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| General Questions |
| Q. |
Why should I tape attach my seal? |
| A. |
There are several reasons to use tape instead of mechanical methods of attachment. The messiness associated with liquid adhesives is avoided, while weight and system cost savings are realized over channel systems. Further, there is no corrosion possibility as in the flange-mounted systems, and no need to punch holes in the sheet metal for pins, which also reduces the chance of corrosion introduction. Additionally, tape allows for more than just attachment; it also seals the backside of the weatherstrip to help block out wind,* noise,* moisture and dust. *When used as part of an overall vehicle noise reduction program. |
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| Q. |
What is acrylic foam tape? |
| A. |
3M™ Acrylic Foam Tape is a high performance attachment system for all types of body side moldings, stainless steel rocker panel trim, claddings, ground effects, wind and bug deflectors, interior dash trim kits and most other automotive accessories and trim parts. This double-coated foam tape combines high performance acrylic adhesives with viscoelastic acrylic foam cores to create products with superior initial adhesion, adhesion build and the ability to dissipate the stresses associated with most automotive applications. 3M Acrylic Foam Tape is used globally for both OEM and aftermarket trim attachment and conforms to all QS9000 requirements. |
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| Q. |
Why do I need the thickness of a foam tape? |
| A. |
3M Acrylic Foam Tapes are designed with an acrylic foam core that has unique stress relaxation properties. These properties allow the tapes to elongate and relax when stressed. This means the stress is distributed throughout the foam core and not concentrated in the adhesive bond line, which can cause failures. As a result of stress relaxation, 3M Acrylic Foam Tapes bond effectively to a wide variety of automotive substrates. The thickness of the foam core also allows the tape to compensate for mismatch between two surfaces. This is most important with rigid materials. The acrylic foam core also adds properties such as plasticizer resistance and enhanced conformability along with its superior adhesion and stress relaxation. |
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| Q. |
Why doesn't the tape feel sticky? |
| A. |
3M's high performance acrylic adhesives tend to be firm and dry to the touch. They are designed to bond materials other than skin. The adhesives used are designed to give optimum performance and adhesion to automotive substrates and components. The natural oils and moisture of skin can vary from person to person and affect the "thumb appeal" of the 3M Acrylic Foam Tape. To one person the tape can feel very sticky; and to another it can feel much less sticky to the touch. The difference in "thumb appeal" is in the variation of the two individuals' skin surfaces. not the adhesive. |
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| Q. |
What is the difference between the tape used to attach body side moldings and weatherstrip? |
| A. |
The tapes used to attach body side moldings have a pressure-sensitive adhesive on both sides of the product. Because of the surface characteristics of the rubber weatherstrip, tapes used for weatherstrip attachment use a heat-bond adhesive to achieve the maximum bond strength to the rubber. |
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| Q. |
Why should I use heat-bond tape? |
| A. |
There is an immediate, durable and consistent bond to the rubber. When compared to the use of adhesion promoters, heat-bond tape lamination is a one-step process and does not involve solvents. |
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| Q. |
How do I know I have a good bond to my seal? |
| A. |
There is a simple procedure that will demonstrate the bond strength. Remove the liner from the taped part and laminate a strip of anodized aluminum. When peeling the aluminum off at a 90° angle, you should witness a cohesive failure of the tape, not failure of the heat-bond adhesive to the rubber. |
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| Q. |
What is the difference between the N1 and E2 heat-activated adhesives? |
| A. |
In a word, formulation. N1 adhesive is formulated to work with neoprene and PVC substrates, while E2 adhesive is designed to work with EPDM and Santoprene®. |
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| Processing Part to Vehicle Questions |
| Q. |
Why and when do you use an adhesion promoter? |
| A. |
An adhesion promoter or primer is most commonly a resin system in a solvent carrier that is used to alter the surface characteristics of a substrate. This alteration will enhance or in some instances create a surface for bonding with a particular pressure-sensitive adhesive. Adhesion promoters are most often used on low surface energy materials, such as TPO, polypropylene, PPO, polycarbonate, many other plastics and plastic alloys. |
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| Q. |
What is a low surface energy plastic/material? |
| A. |
