Adhesive Tapes: When to use them

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Adhesive tapes are materials in film form onto which an adhesive mass is applied. Thanks to their ease of use and versatility, these products are used for both material assembly and a wide variety of technical applications. Here is an overview of the use of adhesive tapes in industry.

Double-sided adhesive tapes for joining materials

Bonding and the use of double-sided adhesive tapes are recent methods of joining materials, which are constantly improving, thanks to advances made by manufacturers.

Assemblies using double-sided adhesive tapes have several advantages:

Their implementation does not require special technical skills, which is not the case with welding for example
They can be permanent or temporary
They do not degrade the materials to be joined, unlike riveting, screwing, or other mechanical methods
They allow the creation of discrete, sometimes almost invisible, joints without the need for rework

A double-sided tape is made up of:

A core, or backing
An adhesive mass, on each side
A protective film, on each side

An example of semi-structural use of a double-sided adhesive

Which adhesive mass for which material?

There are three families of adhesive compounds:

Rubbers: a versatile, low-cost solution, especially for interior applications
Acrylics: for bonding low surface energy materials such as polyethylene or polypropylene. A good choice for permanent outdoor applications
Silicones: have excellent adhesion to silicone materials and strong resistance to extreme temperatures

Double-sided adhesives are commonly used in many areas of industry:

Exterior semi-structural applications:

Bonding steel stiffeners to road signs

Fixing and dressing of signs

In the furniture industry:

Bonding of foam for seats

Building/Urban furniture:

Fixing aluminum profiles

Gluing stainless steel, wood, etc.

Single-sided tapes

Single-sided tapes can be used for a wide range of technical applications.

Here are some ways to use single-sided tapes

Masking/sparing

Masking and sparing tapes are used for the temporary protection of surfaces.

For example, masking tapes are used for masking, paint application and sanding/blasting operations. Due to their high mechanical strength, they can also be used for repairs.

Jointing/repairing

EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) single-sided foam adhesive tapes are elastomers that fill gaps and provide a seal.

Marking

Example: Marking or marking with adhesives. Vinyl adhesives for floor marking to enfore social distancing measures in the case of COVID-19.

Wrap

Adhesive tapes are widely used in the packaging industry.

Example: Adhesive Kraft is a paper on which an acrylic, silicone or rubber adhesive mass is applied.

Shock and vibration damping

Foam-type adhesive tapes can be used to dampen vibrations caused by industrial equipment.

Insulate surfaces

For the most technical applications, Kapton® adhesive polyimide tapes provide both very good electrical and thermal resistance. Adhesive tapes for electrical insulation are used in the railway industry, for example.

How do I apply tape properly?

Before applying an adhesive tape to a surface, it is essential to ensure that the surface is clean, so as to guarantee an optimal bond.

However, since adhesive tapes are not intended for structural applications, surface preparation is limited to degreasing the surfaces to be joined.

In summary:

Adhesive tapes are used everywhere, in industry as well as in our daily lives, for non-structural or semi-structural applications.

Do not hesitate to ask ADDEV Materials for advice on the choice of your adhesive tapes.

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