User Guide

4
Selecting the proper adhesives for
a nameplate, label or membrane switch
application requires consideration of
environmental, surface, appearance and
other performance requirements. Our
purpose here is to cover some of
the principles of adhesion.
Surface contact is fundamental to
adhesive performance. To maximize
adhesive contact on a surface:
• It must be dry and free of
contaminates.
• Firm pressure must be applied to
increase the flow and contact of
the adhesive with the substrate.
• Time and temperature will
increase the surface contact and
adhesion values.
• Oil contaminated materials may
be addressed with the
3M
™
Adhesive
300LSE or 350 families.
Adhesion is the molecular force
of attraction between unlike materials.
The strength of attraction is determined
by the surface energy of the material.
The higher the surface energy, the
greater the molecular attraction. The
lower the surface energy, the weaker
the attractive forces.
Greater molecular attraction results in
increased contact between an adhesive
and substrate. In other words, a high
surface energy material, the adhesive
can flow (or “wet-out”) to assure a
stronger bond.
Consider an automobile that has not
been waxed for a long time. When
water contacts the surface it spreads in
large puddles. The unwaxed car surface
exhibits high surface energy — the
molecular attraction allows the water
to flow.
In comparison, water beads up into
small spheres on freshly waxed car.
It is an example of low surface
energy — the liquid (or adhesive)
does not flow out.
Surface energy is measured by dynes
per centimeter. The dyne level is the
actual reading of the critical surface
tension.
Modified acrylic and synthetic
adhesives with better flow (or
“wet-out”) characteristics have been
developed to adhere to low surface
energy substrates. The Surface Energy
Chart below compares the relative
surface energy of commonly used
substrates.
3M
™
Firm Acrylic Adhesive 200, 200MP
and 600 families will not readily adhere
to substrates categorized as having “low
surface energy.” However,
3M
™
Adhesives
300, 320, 350, and 300LSE modified
acrylics or 700 synthetic rubber
adhesives have been designed to adhere
to low surface energy plastics, and should
be considered for those applications.
Fundamentals of Adhesion
Wettability Principle
(Acrylic or Enamel) Paint Metal
Liquid
Wax (Polyethylene) Paint Metal
High Surface Energy
Low Surface Energy
Liquid
Paint
Metal
Paint
Wax
Metal
This illustration demonstrates the effect of surface
energy on adhesive interfacial contact. High surface
energy materials draw the adhesive closer for high
bond strength.
Metal Surfaces
(High Surface Energy)
High Surface Energy
Plastics (HSE)
Low Surface Energy
Plastics (LSE)
mJ/m
2
Surfaces
50 Kapton
®
Industrial Film
47 Phenolic
46 Nylon
45 Alkyd Enamel
43 Polyester
43 Epoxy Paint
43 Polyurethane Paint
42 ABS
42 Polycarbonate
39 PVC Rigid
38 Noryl
®
Resin
38 Acrylic
mJ/m
2
Surfaces
1103 Copper
840 Aluminum
753 Zinc
526 Tin
458 Lead
700-1100 Stainless Steel
250-500 Glass Porcelain
* Broad range
NOTE: These values are provided as a guide. Formulation modifications can substantially alter surface energies.
mJ/m
2
Surfaces
37 PVA
36 Polystyrene
36 Acetal
33 EVA
31 Polyethylene
29 Polypropylene
28 Tedlar
®
Polyvinyl
Fluoride Film
18 Teflon
®
Fluoropolymer
* Powder Coated Paints
Surface Energy Chart