A low surface energy plastic has a hard-to-stick-to surface, similar to Teflon® coating. Adhesion is the force of attraction between two substrates. The strength of this attraction is determined in part by the surface energy. The higher the surface energy, the greater the attraction; the lower the surface energy, the weaker the attractive forces. A high surface energy plastic allows the adhesive to wet-out or flow to obtain a stronger bond. A low surface energy plastic needs an adhesive specially designed to bond to it or an adhesion promoter to alter the surface energy. |
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| Q. |
What precautions should be taken when using a primer or adhesion promoter? |
| A. |
As a general comment, proper ventilation should be used to handle all solvent solutions, and inhalation and direct contact with skin and eyes should be avoided. Handling procedures will vary depending on the chemical formulation of the primer. Consult the primer's data page, label and the material safety data sheet (MSDS) for proper procedures and precautions. |
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| Q. |
How much time can elapse between applying the primer and the tape? |
| A. |
Generally the tape should be applied when the primer is completely dry. If properly applied, the primer drying time is generally 30 - 45 seconds. However, the exact time required will vary depending on the primer formulation. Drying time also varies by application thickness, temperature and humidity, and the presence of more or less solvent in the mixture. Consult the primer's specification pages for expected drying times. Ideally, tape should be applied to a primed surface within one hour of priming. However, as long as the surface is kept free from dust and contamination, tape lamination can be delayed up to 24 hours. |
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| Q. |
How can I get the liner off the tape more easily? |
| A. |
The use of a tab is the most common method for easy liner removal. The options are:
- Liner as a tab - use of kiss cut die cutting to leave the liner extended over taped area.
- Adding a secondary tape tab that is heat bonded to the liner in a secondary process (3M™ Automotive Heat Seal Tabber Tape 4230 or 5400).
- Same as No. 2 above except using a pressure-sensitive tabbing tape (3M™ Automotive Clear Splicing Tape 4240).
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| Q. |
How far in advance can I remove the liner? |
| A. |
Exposing the functional adhesive to the open air has little effect in itself. However, air-born contaminants will be attracted to the exposed adhesive and may reduce the performance. Therefore, the exposure time should be minimized. As a rule, the less chance for contamination or the less time the adhesive is exposed, the better the bond will be. It's recommended the liner only be removed immediately before use. |
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| Q. |
How much pressure is necessary for adhesion of a pressure-sensitive attached component to ensure a good bond? How much pressure time is required? |
| A. |
The goal of pressurization is to achieve 100% wet-out of the adhesive. This can be affected by size, shape, flexibility and tape placement of the components to be bonded. As a rule, a minimum of 15 pounds pressure per ½" of tape should be used. The time factor is determined more by the flexibility of the component than by needs of the adhesive. Time is not as important as application of firm, even pressure over the entire component. The application of firm, even pressure is key to 100% wet-out of the adhesive. |
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| Q. |
What do you mean by "wet-out"? |
| A. |
Wet-out is simply the physical contact between the adhesive surface and the substrate. One hundred percent wet-out can only be achieved from a properly designed part that is properly pressurized to the substrate. Technically, two types of wet-out exist: visual or macroscopic wet-out, and microscopic wet-out. Only the visual wet-out can be directly controlled by the applicator. The microscopic wet-out is time and temperature related and is a function of the adhesive chemistry, as well as the physical and chemical properties of the substrate. Bond strength continues to build with time partly because this microscopic wet-out or viscoelastic flow continues with time. |
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| Q. |
You recommend heat for application. Is your tape a heat-cure system? How much heat is needed? |
| A. |
3M Acrylic Foam Tape is not a "heat-cure system," but rather a "pressure-sensitive" system. Therefore, heat is not required to ensure the tape performs as intended. As stated earlier, adequate pressure is required. However, heating can be beneficial in terms of making the trim component more flexible, which improves wet-out. Heat will also aid in the viscoelastic flow or microscopic wet-out of the adhesive to build adhesion more quickly. It is recommended that part temperature be 60-110° F at time of application. |
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| Q. |
The part is not adhering to the vehicle. What might be wrong? |
| A. |
Areas to investigate for poor adhesion or performance include:
- Check for surface contamination. The substrates must be clean and free of any contaminant. This is the most common cause of poor adhesion.
