Learn How To Permanently Bond and Seal Metals, Plastics and Other Surfaces Without Using Ugly Fasteners or Messy Liquid Adhesives 

^TM VHB^TM  Acrylic Foam Tapes Outperform Traditional Fasteners

For 25 years, engineers have been specifying 3M^TM VHB^TM  tapes to permanently bond and seal many metals, plastics and other surfaces for increased productivity, high strength, long-term durability and improved appearance.

Increase Your Productivity

• Bond on contact with no drying time or fixturing
• Save processing steps and cost for drilling, screwing, clean-up and refinishing
• Easy to apply with minimal training and no investment in expensive application equipment
• Clean and safe to use with no special equipment needs

Improve Your Product Performance

• Seals the gap between rounded and flat surfaces
• Acrylic foams dampen vibration & impact
• Resists solvents, liquids, U.V. and thermal expansion/contraction

4 Critical Characteristics to Demand From Your Attachment Solution...
Does Your Method Accomplish All Four?

Enhance Your Product's Appearance:

There are no visual interruptions for screws, rivets, welding or any type of fastener. 3M™ VHB™ Tape consistently outperforms traditional fasteners in this vital area.

Provide Strong and Durable Attachment:

3M^TM VHB^TM  tape's all acrylic construction provides strength and durability in extreme applications.  It bonds with high holding strength for static and dynamic loads.  VHB tape resists stress, fatigue, vibration, heat, cold, temperature cycling, moisture, solvents and UV light.  Unlike mechanical fasteners which concentrate stress, 3M VHB tape provides a continuous bond - distributing stress along the entire surface.

Seal As It Bonds:

3M^TM VHB^TM  tape's foam is 100 percent closed cell; as it bonds it creates a durable shield.  Liquids can be sealed in or out, and a protective barrier is formed which resists stress and fatigue.

Absorb Energy and Reduce Joint Stress:

An important property of VHB tape is viscoelasticity.  Visco- for viscous flow of 3M VHB into the microstructure of the substrates that are being bonded and elasticity for the elastic nature of VHB tape.  Viscoelastic materials have the unique ability for energy absorption and stress relaxation, both of which are important for dynamic strength and vibration damping.

Create Rugged, Resistant and Light Weight Seals
In Your Electronic Components

Today, electronic products are smaller, more powerful and more portable than ever before. Engineers in this industry need materials that are rugged, durable and lightweight.  Not only does 3M^TM VHB^TM tape bond, seal and absorb shock, it is also easy to apply and lightweight.  It can also be die-cut to fit even the smallest, most unusual shapes. Engineers say these attributes, along with a UL 746C listing, make VHB tape ideal for a wide range of electronic products.

VHB^TMProduct Attributes:

• Fast, easy assembly
• No drilling, riveting, welding, screw fastening or clean-up
• Eliminates grinding and refinishing
• Dampens vibration and noise
• Absorbs impact & shock
• Joins dissimilar materials
• Compensates for differential thermal expansion or contraction
• Uniform thickness
• Die-cutting available
• Resists plasticizer migration
• No investment in major equipment
• Minimal application training
• Reduces labor and material costs

9 Unique Benefits VHB^TM Tapes Have Over Other Attachment Solutions

1. Produces long-lasting strength
2. Absorbs shock
3. Distributes stress
4. Creates an invisible bond
5. Allows thinner, lighter materials
6. Eliminates pull-through, dimpling, rivet heads and weld distortions
7. Seals against the environment
8. Resists UV light
9. Reduces labor and material costs

VHB^TM Offers Engineers Design Flexibility

Until now, your projects may have been restricted by the limitation of traditional fasteners.  However, 3M^TM VHB^TM  Tape gives you the "design freedom" to create projects the way you know they should be.

How to Choose the Right VHB^TM Tape for Your Application

Most of the VHB^TM tapes are derivatives of two core tapes 4941 and 4950.  You can usually begin with these core products.  If conformability or adhesion to paints; plastics or plasticized vinyl are critical to your application start with the 4941 family.  Otherwise, start with the 4950 family.

4941 45 mil Gray (conformable)

• Good adhesion to metal, paints, plastics and plasticized vinyl
• Soft core for conformability, better contact area
• 4926 (15 mil); 4936 (25mil); 4956 (62mil); 4991  (90mil)
• Black versions of this family: 4919F (25mil); 4947F (45mil) ; 4979F  (62mil)

4950 45 mil White (firm core)

• Good adhesion to metals
• Firm core for higher measured performance
• 4920 (15mil); 4930 (25mil); 4955 (80mil); 4959  (120mil)

4945 45 mil White (combination)

• Combines 4941 type adhesive and 4950 firm foam
• Plasticizer resistant
• UL746C

5952 45 mil Black (conformable medium surface energy)

• Use where adhesion to medium surface energy like powder coated paints and ABS blends is more critical than internal foam strength
• 5925 (25mil); 5962  (62mil)

4952 45 mil White (low surface energy- LSE)

• Good adhesion to polypropylene and many powder paints

4611 45 mil Black (high temperature)

• Bonds to metals and used where high temperatures are introduced like powder paint ovens
• 4646 (25mil); 4655  (62mil)

4910 40 mil Clear

• Firmer product for joining transparent material like glass, signs & skylight domes
• 4905 (20mil)

**Refer to PDF link aids at the top of this page for additional information

**Thicker, rigid materials and more critical applications should use thicker tapes (at least 45 mil)
    Thin, flexible materials should use thinner more conformable tapes

**Make sure surface is clean before applying the tape.  50/50 isopropyl alcohol and water is recommended under normal conditions

**In most applications, apply tape with at least 15 pounds per square inch of pressure and at temperatures between 50-70 degrees

**Typically VHB's reach 20% of their maximum bond after 20 minutes, 75% after 1 hour, and 100% after 3 days.  This process can be accelerated with heat and pressure

For custom 3M tapes and ideas to make you more efficient at using those tapes, contact  a Budnick specialist today.   

                                                                                              
Budnick Converting, Inc.
P.O Box 197
200 Admiral Weinel Blvd.
Columbia, IL  62236
1-800-282-0090
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