Pressure Sensitive Adhesives

Using acrylic, rubber and silicone-based adhesive for maximum performance, LGS Technologies helps you select the best individualized adhesive for your application.

What to Consider:

What should you consider in making the proper PSA choice?
What substrate(s) will the adhesive be sticking to?
What conditions will the tape be exposed to? (temperature, chemicals, UV, moisture, etc.)
Is the application permanent or temporary?
What is the function of the adhesive?

Adhesive Options

Acrylic Based:

Can be either water-based (emulsion based) or solvent based. Comparatively water-based systems are less expensive than solvent based systems; however, solvent based acrylics have better resistance to other solvents, water and chemicals compared to water-based systems

Acrylic adhesive characteristics:

Respectable adhesion to a broad range of substrates (Good tack or sticky to the touch)
Great temperature resistance (lower than silicone but higher than rubber-based systems)
Can be modified to adhere to harder to stick to items like High Density Polyethylene and polypropylene
Good Ageing and UV resistance

Rubber based adhesive systems are normally lower in cost and provide a high initial tack. Rubber adhesives can either be naturally occurring or synthetically formulated.

Rubber Adhesive Characteristics:

Great adhesion to a broad range of substrates (Great tack or sticky to the touch)
Good temperature resistance (lower than acrylic and silicone-based adhesive normally, not recommended for high heat applications)
Lower UV resistance and may become brittle with age

Silicone has been used for years for broad temperature range applications. Silicones work well when bonding other silicone-based materials; however, they are higher in cost and have shorter shelf life characteristics before bonding (Typically 6 months for most silicone adhesives).

Silicones adhesives characteristics:

Lower adhesion levels (Lower tack or sticky to the touch)
High Temperature resistant
Excellent ageing and UV resistance
Flexible at lower than ambient temperatures
Resistant to some solvents

Single Coated Tape: Adhesive coated on one side of a substrate and the adhesive is protected by a release liner.

Self-Wound Tape: Carrier substrate is coated on one side with adhesive and with a release coating on the reverse side. Common masking tapes use this type of construction.

Transfer Tape: Is an unsupported mass of adhesive film coated onto a release liner with release coat on both sides. Transfer tapes allow for good conformity and flexibility compared to other constructions.

Double Coated: A carrier material is coated on both sides with an adhesive. The carrier could be a variety of materials but normally is PET film, tissue paper, nonwovens, scrim, etc. The carrier provides additional dimensional stability when laminated to elastomeric materials that stretch or elongate.