- Check for surface match. Are the two surfaces to be bonded a good match?
- Check for proper application pressure and wet-out.
- Check the back of the component for flatness.
- Check the installation process for proper procedures.
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| Q. |
Can I reposition a pressure-sensitive component once it is applied? |
| A. |
If a part is positioned with slight spot pressure, it can usually be repositioned. If full pressurization takes place, it will be more difficult to remove and may result in enough contamination of the adhesive to require part replacement. If the part has been applied and a good deal of time has elapsed, it will be very difficult to remove and usually will require part replacement. |
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| Q. |
Should I press the components together or roll them down? |
| A. |
Depending on the flexibility of the components, it is generally better to pressurize parts with a rolling pressure. A pressure fixture or hand pressure may be used. To avoid air entrapment behind the adhesive, pressure application should simulate a rolling action. Firm, even pressure is necessary regardless of the application method. |
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| Q. |
How can I get the part off after it has been applied? |
| A. |
In general, this is difficult to do unless it is removed immediately after application. The part can be gently heated to soften the adhesive and peeled, or the foam tape can be split at one end and the part carefully peeled off. Tape and adhesive residue can most easily be removed with a 3M™ Stripe-Off Wheel without the use of solvents. 3M™ Prep Solvent-70 and 3M™ General Purpose Adhesive Cleaner* can also be used to soften the adhesive residue, which can then be scraped off with a plastic squeegee. *Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) regulations in some States may restrict or prohibit use of certain solvent solutions. Please check with your State environmental authorities to determine whether use of this solution is restricted or prohibited. |
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| Performance Questions |
| Q. |
What percent of the final bond strength can I expect immediately after application? After 24 hours? After 72 hours? |
| A. |
Immediately after an application is made, about 60% of the bond strength is achieved. As the adhesive continues to wet-out the surface, you can expect the bond to be at about 75% - 80% after 24 hours. After 72 hours, 95%+ of the bond strength is achieved. The bond continues to build with time. |
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| Q. |
How does the tape performance change at high temperature vs. low temperature? |
| A. |
As the temperature goes up, the adhesive and core of the tape soften. If pulled or stressed at elevated temperatures, you would see lower adhesion values and higher conformability. At lower temperatures, the tape system becomes more rigid. This would give higher adhesion values and lower conformability. All performance values return as the temperature returns to normal. |
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| Q. |
What is the highest temperature your tape can take and still perform? |
| A. |
All of the 3M™ Acrylic Foam Tapes will take the paint repair bake of 250° F for 30 minutes and maintain the bond. The temperature-limiting factor for 3M Acrylic Foam Tapes is the polyethylene liner. The acrylic foam tape itself will withstand short-term (hours) temperatures to 300° F without loss of adhesion. |
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| Q. |
Is the tape solvent resistant? |
| A. |
Yes, 3M Acrylic Foam Tapes are resistant to most common automotive solvents like gasoline, diesel fuel, washer solvent, etc. Solvent resistance is a function of type of solvent, time of exposure and temperature. |
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Santoprene® is a registered trademark of AES.
