Gaskets die-cut with 9469PC and 9460PC
At NEDC, we die-cut & laser-cut many products. We also offer these same products with tape backing. Some of these tapes include some of our more common ones, such as 3M 467MP or 3M 9472. Oftentimes, those products come with those tapes on the back, to assist in assembly. Beyond assisting in assembly, customers are sometimes looking for a tape with significant holding power. In these cases, we would provide them with a VHB Transfer Tape backing.
What are 3M VHB Transfer Tapes?
When people think of VHB Tape, they often think of the foam VHB tapes such as 4941, or 5952. However, there is a different type of VHB Tape that can be transferred onto different surfaces. They operate through the same principle that other transfer tapes do.
Adhesive is coated onto a silicon coated liner. When stuck onto another surface that has a higher surface energy then the liner, it will peel off, and stick to the other surface.
These products are called VHB Transfer Tapes. These tapes are used where long term holding power is a priority. In fact, they are often used in applications where replacing rivets, spot-welds, or liquid adhesives is of interest:
Product Listing of VHB Adhesive Transfer Tape
9469PC Adhesive Tape- F9469PC/9469FL/9469PC(.005″)
9473PC Adhesive Tape- 9473PC/F9743PC(.010″)
9460PC Adhesive Tape- F9460PC/9460PC(.002″)
All of these tapes utilize 100MP acrylic adhesive family from 3M Company. This adhesive withstands high temperature, low temperature, solvent, and moisture well. In addition, these tapes have the UL746C listing. These tapes feature extraordinary typical peel strengths for transfer tapes — 9460PC(7lb/in), 9469PC(8lb/in), and 9473PC(9lb/in). Often, NEDC laminates this tape to different gasketing materials, or insulating materials for a good bond to other surfaces, to be applied later by our customer, or by NEDC. However, oftentimes our customers require the tape simply die-cut on the liner itself (kiss-cut) to aid in assembly of their product.
When would one use 3M VHB Transfer Adhesive Tapes?
Customers will typically call upon 3M Adhesive Transfer Tapes when they have an application that is requrigin long term holding power that they cannot find with other adhesive transfer tapes such as 3M 9472, or 3M 9485PC. Note while these adhesive tapes do have high adhesion, similiar to that of the 100MP series, they don’t even come close when ti comes to the temperature resistance. For example, 9472 short temperature resistance taps out at around 250°F. While these 100MP tapes such as 9469PC have a temperature resistance of around 500°F for short term exposure. These tapes feature a long shelf life, and incredible durability, similiar to the acrylic foam tape VHB tape portfolio.
Why Don’t Customers Just Use 3M Acrylic Foam VHB Tape Here?
Believe it or not, many of the substrate materials NEDC cuts, and sells are not nearly as compatible with the adhesive tapes listed above as the typical VHB foam tapes you see. As an example, we have had customers ask us for VHB tape added to Neoprene rubber. Those tapes don’t adhere nearly as well as the tapes we list here. The gasketing, and insulating materials NEDC deal with are usually looking for a thinner adhesive transfer tape. Another reason is 3M VHB Acrylic Foam Tape is significantly more expensive that these VHB transfer tapes.
Liners/More Information/Cutting of VHB Transfer Tape
These tapes come on a #58 polycoated liner. This liner can come printed or unprinted with the 3M printing such as the picture presented. Since NEDC is an authorized 3M converter, we have availability of different lengths, and widths of these tapes. NEDC commonly die-cuts and laser-cuts certain custom shapes out of these tapes. In addition, we do sell this tape as straight up rolls as well. For more information on VHB Transfer Tape, please contact sales@nedc.com.