Acrylic foam tape (AFT) is a relatively new industrial adhesive product that has gained in popularity over the past few years. It is a double-sided tape made with a foam carrier material and an acrylic adhesive. The foam material provides a cushioning effect and allows for a greater degree of flexibility while maintaining optimal bond strength.
Acrylic foam tape is a popular alternative to traditional mechanical fasteners because of its numerous benefits. One of the primary advantages of AFT is its ability to bond dissimilar materials, such as metal, plastic, and glass. It also offers excellent resistance to UV, weather, and chemical degradation. Additionally, Acrylic foam tape has high peel strength, shear strength, and adhesive strength, making it an ideal choice for industrial applications that require a strong and reliable bond.
Acrylic foam tape comes in different types, depending on the application. High-performance acrylic foam tape is designed for projects that require extreme bonding abilities, while standard acrylic foam tape is ideal for everyday bonding needs. Other types of acrylic foam tape include removable and repositionable acrylic foam tape, which allows for easy removal and repositioning without leaving any residue or damage.
There are numerous applications for acrylic foam tape in various industries, including automotive, electronics, construction, and signage. In the automotive industry, acrylic foam tape is used for exterior applications such as attaching exterior trims, badges, and emblems as well as interior applications like bonding interior trim panels and headliners. Acrylic foam tape is also used extensively in the construction industry to bond cladding panels, building signage, and windows.
Over the years, Acrylic foam tape has gained significant market acceptance because of its unique features and benefits. It is known for its reliable and durable bond, weather and temperature resistance, and versatility. Acrylic foam tape has become an essential product in various industries and is a viable alternative to traditional mechanical fasteners. By understanding its applications, types, and benefits, businesses and industrial applications can easily make informed decisions when choosing an acrylic foam tape product.
Benefits of Acrylic Foam Tape
Whether Acrylic foam tapeusers have a thorough understanding of the chemical makeup of said tape or are just familiar with its bonding strength, it’s worth noting what makes acrylic foam tape special. A regular double sided foam tape, such as polyethylene tape (PE tape) is constructed like a sandwich with a layer of foam in between thin layers of adhesive on either side, whereas Acrylic foam tapeis made entirely of extruded, foamed adhesive to create a single cohesive mass.
The benefits of this structure are apparent from the moment the tape arrives, custom manufactured and packaged for your specific needs.
Convenient application
Acrylic foam tape arrives with a film carrier liner to facilitate easy application. Securing Acrylic foam tapeis as simple as applying the tape with an adequate amount of pressure to achieve a perfect bond. While Acrylic foam tapealternatives like liquid nails, epoxy, or glue, can be messy and require additional equipment to achieve bonding power, acrylic foam tape is a smooth and precise solution for high strength adhesive applications.
Conformability & Viscoelasticity
Very high bond tape retains flexibility for a complete bond to nearly any surface. Where other foam tapes such as PE foam tape may bond only to the highest points on irregular or textured surfaces, acrylic foam tape conforms to curves while the proprietary adhesive flows into every nook and cranny.
The fluidity of high bond tape resists tearing and ripping, providing an elastic and flexible solution for high intensity environments where the strength of the adhesive is integral to success.
The Strongest Acrylic foam tapeAlternative Available
Because adhesive exists throughout the tape rather than at certain points, surface adhesion occurs across the whole substrate where tape is attached. Stress points from mechanical fasteners – such as rivets, welds or screws – are nonexistent with even stress distribution and continual bonding along the entire length of tape, making it stronger and more durable, especially over time. Additionally, acrylic foam tape is incredibly dense so it provides more internal strength and structural integrity where standard foam tapes don’t (ie: the foam itself won’t tear).
Resistance to Environmental Degradation
Acrylic foam tapeis ideal for outdoor and high-intensity environments where surfaces are frequently exposed to moisture, wind or other environmental forces. The sealing power of acrylic tape ensures environmental factors stay external, thereby protecting and reinforcing the product. High bond tape doesn’t degrade overtime and remains strong even in extreme conditions.
Adherence to Virtually Any Surface
High bond tape is a multi-use adhesive, for substrates from glass to metal to polycarbonate, without the need for machinery or complicated assembly.
Where is Acrylic Foam Tape Used?
Given the seamless application and strength of very high bond tape material, the applications are varied and span sectors – including automotive, solar, electronics and more. For example:
Solar panels and outdoor signage often use adhesive tape such as acrylic foam tape because of the lifetime and strength of very high bond tape as well as the gasketing and weatherstripping properties.
Tracking devices that require a radio-frequency identification tracker (or RFID) to be permanently attached to a surface – such as a shipping container – rely on high bond tape.
Automation equipment and processes where fasteners undergo stress, vibration and movement use Acrylic foam tapefor long term, weather and shock resistant solutions.