5958FR tape (photo pulled from 3M website)
In the rubber industry flame retardancy is a big topic of discussion and is often required by certain applications. While NEDC does deal with these polymers on a regular basis, we also deal with tapes. Flame retardancy has become such a necessity that the experts in adhesion have developed a version of their very high bond tape to be flame retardant. This tape is called VHB Tape 5958FR.
Applications Utilizing Flame Retardant VHB Tape 5958FR:
-Overhead stowaway bins on commercial airlines
-Signage for industrial applications
-Mirror mounting (I’ve used it for this)
-Decorative trim for industrial apps.
-Water sealing as a gasket
Properties of Flame Retardant VHB Tape 5958FR:
The tape is much the same as other VHB Tapes, having a conformable acrylic closed cell foam core, with aggressive modified acrylic adhesive on both sides. However, this tape is flame retardant. This is substantial because 3M’s VHB Tapes already exhibit great properties, and have been used in a variety of applications. The tape bonds well to many plastics, metals, or painted substrates given good dwell periods and proper surface preparation. VHB Tapes have become a formidable rival to rivets, spot-welds, and screws. This VHB tape features many of the same benefits that your ‘conventional’ VHB Tape exhibits except it has passed many stringent flame retardant tests that even the best of polymers have struggled to pass. Some examples of the tests that 5958FR has passed are:
-Meets FAR 25.853 (a) 12 second vertical burn, Appendix F, Part I
-Meets NBS Smoking Density (ASTM F814/E662).
Extremely high Adhesion:
Adhesion of 20 lb/in or 320 lb/in
Construction for VHB Tapes:
-40 mils, with a 5mil(.13mm_ liner (+/- 10% is the tolerance on this tape)
flame
flame
Is there Another Product Close to This?
The truth is, there is no VHB tape, or in fact any product that is close to this flame retardant VHB Tape. The reason I say this is because flame retardant tapes are hard enough to come by. When you think about a flame retardant tape that is also a permanent attachment – it doesn’t exist. It just doesn’t. VHB Tape 5958FR is an extremely unique tape.
Whats the Easiest Way to Cut VHB Tape 5958FR?
NEDC suggests to die-cut, or laser-cut this material. Laser-Cutting works surpringly well for this VHB Tape.
More Information on VHB Foam Tape Flame Retardant
VHB Tape 5958FR is a part of the 5952 family. This tape comes in a cool black color. Since NEDC is a 3M converter die-cuts, and laser-cuts. VHB Tape into custom shapes for customers. The shelf life of this tape is 24 months from DOM. For more information on VHB Tape, or you have an application that you feel could utilize Flame Retardant VHB Tape, please contact sales@nedc.com.