Adhesive Tapes and Films

Adhesive tapes and films temporarily or permanently join materials together. Tapes consist of an adhesive-coated backing called a carrier. Single-sided tape is used to attach overlapping or adjoining materials. Double-sided tape is coated with adhesive on both sides and allows the joining of items back-to-back. Films are synthetic resin adhesives that sometimes include a carrier fabric. Typically, films are made of thermosetting resins and are used under heat and pressure as an interleaf in the production of bonded structures. Transfer tape, a highly versatile product that consists of a thin adhesive film without a carrier, can be transferred to most dry surfaces from a peel-away release liner. 

Adhesive tapes and films vary in terms of carrier material. Aluminum foil is laminated to paper or plastic films for improved strength. Electrodeposited copper foil is used in the manufacture of multilayer printed circuit boards (PCB). Fluoropolymer films consist of plastics such as polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) or polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and are used in applications that require superior chemical resistance. Polyimide film maintains its excellent physical, mechanical, chemical and electrical properties over a wide range of physical environments. Products that use polyester, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polycarbonate carriers are often available. Other backing materials include cloth, foam,  paper, plastic, rubber, silicone, and urethane.

Selecting adhesive tapes and films requires an analysis of coating types. Acrylic adhesives provide excellent environmental resistance. Epoxy resins exhibit high strength and low shrinkage during curing. Polyurethane (PUR) and isocyanate adhesives provide excellent flexibility, impact resistance and durability. Silicone adhesives have a very high temperature resistance. Rubber-based adhesives provide highly flexible bonds. Pressure sensitive adhesives (PSA) are tacky at room temperature in a dry (solvent-free) form. They adhere firmly to a variety of surfaces upon contact, requiring only the application of finger or hand pressure. Some adhesives are thermally activated or require moisture. Others, such as latex gums, adhere to themselves. Hot melt and thermoset adhesives are commonly available.  

Important specifications for adhesive tapes and films include width, thickness, and length. Physical properties include peel strength, tensile strength, temperature resistance, and dielectric strength. Adhesive tapes and films bond to a variety of substrate materials. Examples include ceramics and glass, concrete and masonry, foam and leather, metal and plastic, paper and paperboard, rubbers and elastomers, textiles and fabrics, and wood and wood products. Liners for double-sided tapes often incorporate differentially coated release liners that are easy to peel. These release liners are made of paper, film, or silicone sheets. Board liners are heavy weight paper liners that are usually measured in terms of points. The 12-point liner is the most common type. 

Adhesive tapes and films are available with a variety of features. Some are chemically resistant, thermally insulating, or electrically conductive. Others are permanent, removable, repositionable, or protective. Safety products are reflective, highly visible, and provide warnings about unsafe conditions. Weather resistant products are suitable for outdoor use. Transparent products allow the transmission of light. 

There are a variety of applications for adhesive tapes and films. Some are suitable for automotive, aerospace, construction, industrial, medical, or packaging applications. Others are designed for use with coated abrasives or cable ends. Electrical tape provides high voltage and heat resistance. Masking tape is used to temporarily cover bands or small areas next to an area to be painted. Duct tape is used in heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC) applications. Adhesive tapes and films are used to splice film, build membrane switches or control panels, and join materials together in processes such as seaming or hot sealing. Products that are suitable for printing, graphics, and signage applications are also available.

• Adhesion Tests (Bond / Peel)
  Adhesion, bond or peel tests are used to evaluate joints, adhesives, coatings, adhesive tapes adherence, bond strength, or peel strength. ASTM D-952 defines bond strength as the tensile stress...
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• Printable Die Attach Adhesives for Substrate-On-Chip Packaging
  The dominant trend in packaging DDR DRAM for the future is the face down substrate-on-chip configuration. For this type of package it is critical that the die attach method employed provide precise...
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• Tape Reel Assembly
  Tape reel assembly is a packing method which includes a composite carrier tape with embossed cavities for storing individual components. A cover tape seals the carrier tape in place. This tape is then...
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