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Adhesives by application
Adhesives for foam tapes and foam laminates
A foam tape is a tape on a PE, XLPE or PU foam carrier. PE and XLPE foams have low surface energy, so many adhesives anchor poorly to them. Our foam grades are high-solids solvent acrylic PSAs specified on XLPE, PE and PU foams, for single- and double-sided foam tapes and for laminating foam to aluminium foil or fabric.
What matters
Why are PE and XLPE foams hard to bond?
Polyethylene and cross-linked polyethylene foams have low surface energy, so many adhesives wet them poorly and let go of the foam first. Choose a grade specified on PE and XLPE foam. Corona treatment of the foam helps the adhesive anchor.
What helps a foam tape conform?
Foam tapes are pressed onto curved and textured surfaces, where the adhesive must flow into the surface to hold. AP 3065 and AP 1765 are high-solids grades with high peel on our test basis.
Which grades give the most holding power?
A mounting foam tape carries a load for years. Two-pack AP 1765 gains shear when it is mixed with Advance Hardener, and single-pack AP 1065 is specified for high shear.
Why coat at high solids?
A high-solids grade at a coatable viscosity puts more adhesive down for each kilogram of solvent the dryer has to remove.
What are the typical values?
| Grade | 180° peel | Loop tack | Shear | Solids |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP 3065 | 3000 ± 10% gf/25 mm | 2000 – 2500 gf/inch | — | 64 ± 2% |
| AP 1765Two-pack | 2500 ± 10% gf/25 mm | 2000 – 2500 gf/inch | > 18 h | 64 ± 2% |
| AP 1065 | 850 ± 10% gf/25 mm | 800 – 1000 gf/inch | > 600 h | 52 ± 2% |
We measured these values in our own laboratory according to PSTC methods: 180° peel on stainless steel, with the adhesive coated on 25 µm PET at 25 ± 2 gsm. Shear is printed as a minimum.
Which grade does what?
- AP 3065: Single-pack, self-crosslinking, high solids (64 ± 2%) at a coatable viscosity. Specified on XLPE and PE foam; listed among our low-surface-energy grades.
- AP 1765: Two-pack (100 : 1 with Advance Hardener). Specified on XLPE, PE and PU foam, and used for foam–aluminium and fabric–foam sandwiches.
- AP 1065: Single-pack, high shear. Also used on XLPE, PE and PU foams.
Substrates
Which grades suit foam tapes?
Advance Adhesives Private Limited, a manufacturer of adhesives in Belagavi, India, since 1995, makes three grades for foam tapes: AP 3065, AP 1765 and AP 1065. They are made for single- and double-sided PE and XLPE foam tapes, PU foam tapes, foam–aluminium foil sandwiches and fabric–foam laminates. The grades are used on XLPE foam, PE foam, PU foam, PET and PP films, paper, synthetic fabrics and foils. We measured peel, tack and shear in our own laboratory according to PSTC methods, with the adhesive coated on 25 µm PET at 25 ± 2 gsm. Polyethylene and cross-linked polyethylene foams have low surface energy, so many adhesives wet them poorly and let go of the foam first. Choose a grade specified on PE and XLPE foam. Corona treatment of the foam helps the adhesive anchor. Datasheets, safety data sheets, samples and quotations are available from the Advance Adhesives sales team.
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