Teflon® is a registered trademark of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. |
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| General Questions - Acrylic Plus Sealing Tape |
| Q. |
What is the difference between 3M™ Acrylic Plus Sealing Tape compared to conventional 3M™ Weatherstrip and Sealing Attachment Tape? |
| A. |
The 3M Acrylic Plus Sealing Tape product is an advancement in both the adhesive and core technology from 3M weatherstrip and sealing attachment tape. The adhesive system provides better adhesion over a wide variety of conditions and substrates, while the core of 3M Acrylic Plus Sealing Tape provides improved stress distribution properties. The stress distribution characteristic allows for a tighter bond line between the mating substrates (i.e., part and sheet metal) when mismatch exists, as well as improved wet-out and conformability of the seal attachment Finally, the product is black, offering styling and cosmetic advantages for seal components. |
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| Q. |
Why should I change if I do not have a problem? |
| A. |
3M Acrylic Plus Sealing Tapes offer a wide range of performance enhancements over conventional 3M weatherstrip and sealing attachment tapes for a variety of applications. The new product is more robust, allowing for greater flexibility in design on future programs and improved reliability on existing programs. This benefit from a comparably priced product should allow for meaningful system cost reduction. 3M Acrylic Plus Sealing Tape is the latest development in tape technology from the tape leader, 3M. |
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| Q. |
What is the price of the tape? |
| A. |
3M Acrylic Plus Sealing Tapes are priced similarly to conventional 3M weatherstrip and sealing attachment tape products. The product was developed in this manner to maintain total system value while offering improved performance. This adds up to overall system cost reduction throughout the supply chain. |
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| Q. |
What thicknesses are offered? |
| A. |
Initially, sealing tapes are offered in 1.2 mm thickness. |
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| Q. |
Do you have weathering results? |
| A. |
Yes, we have two-year Florida/Arizona aging testing and vehicle proving ground testing on 3M Acrylic Plus Sealing Tapes. |
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| Q. |
Does the product take a compression set? |
| A. |
All tapes take a compression set at some given force. However, 3M Acrylic Plus Sealing Tapes take less compression set than conventional 3M weatherstrip and sealing attachment tapes at equal forces. |
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| Q. |
What type of temperature ranges do the 3M Acrylic Plus Sealing Tape products stand up to? |
| A. |
The product is designed to sustain a temperature range of -40° F to 300° F over the life of the vehicle. |
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| Q. |
Do you have to heat the body or the part? |
| A. |
No, as with conventional 3M tapes, 3M does not recommend that the body or part be heated. Recommended application temperature range is 60-100° F. |
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| Q. |
Does the body need to be cleaned? |
| A. |
Cleaning is recommended if contaminants are present that may impede tape adhesion, such as dirt, oils, etc. It is a good safeguard in assembly plants and has been made much easier with the development of 3M™ Scotch-Brite™ High Performance Wipes. An alcohol/water mixture is no longer needed for cleaning the body with the introduction of Scotch-Brite high performance wipes. |
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| Q. |
When are sample materials available? |
| A. |
Prototype samples are currently available. Please contact your 3M Automotive Division representative. |
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| Q. |
How does the liner release compare to conventional orange liners? |
| A. |
Liner release is smoother and easier, as all 3M Acrylic Plus Sealing Tapes utilize a uniquely designed, silicone-coated liner. |
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| Q. |
How is this product tabbed? |
| A. |
The smooth, easy release of the liner may eliminate the need to tab. It can be heat-bond tabbed. Another option is an extended liner tab and is actually the most reliable tabbing method. Pressure-sensitive adhesive tabs are also available. |
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| Q. |
Is this product recyclable? |
| A. |
It is similar to 3M weatherstrip and sealing attachment tape and depends on specific recycling requirements. |
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| Q. |
Where is the product made? |
| A. |
In a QS 9000-certified 3M production facility. |
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| Q. |
Is the new tape over-engineered? Can we reduce the performance and take out the cost? |
| A. |
No, the 3M Acrylic Plus Sealing Tapes have been designed in response to an increase in demanding applications for tape in automotive sealing systems. The tapes respond to the changing materials and paint systems, and also enable the use of tape-attached systems in previously risky areas such as underhood and primary door sealing and the attachment of seals to glass to help protect against water and noise intrusion. |
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| Q. |
Does the tape have a stickier, higher-performing adhesive? |
