CONVERTING NEWS
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A converted product’s carrier or backing material is one of the most important decisions when designing pressure sensitive adhesives. The carrier has to possess the right qualities to match the application (will it be hand applied or automatically dispensed?) and the processing (will it be slit or die-cut?).

Recently, we explored the basics of release liners in this article. In today’s blog post, we’ll dive into the physical components of backing (or “carrier;” we’ll use both terms throughout) and how it helps the converting process.

The stress is on.

You’re under pressure to create the best possible product. That includes choosing the right material, the right adhesive, the right format, the right elongation at break percentage … even the right converter!

That’s because you know your product will be under pressure, too. It has to perform with a certain tensile strength — the maximum force or stress a material can withstand while being pulled apart from both ends before failing. That’s why it’s also called “breaking strength.”

Excellence.

Every business wants to achieve it, and every business wants to partner with other businesses that achieve it. And while saying you have it is easy, being recognized for it by an industry leader is quite another thing.

For companies in the converting industry, being honored for excellence by 3M is the top of the top. It shouts to the world that a converter deeply understands the industry leader, and the industry leader trusts them.

This article explores the origins of the 3M Preferred Converter program, digs into why it matters in a highly competitive marketplace, and shares why customers should care.

Of course, as a converter of flexible materials we love to talk about pressure sensitive adhesives (PSA). However the unsung hero of the adhesive world may be the release liner (often called “carrier” or “backing”). This is the product — typically a coated paper or film — that carries the sticky material and serves as a protective covering until the pressure sensitive adhesive is needed. Think of the shiny paper that carries a sticker or label.

A release liner’s base may be paper, polycoated paper, film, or even a metalized film. The liner can be coated with silicone or non-silicone to ease separation from the adhesive. It all depends on the precise delivery and dispensing system needed for the application.

In many cases, the release liner is one of the most critical decisions when designing a PSA. It has to have the right qualities and features to precisely match the application (hand applied or automatic dispensing) and processing (slitting, die-cutting, etc.).

The good news is you have options.

Many electronics products require specific adhesives that dissipate heat. Thermal interface materials (a combination of high-performance acrylic adhesive and highly conductive ceramic particles) enhance performance by minimizing reliability concerns and reduced operational lifetimes that are often affected by heat.

Have you ever wondered exactly how tape works? There are multiple types of adhesives on the market today. When you think of tape, you're most likely thinking of pressure sensitive adhesive tape. 

A heat activated adhesive is a type of adheive, usually applied to a tape backing, that will not bond at normal temperatures. Instead, it becomes sticky in certain temperatures, wherein the adhesive chemicals are activated and can form a bond.

Around 6 million car accidents occur every year in the United States alone.

For years, manufacturers have been forced to do more with less. Emerging market growth has created an increased demand for resources and manufacturers have experienced these pressures and the effects in their operations and bottom line. One way organizations are adapting to these changes is by optimizing their inventory. Tracking materials in and finished goods out is no longer good enough. To truly understand inventory levels and discover opportunities to become more efficient, organizations are utilizing automated component tracking systems.

Differential adhesive tape is a double coated or double sided adhesive with different adhesives on each coated side. Differential tapes are most often used when one side of the tape construction is used to create a permanent bond while the other side is used to create a temporary bond.

Microfluidic devices are expected to perform as patients and caregivers alike depend on your devices to provide accurate test results. Not only is it crucial to use trusted materials in the construction of your products, but it’s equally important to work with a trusted partner that has the converting expertise in medical and healthcare manufacturing so that your microfluidic device can deliver consistent and reliable performance, lot after lot.

With the advancements in adhesive technologies and sophisticated converting equipment, manufacturers are able to solve application challenges that were once unsolvable. They’re improving production rates, reducing labor costs, minimizing waste, and eliminating rework. As adhesive manufacturers like 3M continue to push the limits of science and technology with innovation, manufacturers are looking to utilize these materials in their processes and products.

Automotive manufacturers are losing thousands of dollars a month in rework costs.

Industrial manufacturers have several options when it comes to bonding materials. For many years engineers have relied on fasteners, welding, spray adhesives and other bonding solutions. These solutions have proved successful but each comes with limitations that more often than not leave engineers searching for a better, more effective solution. 

New VHB tapes, now available at Strouse, are the thinnest acrylic foam tape products offered in 3M’s VHB portfolio.

Peel adhesion is another term you will find on just about every data sheet for an adhesive product. This piece of data is crucial in understanding how ‘sticky’ or how well the adhesive bonds to a given substrate. This data is often expressed in oz. /inch or N/100mm.

Peel Adhesion – A standardized test that measures the force required to remove a pressure sensitive adhesive from a testing plate or its own backing material.

Did you know one of the first pieces of wearable technology dates back to the 1600’s? This hot tech gadget was the Abacus ring.

Wearable technology as an industry has since seen tremendous growth. From fitness devices that track workouts to health monitors that communicate with family members and doctors in real time, these devices provide us with instantaneous data that brings together technology and everyday life.

Today wearable technology is a $14 billion

It's FINALLY the first day of Spring! Soon comes warmer weather and greener pastures. With St. Patrick's Day and the first day of Spring we really are thinking green at Strouse.

What does green mean to us? 3M 401+ High Performance Green Masking Tape! 3M 401+ is one of 3M's most popular masking tapes not only for it's bright green color but for it's trusted performance.

3M 401+/233+ Green Masking Tape is used in critical

Bonding Tapes are pressure sensitive adhesives built with the purpose of mounting and bonding different substrates together.

Bonding tapes are most often double coated adhesives built around a film with adhesive on both sides of the film. The adhesives are then covered with a liner so that the adhesive is not exposed.