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Selecting the right product for the job
To help you make sure you find the optimum 3M tape of other adhesive-backed product for your particular application,
you will want to consider several factors:
- backing material
- adhesive type
- application time and temperature
- surface characteristics (roughness, surface energy, contours, etc.)
- end-use conditions (temperature, UV-exposure, abrasion, etc.)
The information on these pages integrates those factors to help you
narrow your selection to fewer products for a more in-depth evaluation.
3M Backing Materials
In many applications, 3M backings add a second surface that affects how the
underlying surface relates to the environment. To optimize that relationship,
3M backings offer a wide choice of performance and handling characteristics.
| Backings |
Characteristics |
| Paper |
| Crepe | Conformable, easy tear. |
| Flatback | Strong, smooth, good for straight line masking. |
| Kraft | Strong, some versions are repulpable. |
| Tissue | Thin, porous to allow adhesive penetration of sheet. |
| Plastic |
| Polyester | Strong even when thin, chemical resistant, high temperature resistance. |
| Polypropylene | Resistant to most solvents, conformable, tear resistant. |
| Polyethylene | Conformable, easy to stretch, chemical/acid/moisture resistant, economical. |
| Polyethylene / Polypropylene Co-polymer | Conformable, chemical/acid/moisture resistant. |
| UHMW - Polyethylene | High abrasion resistance, low coefficient of friction, anti-stick surface easy to clean. |
| Polyvinyl Chloride (Vinyl) | Conformable, abrasion resistant, resistant to most chemicals. |
| Polyimide (e.g., Kapton®) | High temperature resistance, excellent dimensional stability, good insulation properties. |
| Polyamide (Nylon) | High temperature resistance, high strength and toughness, good chemical resistance but can absorb moisture. |
| Polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) | Low coefficient of friction, excellent high temperature and chemical resistance, anti-stick/release properties. |
| Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) | Water-soluble, organic solvent resistant, high temperature resistance. |
| Polyurethane | Abrasion/scratch resistant, impact/puncture resistant, UV and corrosion resistant. |
| Polyvinyl Fluoride (e.g., Tedlar®) | Excellent weather resistance, excellent long-term UV resistance, thin yet stiff feel. |
| Cloth |
| Cotton | Strong, easy tear by hand, soft and drapable. |
| Glass Cloth | Strong, high temperature resistance, flame-resistant. |
| Polyethylene Coated | Strong yet hand-tearable, abrasion resistant, water-resistant, conformable. |
| Non-Woven |
| Fiber | Air permeable, strong enough to hold expanding foams. |
| Metals |
| Aluminum | Heat and light reflective, moisture and chemical resistant, flame-resistant, outdoor weather resistant, conformable. |
| Lead | Electrically conductive, acid resistant, high conformability, x-ray opacity. |
| Rubber |
| Neoprene | Abrasion resistant, die-cuttable. |
| Combination (Laminates) |
| Paper / Polyethylene | Weather and chemical resistant, hand tearable, stretch resistant. |
| Metalized / Polyester | Reflective, decorative. |
| Glass Cloth / PTFE | High temperature resistance, high strength. |
| Glass Cloth / Aluminum | Very high temperature resistance, high strength. |
| Non-Woven / Aluminum | High heat and cold resistance. |
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