| A. |
Yes, 3M Acrylic Plus Sealing Tapes utilize a more aggressive adhesive system, translating into a higher initial tack and quicker adhesion-building product. |
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| Q. |
What adhesive is on 3M Acrylic Plus Sealing Tapes? |
| A. |
3M Acrylic Plus Sealing Tape utilizes VR-2 adhesive system, a high-performance, acrylic-based adhesive on the substrate side, and E2 adhesive, a heat-activated adhesive on the seal side. |
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| Q. |
Is VR-2 adhesive like AR-7 adhesive? |
| A. |
Yes, it is similar to AR-7 adhesive (also an acrylic-based adhesive) but offers faster adhesion build to a wider variety of substrates and more stable adhesion levels over a broad range of environmental conditions. |
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| Q. |
Can I get a foam split? |
| A. |
In 72-hour adhesion testing and beyond, you generally get foam split, depending on the test conditions and substrates. Foam split adhesion levels are most commonly achieved within 24 hours, much faster than conventional 3M Acrylic Foam Tapes. Failure modes in destructive testing will be similar to those experienced with conventional 3M Acrylic Foam Tapes. |
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| Q. |
Do you get faster adhesion and foam split with VR-2 versus AR-7 adhesive? |
| A. |
Yes, in most cases you will get both. |
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| Q. |
3M Acylic Foam Tape takes 72 hours for full cure; what about 3M Acrylic Plus Tape? |
| A. |
In general, 3M Acrylic Plus Tape achieves full adhesion build within 24 hours, compared to 72 hours for conventional 3M Acrylic Foam Tapes. |
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| Q. |
How much more aggressive is VR-2 versus AR-7 adhesive? |
| A. |
Generally speaking, it is 10% more aggressive than AR-7, depending on the surface. |
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| Q. |
Do I still need to use a promoter? |
| A. |
Yes, you still need to use a promoter to adhere to many plastic trim components. As with conventional 3M Acrylic Foam Tapes, no adhesion promoter is necessary for adhesion to paint. |
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| Stress Distribution Questions Plus Sealing Tape |
| Q. |
How do the products perform with regard to low angle peel? |
| A. |
The product performs as well as conventional 3M Acrylic Foam Tape in low angle peel. |
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| Q. |
Will I be able to reduce the width of the hider lip from 0.5 mm? |
| A. |
Hider lips are generally added for styling and cosmetic purposes. Because our 3M Acrylic Plus Tapes are black and provide a tighter bond line than conventional 3M Acrylic Foam Tapes (stress distribution), the tapes should provide for reduced or eliminated hider lips. It's part of our overall system cost advantage to providing a sleeker product. |
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| Q. |
Does this tape elongate more or less than conventional 3M Acrylic Foam Tape? |
| A. |
3M Acrylic Plus Tapes elongate less and feature unique stress distribution properties that reduce the amount of elongation in the tape when substrate-to-substrate mismatch occurs. The result is a tighter, sleeker bond line and cleaner vehicle appearance. |
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| Q. |
Can 3M Acrylic Plus Tape handle a bigger mismatch than the current 3M Acrylic Foam Tape? |
| A. |
3M does not recommend that tolerances be sacrificed because of the 3M Acrylic Plus Tapes. However, these tapes have better stress distribution, resulting in less elongation and a tighter bond line for mismatch between parts. Specifically, 3M Acrylic Plus Tape will have lower elongation than 3M Acrylic Foam Tape at equal stresses. |
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| Wet-Out Questions - Acrylic Plus Sealing Tape |
| Q. |
How can I get a better wet-out? |
| A. |
The 3M Acrylic Plus Sealing Tapes offer a more conformable core than the softest core available with conventional 3M Acrylic Foam Tapes. The new technology allows us to achieve a unique balance of properties, improving wet-out without sacrificing foam strength. In doing this, we achieve a more conformable product than conventional 3M Acrylic Foam Tapes with better bond line integrity. |
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| Q. |
Does it take the same amount of force or less force to wet-out? |
| A. |
3M Acrylic Plus Tapes requires less force to wet-out than conventional 3M AFTs. Part wet-out has many variables; and, as with current systems, 3M provides technical support and recommendations for specific applications. |
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| Q. |
Why don't I see a wet-out improvement on my application? |
| A. |
If your part already has a good fit and good wet-out with 3M AFT, you should not expect to see a significant improvement using 3M Acrylic Plus Tapes. The benefit of 3M Acrylic Plus Tapes is most apparent when applying rigid parts (i.e., claddings, wheel flares, rockers, etc.) or applying parts to uneven surfaces. Less than optimal wet-out conditions may still result from poor part match, rigid interferences (i.e., hider lips) on trim parts, or poor processing guidelines. Please contact your 3M Automotive Division sales and technical service personnel for assistance on these applications. |
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