TECHSiL's Guide to Pressure Sensitive Adhesives
What are pressure sensitive adhesives?
Pressure Sensitive Adhesives (PSA) are simply a type of adhesive which provides an instant bond when light pressure is applied, they typically do not require curing or other activation methods. PSAs combine viscosity with elasticity and are often made from acrylics, silicones, or rubbers.
The Pressure Sensitive Tape Council considers three characteristics to define what a Pressure Sensitive Adhesive (PSA) is: permanent tack, adhesion with light pressure, no liquid-to-solid phase change.
Is there a difference between PSA liquids and tapes?
Pressure sensitive adhesives tapes are made using liquid PSA. Acrylic PSA tapes are considered the workhorse of industrial applications and different formulations can provide different levels of adhesion and resistance.
PSA tapes are already cured so no additional curing is required, they are easy to use and offer instant handling strength after applying pressure. Other benefits of PSA tapes include:
- Consistent bond thickness
- Precision application (diecutting)
- Preassembly possibilities
- Dissimilar material bonding
- Less wastage
- Cost and time efficient
Where are PSAs used?
Pressure sensitive adhesives and tapes are used across industries from automotive to medical, just some of the many applications include:
- Securing electronic components
- EMI shielding
- Thermal management
- Assembly of interior and exterior parts in automotive and aerospace
- Vibration dampening
- Trim attachment and emblem bonding
- Gasketing and sealing
- Wearable sensors, wound care products and medical device assembly
- Signage and graphics
- Protective films and laminating
Products to Consider:
3M PSA Tapes
3M offers a wide range of pressure sensitive adhesive tapes, including double coated, single coated, transfer tapes, and films. They offer a range of thicknesses with carriers or functional foam cores as well as a wide range of chemistries.
3M Product Selector
Momentive Silicone PSAs
Momentive’s liquid PSAs are used to manufacture tape and label products and are typically applied via web coating equipment. Their PSAs work with a range of substrates including Polyester, Polyimide, PTFE, and Glass Cloth.
Shop Momentive
How to select the right PSA?
- To be able to select the right PSA for you application you’ll need to consider:
- What materials are you bonding? Are they dissimilar materials, low surface energy plastics, clear materials, or metal?
- Will your application face extreme temperatures, UV exposure, chemicals, moisture, or other factors?
- Are there any regulatory requirements such as FDA compliance?
- What is your application method? Is it automated or manual, inside or outside?
Why Choose TECHSiL?
At TECHSiL, we don’t just supply pressure sensitive adhesives, we partner with you to optimize your bonding process.
Every bonding challenge is unique. For advice on choosing the right PSA material for your application, contact our experts. Our Technical Team can arrange on site visits, complementary consultations, TDS’, samples, and expert advice for your specific application, industry, or manufacturing process.