhesive labels, valued for coating uniformity and good translucency during optical inspection.
- Kraft – uncoated brown or white paper with higher mechanical strength. It performs well on wide webs, at higher tension and wherever tear resistance is decisive.
- CCK (Clay Coated Kraft) – paper coated with a clay layer, smooth and dimensionally stable. The closed surface limits silicone absorption, giving an even coating at lower coat weight.
- PCK (Poly Coated Kraft) – polyethylene-coated paper combining paper properties with a moisture and grease barrier. Chosen where the liner has to withstand humidity or contact with aggressive compounds.
Grammages span 35 to 160 gsm: glassine 35–160 gsm, kraft 35–50 gsm, CCK 40–135 gsm and PCK 60–150 gsm. Colours include white, brown, yellow and topaz, with availability depending on the substrate type – and colour is not only a visual matter, as it can also affect automatic web detection on the machine.
Silicone release papers – types and typical applications
| Substrate type | Characteristics | Typical application |
| Glassine | smooth, semi-transparent, calendered | self-adhesive labels, digital and flexo printing |
| Kraft | uncoated, white or brown, strong | wide webs, tapes, technical laminates |
| CCK | clay coated, smooth and stable | premium labels, precise die-cutting |
| PCK | polyethylene coated, barrier properties | humid environments, adhesive and sealing compounds |
Silicone release paper for self-adhesive tapes – what the process demands
Tape production places different demands on the liner than label production. In double-sided tapes the liner works with adhesive on both faces, so two-sided siliconising is required – usually with differential release, so that the tape unwinds in a controlled way instead of delaminating at random. With butyl tapes and sealing compounds, what counts most is the resistance of the coating to aggressive, plastic compounds, together with the stiffness of the substrate.
Stability over time matters just as much. The effects of incomplete curing surface with a delay here: the laminate runs off the line correctly, and the loss of adhesion becomes visible only after a few weeks in storage – at the end customer, long after the lot was accepted. Material intended for tapes is therefore worth testing not only immediately after production, but also after accelerated ageing under conditions close to real storage.
Silicone release films – when to choose film over paper
Film is the answer where paper reaches its limits. PET provides dimensional stability and resistance to high temperature and tension – the liner of choice for lamination, composite production and applications where the web works under load. PP is lighter and more economical, PE is soft and resistant to mechanical damage, and creped PP, thanks to its texture, conforms well to uneven surfaces, which is why it is used with butyl tapes and construction sealing.
We supply films in thicknesses from 8 to 100 µm (most often 12, 23, 36, 50, 60, 75 and 80 µm), in widths from 30 to 1600 mm, in transparent, white, black, red, blue and white-black versions. Coating can be one- or two-sided, in solventless or UV technology. Transparency is often a functional parameter: it allows optical web inspection and the use of through-beam sensors, which with paper would require additional markers.
Paper or film – a quick comparison
| Criterion | Silicone release paper | Silicone release film |
| Dimensional stability | good, sensitive to humidity | very good (especially PET) |
| Thermal resistance | limited by the substrate | high with PET |
| Transparency | semi-transparent glassine only | full in transparent versions |
| Tear resistance | depends on grammage | high at low thickness |
| Thickness / grammage | 35–160 gsm | 8–100 µm (most often 12–80 µm) |
| Recycling | paper stream (plants able to remove silicone) | plastics stream |
| Material cost | usually lower | higher, offset by performance |
Release force – the key selection parameter
Selecting the release level starts not with the liner but with the adhesive it will work against. Acrylic, rubber, hot-melt, butyl and silicone adhesives behave very differently towards a release coating, and silicone-based compounds require special coatings altogether. That is why we always ask for the adhesive system in an enquiry – it is the one piece of information without which selection becomes guesswork.
We offer two basic classes: easy release, meaning a low release force for fast processes and delicate face materials, and controlled release, where peeling must be predictable and repeatable. Differential release on each side of the material is also available. It is worth remembering that a laboratory value is a reference point, not a guarantee of behaviour on the line: the real result depends on peel speed, temperature, humidity and how long the laminate has been stored – which is why we recommend testing on the target material at the target speed before implementation.
One- and two-sided siliconising, solventless and UV
One-sided siliconising is enough for classic label laminates, where the adhesive contacts one face of the liner. Two-sided coating is used for double-sided tapes, interleaves and materials wound without a separate liner. Solventless and UV technologies produce a thin, even and fully cured layer without solvents – which matters both environmentally and technically, as it removes the risk of volatile residues in material destined for packaging.
