User Guide

BONDING
TAPES
PERFORMANCE
LABEL
MATERIALS
COMMERCIAL
GRAPHICS
RELEASE
LINERS AND
PRINTABLE
FILMS
SINGLE COATED
TAPES
RECLOSABLE
FASTENERS
SPECIALTY
PRODUCTS
FLEXOGRAPHIC
MOUNTING
9
Q Will your finished assembly be exposed to harsh
environmental conditions?
Some 3M Bonding Tapes do not hold well when exposed to very low
or very high temperatures, high humidity, chemicals, or even water.
Other adhesives are specially formulated to resist harsh environments.
Q Does your part need to be disassembled for
maintenance or service?
When assembled with most 3M Bonding Tapes, parts are generally
difficult or virtually impossible to disassemble without damaging the
part. As an exception, hot melt adhesives can be reheated and reused,
but in most instances reuse would be messy and impractical. As
already noted, repositionable tapes are available, but application is
restricted to lighter duty attachment or closure. 3M reclosable fasteners
consist of 3M
™
Scotchmate
™
Reclosable Fasteners (hook and loop
construction) or 3M
™
Dual Lock
™
Reclosable Fasteners (self-mating).
They include a variety of attachment options including pressure
sensitive adhesives, ultrasonic bonding and other methods. These
products allow parts to be separated for easy maintenance or
service. See pages 102 through 107 for details.
Q Do you want to cut costs, increase production and
simplify your operation?
With 3M Bonding Tapes, you can see cost reduction through
reduced material requirements, weight reductions, and elimination
of drilling, welding, screwing, finishing, and similar operations. In
most cases, 3M Bonding Tapes require minimal training and little or
no investment in equipment.
Q Would invisible fastening improve your product’s appearance?
3M
™
Bonding Tapes are generally hidden between the bonded
substrates. Surfaces stay smooth and clean for a more attractive
appearance and less surface refinishing.
Q Do you want to attach dissimilar substrates?
Laminates of dissimilar materials can often produce combinations
superior in strength and performance to either substrate alone. The
flexibility of many 3M Bonding Tapes compensates for differences
in the coefficients of expansion between such materials as
aluminum and wood.
Q Will your part be subjected to vibration?
The viscoelasticity of many 3M Bonding Tapes improves resistance
to vibration fatigue by imparting flexibility to a joint or bonded area.
Q Is the design of your part right for adhesive tape bonding?
Adhesive tapes perform better with some part configurations than with
others. 3M Bonding Tapes meet the requirements of most parts that can
be assembled with mechanical or fusion fastening. For cleaner, more
efficient application, die-cut pressure sensitive adhesive tape can be
precisely placed on smaller, irregularly shaped bonding surfaces.
Q Do you want to bond and simultaneously seal between
the substrates?
With many 3M Bonding Tapes, continuous contact between mating
surfaces effectively bonds and seals against dirt, dust, water, and
other environmental conditions. 3M Bonding Tapes also provide a
film barrier to reduce or prevent bimetallic corrosion that often
occurs in bonding two different types of metal.