Surface condition
The surface of the parts to be glued must be dry, grease-free and clean. An indication of surfaces that are not yet clean can be the formation of water beads when wetted with water. In addition, the substrate must be solid for bonding. Remove loose layers of paint etc. beforehand
Mechanical cleaning
Depending on the application and base material, the effective adhesion area can be increased by roughening. The roughness depth must be well below the thickness of the adhesive layer (good anchoring of the adhesive on the roughened surface).
Chemical cleaning
Greases, oils and other separating agents as well as contamination can be removed with cleaning agents such as acteon, toluene, isopropanol, ethyl acetate. In principle, it must first be checked whether the solvent used is suitable for the material to be cleaned. When using the solvents, it is essential to observe the manufacturer's safety instructions.
Gentle cleaners for removing adhesive residues
Solvent 50 Super (Kontakt Chemie), Order No. 812031-12 at Conrad, 92530 Wernsberg-Köblitz, Tel. 09604/408988 Protect cleaned surfaces from resoiling (lint, fingerprints, etc.). Preferably glue immediately.
Surfaces with low surface energy
With non-polar plastics such as polypropylene PP, polytetrafluoroethylene PTFE (e.g. Teflon®), polyethylene PE, rubber, silicones, there are naturally problems with bonding with standard adhesive tapes. There are special adhesives for this purpose, which you should ask us about. The surface should also be chemically or physically roughened (e.g. corona pretreatment).
Working temperature, final strength
The most favorable processing temperature is approx. 20°C. Bonding below 10°C should be avoided. If the temperature differences between the parts to be bonded are too high, condensation may occur, preventing proper bonding.
The adhesive tape should be applied with as high a pressure as possible (depending on the material and workpiece). Adhesives are viscoelastic and flow into the unevenness of the substrate. The final adhesive strength is achieved with most adhesive tapes after about 72 hours dwell time. This time can be shortened by adapted heating.
Thermosetting adhesives
As supplied, thermosetting adhesives are already largely resistant to impregnating varnishes. Subsequent heat treatment stabilizes this resistance. Recommended temperatures: 1 hr -150°C, 2 hr - 130°C, 4 hr - 100°C. In most cases, these adhesives can also be used without annealing.
PVC, plasticizer
Bonding with flexible PVC is critical because plasticizer diffusion can lead to deterioration of the cohesion of the adhesive layer.
UV irradiation, outdoor use
Not all plastics are suitable for permanent outdoor use under sunlight. Among technical films, polyester in particular can become brittle after a few months of intense sunlight. We offer special adhesive tape types for outdoor use. Please inquire with us in case of such use with reference to such exposure.
Impregnating varnishes, impregnating resins
Due to the great variety of different impregnating agents, it is not possible to make generally valid statements. In particular, impregnating agents containing styrene can be problematic. In many cases, only tests can help here, which we will be happy to carry out on our premises using the samples you provide.
Backside treatment
Backside coatings or backside preparations improve the unwinding behavior of the adhesive tapes. They prevent the adhesive coating from sticking to the back of the tape after storage. Almost every self-winding adhesive tape on the market has such a release coating.
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Notes on shelf life and storage life of our adhesive tape products before and after application
Due to their nature and chemical composition, our products are generally subject to a limited shelf life or storage life in the unprocessed state. Our warranty period is generally 12 months, but may be shorter in individual cases. However, most adhesive tapes can be stored for three to five years without significant loss of quality if stored correctly. Exceptions are, for example, fabric adhesive tapes, which build up greater adhesion to the reverse side.
Due to their nature and chemical composition, our products are generally subject to a limited shelf life or storage life in the unprocessed state. Our warranty period is generally 12 months, but may be shorter in individual cases. However, most adhesive tapes can be stored for three to five years without significant loss of quality if stored correctly. Exceptions are, for example, fabric adhesive tapes, which build up greater adhesion to the reverse side.
For optimum processability, the storage conditions should be strictly observed. This means that the adhesive tapes should be stored in their original packaging in a dry place at temperatures between 15-20 °C without direct sunlight.
Adhesive tapes should always be stored upright, as otherwise pressure marks may restrict processability.
Adhesive tapes that are used in a removable manner (short-term applications) are subject to shorter periods of use, as the adhesive strength to the substrate increases with the period of use. The customer's own tests are usually required to make a definitive statement. A few specific adhesive tapes or functional coatings are subject to shorter periods of use. We will be happy to send you the relevant technical data sheets if required.
Adhesive tapes should always be stored upright, as otherwise pressure marks may restrict processability.
Adhesive tapes that are used in a removable manner (short-term applications) are subject to shorter periods of use, as the adhesive strength to the substrate increases with the period of use. The customer's own tests are usually required to make a definitive statement. A few specific adhesive tapes or functional coatings are subject to shorter periods of use. We will be happy to send you the relevant technical data sheets if required.
Peeling off cover (liner)
Double-sided adhesive tapes or so-called transfer adhesives are usually provided with only one protective liner (siliconized paper, siliconized films).
After applying the adhesive tape (the transfer adhesive film), you should first wait at least 10 minutes to achieve good results before slowly pulling off the cover at a flat angle. This prevents the adhesive surface from lifting off the substrate and creating air bubbles, for example.
In the case of double-sided adhesive tapes covered on both sides (twice with siliconized paper or alternately paper and transparent PET film or transparent PE film), the transfer adhesive film adheres differently to the two cover materials. In this case, too, it is important to peel off the first, less adherent cover material at an acute angle so that the adhesive film does not peel off the other cover unintentionally.