Siliconised cartons, interleaves and creped film
Beyond web materials in rolls, the industry also needs rigid release solutions. Siliconised cartons and interleaves protect sticky compounds – hot-melt adhesives, butyl and sealing compounds – from bonding during transport and storage, while allowing clean separation of layers when material is taken into production. Creped film, in turn, with its texture and extensibility, works as flexible protection for uneven and profiled surfaces.
Industries and applications
- Packaging and e-commerce – liners for logistics labels, release liners for self-adhesive tapes, protective materials in converting.
- Printing and advertising – backing for stickers, labels and self-adhesive materials printed digitally and flexographically.
- Construction – separation layers in roofing membranes, thermal insulation and sealing tapes.
- Automotive – liners for self-adhesive seals, protective layers and components mounted with double-sided tape.
- Textiles and hygiene – fabric lamination and protection of adhesive strips in hygiene products.
- Chemical industry – release interleaves and cartons for butyl compounds, hot-melt adhesives and highly viscous products.
How to match a silicone coated material to your process – six questions
Before we prepare a recommendation, a few questions are worth answering. Which adhesive will the material work with, and what is its chemistry? What line speed and application technique are involved – die-cutting, lamination, winding? Is transparency or a specific liner colour required? At what temperature and humidity does the process run, and how long is the laminate stored before use? What working roll width, roll diameter and core diameter are needed? What is the volume and the expected delivery frequency? In most cases these answers are enough for us to propose a specific substrate, coating and converting format.
Converting, documentation and selection tools
We supply silicone coated materials as rolls, spools, sheets and die-cuts, in widths from 15 mm (papers) and 30 mm (films) up to 1600 mm, with winding and cores matched to the receiving machine. On request we add technical printing and batch identification, which supports stock control and traceability. Product parameters are collected in downloadable technical data sheets, and our website offers a roll calculator and a product comparison tool – so that key parameters can be estimated before the first conversation with our sales team.
Why DOLPAP?
We produce silicone coated materials in Chojnów, Poland, on three coating machines in solventless and UV technology – including a UV line commissioned in 2024 with a working width of 1620 mm – and convert them on four rewinders and dedicated slitting equipment. Release force, coating thickness and uniformity are confirmed in our in-house laboratory, and unusual substrate and coating combinations are developed in our R&D centre, together with the Wrocław University of Science and Technology since 2010. We work to the requirements of PN-EN ISO 9001:2015 and PN-ISO 45001:2018, and the origin of our paper raw material is confirmed by FSC® Chain of Custody certification (FSC® C142223) – selected products are supplied in an FSC®-certified version. Alongside catalogue products we provide contract coating, slitting and printing – so the material can be adapted to the process, rather than the process to the material.
FAQ – silicone coated materials
What is a release liner?
It is a carrier material with a release coating – paper, film or board with a silicone layer – that protects the adhesive until application and allows it to be peeled in a controlled way. It is present in practically every self-adhesive laminate, the exception being linerless constructions.
Which silicone release paper should I choose for labels?
Glassine suits most label applications, and CCK is preferred for precise die-cutting and premium labels. Kraft is better at higher tension and on wide webs, while PCK performs best in humid environments.
What is the difference between easy release and controlled release?
Easy release means a lower release force, useful in fast processes and with delicate face materials. Controlled release means predictable, repeatable peeling, chosen where stability of the parameter over time is critical.
When should film be used instead of release paper?
When dimensional stability, high-temperature resistance, transparency or high strength at low thickness are required – typically in composites, laminates and processes with high web tension.
Do you offer two-sided siliconising?
Yes, we produce one- and two-sided coatings, including differential release on each face – the standard for double-sided tapes and interleaves.
Which widths are available?
We slit release papers from 15 to 1600 mm and films from 30 to 1600 mm. Sheets cut to size and die-cuts are available as well.
Are silicone coated materials recyclable?
Paper liners can be recycled in the paper stream – at facilities equipped to remove silicone; film liners are recycled in the plastics stream. Substrate choice is therefore also worth considering in terms of the intended waste route.
Can materials with non-standard parameters be ordered?
Yes – we provide contract coating and converting, matching the substrate, coating type, release level and winding to a specific production process.
Selecting a silicone coated material for label, tape or packaging production? Contact us – we will propose a substrate and release level matched to your adhesive and line speed, and send samples for testing.
