User Guide

82
BONDING
TAPES
PERFORMANCE
LABEL
MATERIALS
COMMERCIAL
GRAPHICS
RELEASE
LINERS AND
PRINTABLE
FILMS
SINGLE COATED
TAPES
RECLOSABLE
FASTENERS
SPECIALTY
PRODUCTS
FLEXOGRAPHIC
MOUNTING
To help you make sure you find
the optimum 3M tape or other
adhesive-backed product for your
particular application, you’ll want
to consider several factors:
• Backing material
• Adhesive type
• Application time and temperature
• Surface characteristics
(eg., roughness, surface energy,
contours, etc.)
• End use conditions (eg., temperature,
UV exposure, abrasion, etc.)
The information on these two pages
integrates those factors to help you
narrow your selection to fewer products
for a more in-depth evaluation.
3M Backing Materials
In many applications, 3M backings
add a second surface that affects how
the underlying surface relates to
the environment.
To optimize that relationship, 3M
backings offer a wide choice of
performance and handling characteristics.
Selecting the right product for the job
Adhesives
3M Pressure Sensitive Adhesives
Most of the products in this guide feature a 3M pressure sensitive adhesive that bonds the backing to another surface on contact. Each adhesive
has different characteristics that affect production and end use performance.
Rubber Standard Acrylic Modified Acrylic Silicone
Moderate initial bond Bonds to wider variety than standard acrylic Fair initial bond
Firmer Softer Very firm
High surface energy* Many surfaces Fewer surfaces
Up to 450˚F Up to 300˚F Up to 600˚F, excellent low temperature performance
Excellent chemical resistance Good chemical resistance Excellent chemical resistance
Excellent UV resistance Moderate UV resistance Excellent UV resistance
Excellent aging Durable Excellent aging
Permanent Various Removable
Excellent solvent resistance Good solvent resistance Excellent solvent resistance
High initial bond
Softer
Widest variety of surfaces
including low surface energy
materials*.
Up to 350˚F
Fair chemical resistance
Fair UV resistance
Poor aging
Removable
Good solvent resistance
Backings Characteristics
Paper
Crepe Conformable, easy tear.
Flatback Strong, smooth, good for straight line masking.
Kraft Strong, some versions are repulpable.
Tissue Thin, porous to allow adhesive penetration of sheet.
Plastic
Polyester Strong even when thin, chemical resistant, high temperature resistance.
Polypropylene Resistant to most solvents, conformable, tear resistant.
Polyethylene Conformable, easy to stretch, chemical/acid/moisture resistant,
economical.
Polyethylene/ Conformable, chemical/acid/moisture resistant.
Polypropylene Co-polymer
UHMW – High abrasion resistance, low coefficient of friction,
Polyethylene antistick surface easy to clean.
Polyvinyl Chloride (Vinyl) Conformable, abrasion resistant, resistant to most chemicals.
Polyimide (eg., Kapton
®
) High temperature resistance, excellent
dimensional stability, good insulation properties.
Polyamide (Nylon) High temperature resistance, high strength and toughness,
good chemical resistance but can absorb moisture.
Polytetrafluoroethylene Low coefficient of friction, excellent high temperature
(PTFE) and chemical resistance, antistick/release properties.
Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) Water-soluble, organic solvent resistant, high temperature resistance.
Polyurethane Abrasion/scratch resistant, impact/puncture resistant,
UV and corrosion resistant.
Polyvinyl Fluoride (eg., Tedlar
®
) Excellent weather resistance, excellent long-term UV resistance,
thin yet stiff feel.
Cloth
Cotton Strong, easy tear by hand, soft and drapable.
Glass Cloth Strong, high temperature resistance, flame-resistant.
Polyethylene Coated Strong yet hand tearable, abrasion resistant,
water-resistant, conformable.
Non-woven
Fiber Air permeable, strong enough to hold expanding foams.
Metals
Aluminum Heat and light reflective, moisture and chemical resistant,
flame-resistant, outdoor weather resistant, conformable.
Lead Electrically conductive, acid resistant, high conformability, x-ray opacity.
Rubber
Neoprene Abrasion resistant, die-cuttable.
Combination (Laminates)
Paper/Polyethylene Weather and chemical resistant, hand tearable, stretch resistant.
Metallized/Polyester Reflective, decorative.
Glass Cloth/PTFE High temperature resistance, high strength.
Glass Cloth/Aluminum Very high temperature resistance, high strength.
Non-woven/Aluminum High heat and cold resistance.