Design Guide: Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives (PSAs)

This guide is intended to give design engineers the basic facts needed to begin the process of designing effective rubber seals, gaskets and weather stripping. It is not intended to provide every piece of information available on the process or extrusion; however, it should serve as a starting point and give engineers the necessary information to better understand what they will need to consider during the pressure-sensitive adhesive design process.

What Are the Uses of Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives? 

Why should you use an adhesive seal that is pressure sensitive? In most cases, the use of pressure-sensitive adhesives can eliminate mechanical fastening systems (staples, nails or retaining clips) and the inherent problems associated with them, i.e., cost, weight and breakage. PSAs frequently improve productivity during the final assembly process by providing a faster, more efficient way of attaching seals and gaskets to the end product.

Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive FAQs 

To begin the PSA selection process, it is important to have the answers for several basic questions:

To what type of substrate will the PSA be attached?

• What chemicals will it come into contact?
• Will it come into contact with moisture or sunlight?
• Will the adhesive be functional after installation?
• Will the adhesive be in shear?
• What type of radius will the adhesive need to go around?

A second consideration when specifying an adhesive seal is whether a rubber-based adhesive or acrylic-based adhesive is most appropriate for the application. Both types have several advantages.

Rubber-Based Adhesives

Rubber-based adhesives are very thermoplastic. Exposed to heat will soften the adhesive and directly affect its performance. These types of adhesives have good initial tack to most substrates. This is unlike acrylics, which can take 48 to 72 hours to achieve their ultimate strength.

Advantages

The key advantages to rubber-based adhesives are that they will adhere to a wide range of materials, they are generally very economical, and they have a high initial “grab” or tack.

Disadvantages

Some of the disadvantages of rubber-based adhesives include poor resistance to elevated temperatures, fair to poor resistance to chemicals, and generally poor resistance to ultraviolet light and oxidation.

Acrylic Based Adhesives

Acrylic-based adhesives do not require as many additives as rubber-based adhesives. In fact, the addition of other ingredients tends to detract from their strength. Acrylic adhesives are polar in nature and tend to stick well to polar substrates such as metals, glass, polyesters, polycarbonates and neoprenes. If adhesion cannot be obtained to the satisfaction of the end user, a primer or treatment of the substrate’s surface may be useful.

Conversely, acrylics do not bond well to non-polar surfaces such as polyethylene, polypropylene (olefins), EPDMs and silicone. In some instances, a primer may be used with acrylics to achieve a greater bond. Acrylics are thermoplastic by nature; they soften when exposed to heat and harden when cooled.  They are formulated so that they are inherently soft at ambient temperatures. Being soft at room temperature permits them to flow under light pressure and make good intimate contact with the substrate. This ability to flow is very important when bonding to an irregular or rough surface.

Acrylic-based adhesives can maintain cohesive and adhesive strength up to 350ºF (176.6ºC) and down to -50ºF (-45.5ºC) if a good, high-quality acrylic is employed in the application. Generally, acrylic and rubber based adhesives will resist non-polar solvents or chemicals (toluene, mineral spirits, gasoline, oil), depending on the severity of contact (concentration, duration and temperature). Acrylics age very well in the presence of ozone, ultraviolet light and corona due to the saturation in the polymer backbone.

Advantages

Acrylic-based adhesives are cross-linkable and deliver good resistance to varying temperature ranges, chemicals, ultraviolet light and oxidation. They are very color stable and can be easily removed and reinstalled in the application if positioned incorrectly.

Disadvantages

Generally, acrylic-based PSAs have poor adhesion to polyolefins. They also tend to be more expensive than their rubber-based adhesives, and the initial bond or tack strength is low.

Want to talk to us about rubber seals, gaskets or weather-stripping adhesive product options? Contact us today to start the conversation.