Application Focus - Trends & Innovations

Barrier Adhesives

The packaging and medical / pharmaceutical industries are the largest industries to use adhesive systems having specific permeability requirements. Most often the requirement is for low permeability or "barrier" properties - to keep oxygen...
Coating and Laminating

Lamination is used to produce a film structure consisting of two or more layers of materials (films, foils, paper, etc.) by adhesive bonding. The adhesive is applied in a coating process. This approach is generally used when one material will not...
Cold Seals

Cold seal adhesives are those that bond when exposed to pressure only. They are often referred to as pressure sensitive adhesives. They are formulated so that tack to non-cold seal surfaces is minimized (blocking resistance). They are generally...
Extrusion

Extrusion is a method of making a laminate in which two or more thermoplastic materials are extruded separately and combined either internally in the die or immediately after leaving the die. The extrusion process is generally preferred over the... (1 Member Reaction)
Food Contact

Many applications of flexible packaging adhesives require compliance with regulations for direct or non-direct food contact (e.g., Food and Drug Administration, FDA). An adhesive, coating, or ink used in the packaging of a food item for human...
Heat Seals

A heat seal is a thermoplastic adhesive that is generally applied to the substrate as a molten liquid coating and cooled to a solid or as a solventborne or waterborne coating and then dried to a solid. Then, when a bond is required, the coated...
Low Surface Energy Films

Thermoplastic materials often have a lower surface energy than thermosetting materials. Thus, physical or chemical modification of the surface is necessary to achieve acceptable bonding. This is especially true of the crystalline thermoplastics such...
Medical

Typical applications for PSAs in the health care industry include wound coverings and closures, surgical drapes, ostomy mounts, electrocardiograph electrode mounts, electrosurgical grounding pads, and transdermal drug delivery.Medical adhesives must... (1 Member Reaction)
Trim

Trim components, such as in the passenger section of automobiles or decorative items attached to the exterior, are generally bonded with "non-structural" adhesives. Non-structural adhesives merely hold articles together temporarily or...
Vibration / Noise Damping

Elastomeric adhesives and sealants can perform a variety of functions other than merely bond and seal. One of these additional functions is the damping of noise and vibration. The reduction of noise and vibration is an important and valuable...
Engine / Power Train / Radiators

Locking compounds are generally used to seal and bond mechanical fasteners in place. These are usually unsaturated polyester monomers such as dimethylacrylates whose cure is inhibited by atmospheric oxygen. When oxygen is excluded from the bond line,...
Plastics / Composites

Plastics and composites are sometimes difficult to bond because of their low surface energy. This is especially true for polyolefins and thermoplastic elastomers. For maximum strength, surface treatment is often recommended. However, recently several...
Electrical / Electronic

A great deal of electrical tape is used in the transportation industry. These have many different backings and adhesives. These tapes are generally classified by their thermal resistance. Natural rubber and synthetic elastomeric resin pressure...
Brake Parts

Brake linings must withstand high impact and shear stresses. Their temperature resistance must be greater than 150°C. Most often nitrile-phenolic film or solvent based adhesives are used in this application. The assembly must be cured under heat and...
Construction

High volume applications for tapes used in construction are duct tapes for constructing and insulating heating and air conditioning duct work. Other tapes are used for temporary or permanent bonding of various assemblies. Two sided foam tapes are...
Decals and Signs

Decals are used for attaching logos, nameplates, or operational instructions on appliances, business machines, and other everyday products. The stock used to manufacture decals is generally transparent film or brightly colored and reflective foils on...
Medical

Medical and personal care tapes are used in many applications including protecting wounds, attaching dressings, securing intravenous needles, securing diapers, and for applying medication.A special requirement in this industry is the need for high...
Office and Data Processing

Both blank and preprinted paper labels are used in the office for filling, identification, and other purposes. These products are generally on paper backing with a pressure sensitive adhesive. The release liner is often made so that it is adaptable...
Structural Assembly

Structural assembly of articles such as doors, windows, etc. usually occurs in a factory or assembly facility. These adhesives and sealants will be covered in the Industrial Assembly Portal. However, structural assembly is sometimes required at the...
Ceiling

Adhesives are used to adhere ceiling tiles for indoor application although these are often mechanically fastened in place (drop-in types) with grid systems for reliability and easy removal. Ceiling tiles are often acoustical panels. These tiles can...
Concrete

Adhesives and sealants for concrete, cement, and plaster cover a wide range of construction applications. In the case of spalled or deteriorated concrete, the user may wish to rebuild the structure or recoat a new surface. The surfaces to be bonded... (1 Member Reaction)
Corrosion and General Protection

Chemically resistant polyethylene and vinyl-backed tapes are often continuously wrapped around large diameter steel pipe before the pipe is placed in the ground. Usually a machine is used to apply the tape. The tape protects the pipe from... (1 Member Reaction)
Electrical Tapes

Electrical tapes can be subdivided into two categories: OEM applications and electrician's tape.Electrical Tapes Electrician's tape usually has a stretchable film backing. It generally uses a plasticized vinyl or polyethylene film backing. The tapes...
Facade

Facades are exterior walls made from bricks, stucco, or other construction or decorative materials. The adhesives or sealant used must be resistant to weathering and temperature cycling. Hydraulic mortars and pitch-based mortars are commonly used as...
Flooring

Floor coverings are fabricated from asphalt, vinyl, rubber, cork, and ceramic materials. These floor coverings are laid directly on wood, concrete, and metal subfloors. The choice of adhesive is part dependent on the composition of the floor covering...
Freezer

The food industry uses labels on freezer packages. These labels can be made with paper or polymeric film feedstock. To resist the cold temperatures the adhesives are generally made from a polymer with relatively low Tg.The adhesives in this...
General Caulking and Sealing

There are many different applications for sealants in construction. In this industry sealants are used for perimeters of wall and roof openings, filling cracks, sealing tub and shower stalls, etc. The major applications can be characterized broadly...
Industrial (Appliance, Auto, Shoe, Etc.)

Many OEMs utilize tapes for both temporary and permanent fastening. A large volume is utilized in electrical / electronic assembly and for paint masking within manufacturing shops. Many applications require the use of "two sided" pressure sensitive...
Joint Cementing and Grouting

Joint cements and grouts are used to seal the space between tiles, panels and other building materials. Hydraulic cements are often used for concrete and ceramic tile substrates, but these are often blended with polymeric resins for improved...
Office and Graphics Arts

Office and graphic art tapes are generally used for laying out and attaching paper and film to larger sheets of paper or film. Clear cellophane film office tape is the most easily recognized product in this class. There are many applications...