Hot Melt Adhesive Powder
Definition
What is hot melt adhesive powder?
A thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) powder applied to wet DTF prints that melts when heated, creating the bond between the ink and the fabric. Available in different particle sizes — finer powder for detailed designs, coarser for heavy coverage.
Where hot melt adhesive powder shows up on DTF Database
Guides on this site that cover hot melt adhesive powder, followed by guides on the related terms curing, TPU, powder shaker.
Complete DTF powder guide: TPU vs polyamide chemistry, mesh sizes 80 to 200, application, curing temperatures, storage, and costs for durable transfers.
Read the articleDTF stands for Direct-to-Film. A design prints onto PET film, gets coated in hot-melt adhesive powder, cures, then heat-presses onto fabric — cotton, polyester, blends, light or dark garments, with no pretreatment and no minimums.
Read the articleCompare top DTF ink and DTF transfer film brands (PET): white ink stability, color gamut, wash durability, matte vs glossy, hot peel vs cold peel, and pricing.
Read the articleDTF printing prints designs onto PET film, applies adhesive powder, and heat-presses DTF transfers onto cotton, polyester, and blends. 2026 process guide.
Read the articleOne Stroke Inks is a Louisville, Kentucky plastisol ink maker. Its main ink lines, the cure temperatures its data sheets publish, and how it relates to DTF.
Read the articlePowderless DTF jets a liquid adhesive onto the film instead of shaking on TPU powder. How DuPont Artistri JA1100 works, who sells it, and what it changes.
Read the articleRelated terms
The process of using heat to melt and activate the adhesive powder applied to a printed DTF transfer.
The base material used in DTF adhesive powder.
A machine that automatically applies hot melt adhesive powder evenly onto freshly printed DTF film.