How do I prepare surfaces that I want to bond together?
All surfaces that require bonding should first be cleaned using Eurobond Surface Cleaning Wipes to remove any oil, grease or dirt, then lightly abraded and then cleaned again to remove any dust or debris. Do not use meths, white spirits or aromatic cleaners as these will leave a microscopic film on the substrate which will contaminate the bond line and act as a barrier preventing the adhesive tape from bonding properly to the surface.
How much pressure should be applied when applying acrylic foam tape?
The aim of applying pressure is to achieve 100% wet-out of the adhesive. To achieve good wet out and ultimately a good bond, it is essential to ensure that the pressure is firm and even. As a rule a minimum of 15psi or 100kpa should be used for rigid materials. More flexible substrates may need less pressure. The size, shape of components being bonded and tape placement will also need to be considered in determining how much pressure should be applied.
Why does acrylic foam tape not feel very sticky to the touch?
Whilst acrylic adhesives tend to be firm and dry to the touch, this is not an indication of their final bonding properties. An acrylic foam tapes adhesion builds over a 72hour period to form an unsurpassable bond. Adhesives such as rubbers and hot melts, whilst feeling very tacky, do not have the same physical properties from a temperature, plasticiser or solvent resistance point of view. Certain acrylic adhesives are modified by adding tackifiers to increase initial adhesion, but this is generally at the expense of a lessening of performance.
How much tape do I need to support a given weight?
Typically when using our 3 series, 4 series and 6 series range of tapes for non-critical indoor applications allow for 25cm² per kg of weight.
For critical indoor or outdoor applications using our 3 series, 4 series and 6 series range of tapes allow for 60cm² per kg or weight.
When using double coated foam tape (EB808F, EB810P, EB815P) for indoor applications, allow for 100cm² to support 1kg of weight.
These figures represent the maximum levels which include a high safety margin. They can potentially be reduced where less surface area is available. This has to be determined by the customer through suitable testing.
What is the purpose of having varying thickness of tape?
The thickness of an acrylic foam tape allows it to compensate for mismatch between two surfaces. By choosing a tape that accommodates mismatch, the tape is allowed to achieve optimum coverage of the surfaces that is bonding. The greater the surface coverage achieved, the more effective the bond will be. For rigid materials the general rule of thumb is the tape should be twice the thickness of the material mismatch. Acrylic foam tapes are designed to provide stress relaxation properties. Its acrylic foam core allows the tape to elongate and relax when stressed. This means the stress is distributed through the foam core and not concentrated in the adhesive bond line, which is often the case of adhesive failure. Acrylic foam tape can stretch up to three times its thickness to accommodate thermal expansion between different materials.
How do I select the right adhesive tape for my application?
If you are unsure which adhesive tape to use, then simply call our technical team on +44 (0)1789 773232 and we will be happy to talk you through your options.
